We had the good fortune of connecting with Craig Dongoski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Craig, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I am fortunate to have thrived in a field that has allowed me to develop ideas and philosophies that completely negate the boundaries between classroom and studio practice. Over time and through the pandemic my methods have developed a finer point of articulation. It is critical that art is understood first as a transformative healing mechanism. My teaching is deeply involved in doing away with pragmatic attitudes in art-making while placing exceptional value on one’s own lived experience as currency for expression. My teaching is my practice and my practice is my teaching.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been exploring the ‘mark’ for most of my mature career as artist. specifically the sounds made from inscription and directing my curiosity toward whether there is potential in communication from these sounds. Some of my courses center around these experiments. I have also worked with language-trained chimpanzees within this context. I have always been inspired by history and when the mark changes e.g. Van Gogh, Pollock then art changes. The aural artifact within inscription serves as that potential change vehicle. The lessons I have learned is that we all have one idea. That idea might not be fashionable today (it might never be) but that one idea is a delicate force that requires a lifetime of attentive respect to nurture to its fullest potential.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
57 Fighter Club Etowah Indian Burial Mounds
WUXTRY Records
My Studio

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
E.G. Welch School of Art & Design WhiteSpace Gallery Atlanta. GA
Language Research Center

Website: https://drawingvoices.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pan_trog/?hl=en

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