Michael Davis: A&D
A&D is the way my fellow classmates refer to the high school we attended, The High School of Art and Design in New York City. A&D is without a doubt the greatest high school on earth.
Really.
I know for a fact that my high school is the greatest high school in the history of the world. If you went there, you would think so also. Oh, before I forget, fuck the High School of Music and Art. They were our rivals as were those mofos from the High School of Performing Arts as well as the High School of Fashion industries can all kiss my ass.
School pride… yeahhhhhh!
All of the high schools I’ve mentioned are in New York City. None of them are as good as A&D but clearly they have something to offer. All of the schools I’ve mentioned are magnet schools for the arts. Remember that movie Fame?
Fame was the story of the High School of Performing Arts, or as they referred to it in the film, P.A. I have to admit I really liked the film but P.A. can still kiss my ass.
School pride… yeahhhhhh!
I won’t bore you with the list of bad ass comic book and other artists that graduated from A&D but it’s as impressive as shit. Check out this link if you care to know just how A&D rolls.
I’m not writing this just to brag about A&D and put down our rivals, I’m writing this because the arts in this country are under serious attack. The GOP is threatening to pull funding from art programs like the National Endowment Of the Arts and the first thing cut in any high school budget are the music and art programs.
What kind of goddamn country would this be without art? What kind of comics will there be in a generation if comic artists don’t have places like A&D to attend? Like I said, all of the high schools I mentioned are in New York City.
New York leads the world in the arts. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
America needs and quite frankly wants the arts. The mega popular show, America’s Got Talent, had two – that’s two – artists in the finals.
If the comic book and related industries just turn a blind eye to the assault on the arts then we will get what we deserve. That’s work that sucks and leads to a continuing declining fan base and the death of comics.
Lastly, I’m sure you know I did not mean all the rude things I said about the rivals of A&D. They are great schools and I have nothing but respect for them. In case anyone is wondering I did my undergrad work at The Pratt Institute and I’d just like to say, fuck Cooper Union, the School of Visual Arts, Parsons and a special fuck you to Art Center.
School pride… yeahhhhhh!
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Michael,
First off, I also went to Art & Design and I still love art. I enjoyed reading your post, I know it’s a bit tongue and cheek and not meant to be entirely serious. However I don’t agree in regards to Art & Design being the best art school, that’s merely subjective. Also, New York no longer leads the world in the arts, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Portland, even Berlin have a growing arts scene. In case you haven’t noticed, NYC is expensive, artists can’t really afford to live here anymore and have moved out and I’m not talking about trust fund baby wanna-be artists out in Williamsburg. :) I do agree with you in regards to the GOP cutting funding for the arts, it’s been going on for a while. Btw, Have you visited the High School of Art & Design lately? I think the students are down to 1 or 2 periods of art a day. You can thank Mayor Mike for that, he wants every student to merely pass standardized tests and sees no value in an arts education. For us to think Art & Design is still the same great school it was, we would fooling ourselves. I will now get off my soapbox.
John,
We agree to disagree regarding where the dominating art scene is and the cites you mention are producing world class artists but New York they are not. I’m going to make it a point to visit A&D the next time I’m in New York and can spare an afternoon. Thanks for your insight and I wish you well.