Jacquenette Arnette

Keep EVERYTHING! You need an extensive portfolio and you are your own best archivist. Jacquenette Arnette , Adjunct Instructor , The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston

What would you say is the defining moment in your life when you knew you were destined to become a creative professional?

I have always worked with my hands, from a very young age I had two passions; Music and Art.  I never understood that my enjoyment of weaving, stained glass, pinhole photography and many other more craft oriented ventures would lead to contemporary art.  In music, I loved the technicality and musicianship of playing, but I never felt like a could innovate at it.  In art, I felt the freedom to express my viewpoints and communicate in a way that I never could with music.  

How do you weave your professional background into the classroom experience to provide an industry veteran's sense of the realities / challenges / opportunities of the profession?

I think being current in the field of art also keeps me current with trends and conversations happening currently.  Additionally, my varied work experiences and   have given me a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful in a creative career.  This is valuable to a student.
 
Is there a class assignment that exemplifies your approach to teaching and mentoring? Similarly, how does your approach inspire each student to push themselves beyond their own perceived limits?

I love to use current events and push the students to identify with their own unique viewpoints and perspectives and work on how to explain this to a broader audience.  One assignment that uses this example is in Image Manipulation, I ask the students to express the true meaning of an advertisement and create a message that is important to them.  It can be humorous to serious but connecting their personal stake in something they work on really does give them that seriousness about what they are doing in the classroom.

What role does collaboration contribute to students' success, especially when students from other programs contribute to the same project?

Unique perspectives!  All of us have to work with a multitude of different people in all of our professions and in school it is easy to use this as a micro-chasm of the real world.    How do we best work with those of different experiences and perspectives.
 
In your opinion, what is the single most important thing you impart to your students to help them succeed in your class and in the real world? Alternatively, what is the most critical advice you would offer any student as he / she embarks on a creative career?

Top 3 rules for being successful in a creative career.

1) In creative careers, you also need to be creative with your income!  Think outside the box on how you are going to support this possibly un-supportive career you have chosen.  

2) Keep EVERYTHING!  You need an extensive portfolio and you are your own best archivist.  No matter how small the job or the paycheck it proves a history of work and shows your commitment.  

3) Never stop learning, never stop meeting!  So, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, socialize or work with the same people always push yourself to meet new people learn new perspectives and learn new techniques.  You can never learn too much or know too many people in the creative fields.

Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you, your experience, or your role as a faculty member at The Art Institutes?

I have been a working artist all around the world from 2000 to today.  From Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and across America I am a living example of the struggle and success that my students are about to embark on and I am happy to help them in their journey.