Concours d'Entree book
Concours d'Entrée

By Francois Deschamps
New Paltz, New York: Papyrus Productions , 2012. Edition unstated.

8.25 x 10.75"; 34 pages. Perfect bound. Glossy covers.

Francois Deschamps: "In 2010, I received the support of a Senior Research Fulbright grant to teach at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasseké Kouyaté and to photograph in Mali, West Africa. Concours d'Entrée was the first project from that wonderful year of teaching and photography."

Introduction: "On September 29 and 30, 2010, a competition or concours was held for entrance to the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasseké Kouyaté, a top art school in Mali. Ten were chosen from the 130 applicants through a process involving a drawing test, an evaluation of computer skills, and a personal interview by a panel of four faculty. The students were asked difficult questions.

"What is 'multimedia'?
"What is Art?
"Why should we believe that you are an artist?

"To get a sense of the candidate determination and strength under fire, the questions were intentionally tough. The faculty on the panel were often challenging and argumentative."

The photographs in Concours d'Entrée are of some of these young candidates.
$30