The PIMA Meta-Goals
To form a functional, cohesive, supportive, and self-managing community of artists that supports collaborative groups and projects.
To collectively agree, during the course of study, to place the work of the community (and the collaborative groups that form from it) before individual artistic work.
To collectively agree to place a high priority on mutual respect and constructive behavior in interactions with collaborative group members and communities.
To collectively understand that the PIMA studio is your fellow students, and that to spend time “in the studio” means to spend time with your collaborators, regardless of the physical location of the meeting.
To collectively agree that students will spend, on average, 20+ hours per week in face-to-face collaborative situations.
To collectively embrace and actively choose from an extended palette of collaborative modes, including but not limited to:
radical yes-saying
choosing a leader/director/author and implementing their decisions
creating a fictional persona and making the work that they would make
finding a score or instruction set and realizing it
creating independently and then connecting the elements
random/aleatoric decision making
complete improvisation
The PIMA Statement of Values
the PIMA program endeavors to create, support, and maintain a space that is anti-racist, anti-oppressive, consent-forward, and affirming. We acknowledge that no space of learning or creation is inherently safe, comfortable, or trauma-free, and that oppressions will present themselves. As an ongoing request, we would like any ‘crunchy’ moments that any one of us notices in ourselves or perceive in others to be acknowledged so we can work together to make our space feel as welcoming as possible. We will dedicate time to this in class, but please also know that faculty are available to discuss issues that arise (even if they don’t seem like a big deal at the time). Crunchy moments have a habit of growing into real issues, and we’d like to address casual or accidental missteps as they happen so that no one is left to manage difficulties alone.
We also acknowledge that this learning and creative environment is intentionally uncomfortable and there is a fine line between tension and discomfort that is subjectively different for each person. While we want to be creatively challenged together and taking risks, we do not want anyone to be living in dangerous territory. It is important to share or step out of an activity the moment anything feels tenuous, and please know that you will have our support in taking steps for your own needs and self care. Please also know that we may ask how things can be shifted to accommodate any needs, but you do not need to defend or explain yourself. Additionally, while we intend to hold these boundaries together in our space, it is important for us all to carry them over into smaller groups and other classes and collaborations with one another during our time together - including time spent outside this program in casual conversation with one another as these interactions impact our energy together as well.