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Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes

Critical Art Ensemble

Career Roadmap

Steve's work combines: Design, Technology, and Learning / Being Challenged

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Day In The Life

Artist

I build video driven websites.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Art/Art Studies, General

    Florida State University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators:

Bachelor's Degree: Art/Art Studies, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    I gained skills attending a vocational school, while taking liberal arts courses.

  • 2.

    I transferred to a university to finish my undergraduate degree.

  • 3.

    While in school I made connections with people from other backgrounds with similar interests.

  • 4.

    I got a job that gave me a dependable income while I pursued a career in the art field.

  • 5.

    I decided that working collectively would give me the best shot at sucess in the arts.

  • 6.

    I formed a collective with other artists and worked to develop culturally relevant art work.

  • 7.

    We published a book describing our theories and production model.

  • 8.

    We participated in festivals and conferences to build a network of contacts.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Teachers:

    When we started working together as a group there were very few models for collective production of artwork. We were convinced that by bringing together our various skills and applying them toward a single objective we could produce a superior product. We weren't a collection of painters all showing together, we were producing our work collectively. There was no grant support for this type of work and my professors did not encourage the process.

  • How I responded:

    We deployed a DIY mentality to our production process and appropriated materials and tools where we could. When we could not fit into existing presentation venues, we created our own by producing our shows on our own in alternative spaces. Using publications and publishing books to build name recognition and validate our work, we were able to take advantage of opportunities to participate in larger conferences and festivals to meet people and build relationships all over the world.