Office Hours

Giselle Kowalski:
Hi, everybody. My name is Giselle Kowalski, and I'm the digital content producer here at Texas State University. You're listening to Office Hours, and today I'm here with Tyson. Tyson, what's up?

Tyson Taylor:
What's going on?

Giselle Kowalski:
How are you?

Tyson Taylor:
I'm doing great. How about yourself?

Giselle Kowalski:
I'm great. So we just got to talk to, or not me, you just got to talk to Sydney Guzman, who is a lecturer of painting here at Texas State. What was that like?

Tyson Taylor:
It was awesome. We got to talk about her background, her experience teaching, and then we fell in this weird little conversation where we kind of shared a moment.

Giselle Kowalski:
Yeah. Yeah, that moment was really cool. You guys got to talk about the universe, and it was really more her painting and why she paints what she's painting in that motif throughout it, and she brought up womanhood and the universe. Do you want to touch on that?

Tyson Taylor:
Yeah, absolutely. So we kind of related because in her undergrad, during her freshman and sophomore year, she felt completely lost in what she wanted to do in terms of a career. And I completely related to her because during my freshman and sophomore year, I felt completely lost in what I wanted to do. But during my junior year, I took a class that really sparked my interest, and now that I'm approaching graduation, I could completely relate to her on the universe kind of giving me signs that I'm on the right track, that I'm serving my purpose. And it kind of wants me to reinstate to other students who might be listening that if you're in your freshmen and sophomore years, it's OK if you're feeling lost because time will tell and you'll get signs from the universe as well, like this is your purpose, you're doing the right thing, you're on the right track. So, yeah, encourage everybody to listen to this.

Giselle Kowalski:
Yeah, so we hope you enjoy this conversation between Tyson and Sydney Guzman.

Tyson Taylor:
Hello and welcome to another episode of Texas State's Office Hours podcast. I'm your interviewer/host Tyson Taylor, and as always, we have a special guest. So to begin, can you please tell us your name and what you teach here at Texas State?

Sydney Guzman:
Yes, I'm Sydney Guzman, and I'm a lecturer in the art and design program. I kind of teach a lot of everything. I teach a lot of foundational art courses, but this semester I'm teaching Beginning Painting.

Tyson Taylor:
Awesome. Well, first and foremost, I want to say thank you so much for being here with us. But to begin every Office Hours podcast, we like to start it off with a little icebreaker. So today's question is, what animal do you think best represents your personality?

Sydney Guzman:
I feel like my spirit animal kind of changes often, but right now I would say a barn owl. They're kind of mysterious, but also I feel like they symbolize transformation a lot. So, yeah, I would say a barn owl.

Tyson Taylor:
That's super cool. I would not have expected you to say that. All right, we're going to go ahead and get started. We're going to start off just a little bit about your background and your upbringing. So can you please tell us where did you grow up, and what was it like growing up there?

Sydney Guzman:
So I'm from South Texas, specifically McAllen. It's kind of a small town. It's grown a lot, by the Mexico border. But my experience there, I mean, pretty chill. I'm an artist. The art scene has grown a lot since I grew up. But when I was there growing up, I really wasn't that involved in the art scene. But yeah, nothing crazy. It's a small town. Yeah, that's about it.

Tyson Taylor:
Cool. While you were growing up there, did you have any jobs before you started thinking about art and your career, like maybe you were working at a grocery store or something like that?

Sydney Guzman:
My first job was actually during my undergrad, and I kind of did... I was working at Wendy's. I've also worked at thrift stores before, kind of just the typical college side job experience.

Tyson Taylor:
Yeah, definitely. And you talked about growing up in McAllen, you weren't very involved in the art scene. So I want to ask you, what inspired you to pursue a career in art design? Was there a piece of art or a moment that made you passionate about the craft?

Sydney Guzman:
Well, growing up, the only art that I was really exposed to was having a Tumblr, which is kind of funny. But yeah, I didn't really decide to dive into art until I came to my undergrad. My undergrad was actually at Texas State, but at first I was a psychology major and a sociology major. Did not really do the best in those classes. And then we had to take an elective, so I decided to take an art class, and I had a really inspiring professor that kind of shifted my direction. Her name is Elvia Perrin, and she still works here, so she's my colleague now. But she's really the person that inspired me to shift directions.

Tyson Taylor:
Your professor is now your colleague. I bet a lot of the students would like to have that happen. So you came to Texas State. Can I ask what drew you to come to this university?

Sydney Guzman:
Honestly, I really had small options just because I felt like I wasn't really ready to get out of state yet. And I feel like a lot of my friends were either staying at the university in my hometown, which is UTRGV; it's kind of a popular college down there. And then I had a couple of friends coming here, and I kind of just decided to apply. My sister was in A&M, and I didn't really see myself there, so Texas State was the option for me.

