A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

Rachel Lena Slotnick

Program Mentor

Bio

BA, 2007, University of California, Davis; MFA Writing, 2010, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions: Beauty & Brawn Art Gallery; Next/Art Chicago; Verge/Art Basel. Installations: Logan Square Blue Line Station mural, Horses of Honor, 35th, 39th, 46th, and 47th ward commissioned muralist. Publications: Tortoise Books; Rhino Poetry; Mad Hatter's Review; Thrice Fiction; The Brooklyn Rail; High Chair Poetry; Elimae. Bibliography: New City; Gaper's Block; DNA Info; Logan Square TV. Awards: Pushcart Prize nomination; Rhino Poetry Founder's Prize winner; Autumn House Press Nonfiction Finalist; Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards Finalist. 

Personal Statement

Slotnick first tells her students that rules must be learned in order to be broken. Next, they study famous rule-breakers. Slotnick's aim is to provide a balanced diet of theory, criticism, grammar, and artistic inspiration. Ultimately, Slotnick hopes to pry her students away from the idea that art is any one thing, or any absolute. Slotnick seeks to instill a sensibility, and emotional identity, so that as students move on in their careers, they will not lose sight of themselves.

Courses

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