It is my belief that knowledge is a fundamental aspect of the human condition and understanding is made possible through curiosity and creative inquiry. I feel that learning is best achieved in the visual arts through a study of the conventions and traditions that have established a medium with a focus on the contemporary techniques and concepts driving it. In addition to a solid foundation of theory it is imperative that skills and techniques-—traditional as well as contemporary-—are honed through investigation, experimentation, and practice. How are we to advance without knowing where we are and where we have been?