Tyson Taylor:
You talked about how you started off as a psychology major and then you switched to art. In what ways did your experience at Texas State influence your development as an artist and who you are today?

Sydney Guzman:
I would say honestly a lot of the art community here. I feel like the artists, or the students in the art and design program are really welcoming. And again, Elvia was not the only mentor that really shifted me, but she was kind of the person that started it. But a lot of my mentors, it kind of became a collab process. Every year you were growing as an artist, and they were seeing your growth. It's a big building, but you have similar professors. They were just really seeing me and all of my cohort grow individually, so you got to have a more personalized relationship with them. So I really feel like it was a mixture of those two things.

Tyson Taylor:
And after you graduated from Texas State, you then earned your master's of fine arts from the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting. What inspired you to pursue a master's degree, and why did you choose that program at the Maryland Institute College of Art?

Sydney Guzman:
Honestly, that time of my life was super crazy. Actually, before I applied to graduate school, I was still here during COVID, so my last two semesters were kind of strange because everything was shifted to online and there was really... Something that was missing was... I guess it was because we weren't on campus, but I really was questioning, how the heck do I even apply to grad school? When's the right time to do it? And I just started doing research on my own during the winter break, and I ended up applying to five or six universities, got rejected from some, got accepted into others. And then in the end I decided going to Baltimore because I just felt like the school was really known for its painting program. And I looked up the professors I'd be working with. I thought their work was really inspiring. And I also felt like I was ready to get out of here, try to see what it would be living on the East Coast and really throw myself into that so I can grow and experience different things.

Tyson Taylor:
What was it like transitioning from the state of Texas to the East Coast?

Sydney Guzman:
Oh my God, it was kind of a good nightmare in a weird way. I have the same car that I've had since high school, and I literally just put all my stuff in my car, had my cat, and we drove 24 hours it takes to get to Baltimore from here. We just drove. And I got there, my apartment was so small, I can't even describe. It was the size of a kitchen. It was so small. But the living situation was crazy. The culture is different. I feel like I grew kind of a backbone-ish over there. Yeah, it was wild, but I think I grew the most over there, not only in my art, but just as a person, gaining independence and figuring stuff out when I have nobody around me that I know or can rely on. And when I started making friends in my program, they really helped me whenever I needed assistance or somebody to rely on.

Tyson Taylor:
Wow. And you talked about how you felt like you grew in your art. Would you say your experiences during grad school influenced your artistic style and approach?

Sydney Guzman:
So in undergrad, I felt like they really focused on the foundational skills of creating art. Maybe it's really making sure what you're trying to paint has the right dimensions or value, kind of the basic foundations of art, right? Compositional structures, et cetera, getting into art history. But when I went to Baltimore, it was kind of more of an experimental time, so how can I use materials that I didn't even think about using before, or how can I make a painting... Because I'm a painter... How can I make a painting not so realistic and make my art feel more expressive and raw, intuitive? So I would say once I got to Baltimore, it was more experimental and intuitive.

Tyson Taylor:
All right, so thank you for sharing with us your background. Now we're going to get a little bit into your personal work. You also are a professor, but you're also an artist. It's OK to brag if you feel like you need to, but your work has been featured in prestigious venues, such as the Peale Museum, the Lazarus Gallery... Did I say that correct?

Sydney Guzman:
It's Lazarus.

Tyson Taylor:
Lazarus. Thank you. And several more. What does it mean to you to have your work showcased in venues these?

Sydney Guzman:
Honestly, it means the world. The Peale Museum was kind of our cohort thesis show, and it was organized by the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting. But just the fact that it was in this museum where other artists have shown before, it really does mean a lot. I'm still in the beginning of my career, so I still apply to a lot of different shows, and even local. I'm super excited because I have my first solo show in April this year. I'm very excited. It's at Ivester Contemporary. But also, no matter where I end up showing, whether it's a non-profit or somewhere in an outside city in Texas, it really just feels amazing having the opportunity for people to see your work and meet other artists if it's a group show. So it really comes down to the community, and then having people see the hard work that is behind the scenes that you're making is really the best part.

Tyson Taylor:
Were there any memorable moments from any of your exhibitions?

Sydney Guzman:
Yeah. So last year... This was a non-profit; it's Contracommon in Bee Cave Texas, kind of maybe 20 minutes away from Austin. That was a group show, so everybody from Texas could have applied. And that night is very memorable for me just because I met so many amazing people. But yeah, openings are so fun. All the artists typically show up, and everyone... There's snacks, and we're all meeting each other. I don't know. I know I kind of said this, but it's really the community and the people that you meet that makes it fun.

Tyson Taylor:
And you still said you're young in your career, but as of right now, are there any recurring themes or narratives that you explore in your art?

Sydney Guzman:
Yes, and I feel like this is always an artist's, or at least for me, it's always a challenging question because I feel like I'm always shifting. I think my work is different, but the same, if that makes sense. And I feel like my work is a lot about womanhood and my experience as a woman. I do a lot of self-portraits. But it's not only that, it's also my relationship to the universe, which sounds kind of like woohoo or cheesy, but I really feel like the universe kind of guides me, and everybody, whether they think they have a relationship with the universe or not. I just think that the universe gives me signs to keep going or give me inspiration or affirmation that I'm on the right track. So my paintings are essentially these signs, which manifest in animals, and my relationship with myself and kind of maneuvering this life as a woman. So kind of two things merged into one: womanhood and messages from the universe.

Tyson Taylor:
I actually like that. I feel like messages from the universe show that you're on your purpose and you're serving your purpose and that it's letting you know that you're doing the right thing and you're on the right track. But like you said, you explore womanhood and then other things, like animals. But what do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your artwork?

Sydney Guzman:
I hope, to an extent, that people can relate, as I think a lot of artists do. But because my paintings are self-portraits, I do understand that maybe it could be harder for somebody to relate, but I hope that somebody could appreciate the rawness of navigating the world, whether you're a woman or not. And also, I'm a very material, heavy, thick painter, so if maybe the meaning behind the work doesn't resonate with somebody, just appreciating the painting would make me happy, just the mark-making. So, yeah, I'd say that.

Tyson Taylor:
Absolutely. And now we're going to talk a little bit about your teaching career that you just entered. First and foremost, I just want to know, is there a public art piece on campus that you enjoy most, like you walk by it and you're like, "Wow, that's beautiful"?

Sydney Guzman:
Well, god, I'm really bad with names, but there is that sculpture that's right outside the building that was just added last year. I went to the artist's Artist Talk — "Minerva," yes — I went to his Artist Talk, and it was amazing. He was talking about his time going to Europe and actually building it. But there's also an abstract sculpture on the opposite side of the building. Even when I came in the lobby, there was a painting by the elevator. I was like, "Wow, this is amazing." So, yeah, I would say yes. I love that there's art all around the campus.

Tyson Taylor:
Absolutely. And if you're listening and you don't know what she's talking about, please head to the J.C. Kellam Building on the ground floor. You will see the new sculpture. It is absolutely amazing. But let's continue. So you just entered your teaching career. You're also young in your artistic career. How do you incorporate your professional experience as an artist into your teaching methods?

Sydney Guzman:
I really just try to be as honest as I can. Having learned from my mentors around me and then going to Baltimore, learning a lot more over there and then coming back, I feel like I'm able to fill in some gaps that I feel like I didn't quite grasp on or really zone in or be exposed to. So, yeah, I feel like that experience kind of helps me be as honest as I can with my students about how it is being an artist once you get out of here and the challenges with that and also the positives with that. Yeah, just as honest as I can with my students, explaining the hardships of being an artist and motivating them to be their truest self, because once you get out of here, you kind of don't have that... Unless you are involved in the art community, it's hard to keep going when you are used to having critiques all the time and a mentor that you see every day. So really also just trying to get the students to be as confident as possible so that once they get out of here, they will succeed.

Tyson Taylor:
As a student myself, I can really appreciate when professors are very honest and transparent about the real world when you leave here. Because some professors might sugarcoat it, might give you the wrong impression, but yeah, as a student, I can really appreciate that. And like we mentioned, you went to Texas State for your undergrad. What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching at your alma mater?

Sydney Guzman:
Funny to me. It's cool that I'm back here. I feel like Texas State feels like home. I love the art building. Hopefully in the future... I think that this is a good way for me to learn how to teach, because just because I'm an artist and I paint, that doesn't mean that I'm automatically going to be the best teacher. So I feel like I am comfortable with my colleagues around me because I had them as mentors, and just having them help me learn how to teach and shadow them has really helped me be a better lecturer, I feel. But it's amazing. I love this campus.

Tyson Taylor:
Final question, what advice would you give to aspiring artists, especially those at Texas State University?

Sydney Guzman:
I kind of already mentioned this, but I would really say just trust yourself. Trust your gut feelings that you have in your art career, but also in life in general. Just trust yourself and keep going. If you really care about art, or no matter what career you're in, because not only artists are listening to this, but if you really are majoring in something that you care about, just keep going, even if there's challenges, because you'll be successful. So I would say just don't give up.

Tyson Taylor:
Absolutely. Well, that is all the time we have today. I want to thank you so much for coming again, and have a great rest of the semester.

Sydney Guzman:
Yes, thank you.

Tyson Taylor:
Thank you for listening to this episode of Office Hours. We hope you enjoyed this conversation. Make sure you tune in next time to learn more about the experiences of our amazing Texas State faculty. Also, remember to follow us on our social media @TXST. This podcast is a production of the Division of Marketing and Communications at Texas State University. Podcasts appearing on the Texas State University Network represent the views of the host and guests, not of Texas State University. Once again, I'm Tyson, and I'll see you next time.