Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Best spots to shop

Disclaimer: Apologies to anyone who isn't NYC-based (although they both ship)

Although I prefer to devote this space to other types of posts, there are two places here in New York that truly deserve the respect. As artists, it is sometimes difficult to find the supplies you need, as well as great service. These two stores have extremely knowledgeable staff who are more than willing to help you figure out what kind of material you need to get the job done:






New York Central Art Supply



Serving New York artists for over 100 years, New York Central is a smaller shop than some of those other giant supply stores in the city. However, they have an extremely extensive inventory of paints, drawing materials, etc. The second floor boasts the best paper selection and staff, in my opinion, in the U.S. They also seem to be the only ones in the city who understand the importance of carefully rolling the paper so that it doesn't crease or ding.
Location:

62 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10003
view on map
Store Hours:


Mon-Sat 8:30am-6:15pm
Sunday: Closed
Contact:
Store Tel: 212.473.7705 Orders: 800.950.6111 Fax: 212.475.2513






The Compleat Sculptor



For the past 14 years, the Compleat Sculptor is a great resource for anyone interested in anything remotely related to mold-making or casting. The main floor is full of plastics, silicones, and clays, as well as a very helpful staff, and the basement contains huge slabs of stone. While not always the cheapest place, it is worth the trip - you'll probably end up wasting less material if you get it right the first time.

Location:
90 Vandam (between Hudson and Greenwich)

Store Hours:
Mon/Thur/Fri/Sat - 9am - 6pm
Tues/Wed - 9am - 8pm
Closed Sunday

Contact:
Outside NY City: 800-9-SCULPT
Inside NY City: 212-243-6074
International: 0012122436074
Technical Support: 212-367-7561

Monday, April 20, 2009

Success Stories From Famous Artists

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Grayson Perry, Turner prize winner 2003

I really love hearing stories about the artist behind the art. Where artists come from and how they gain recognition are just as important as the media they use and where they show.

I just came across a story from the London Times that tells how some leading artists started their careers. Read about how Sue Webster, Grayson Perry, Michael Landy, David Shrigley and others got their start.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Request For "creative economy" Artist Proposals

The Los Angeles based non-profit, 18th Street Art Center, aims to provoke public dialogue through contemporary art making. For the 2010 exhibition year, 18th Street Arts Center is seeking proposals from artists, teams of artists, and curators which addresses a common theme; the status of our creative economy.

About Status Report: The Creative Economy

A creative economy is characterized by the key economic factors of talent, innovation and creativity. As the notion of a creative class is widely discussed, promoted and debated, it is apparent through recent research that these factors are not distributed evenly across the economy, but instead seem concentrated in specific locations. Where people gather is critical in stimulating new sources of growth, new idea generation, and an increase in productivity.

Los Angeles is often described as one of these places. After a turbulent economic year where do we stand? Are we on the way up, on the way down, or stuck in neutral? Who are the players and mediators in a creative economy, and how is it changing? Who is included and who is excluded? How are artists responding to seismic changes in the arts and culture market, and what are the new models they are developing to support the production of their work, and the dissemination of their ideas? How should our cultural institutions, both non - profit and for profit, be responsive to the overall health of the Los Angeles creative economy?

18th Street is interested in proposals which look at new methods of research and artistic production which address issues of civic engagement and personal responsibility, local community and its diversity, demographics and equity, conflict resolution and social awareness, and the re-development of the urban environment as a holistic and spiritual enterprise.

Selected proposals will be offered:

Three month residency at 18th Street Arts Center
Fee ranging from $2500-5000 to complete the proposed project
Will be presented during our quarterly Art Nights, as either an exhibition, or a public project
We encourage and will most closely look at proposals which use our gallery and project room as a laboratory/studio for new work and ideas. Artists will be encouraged to use our site as a point of interaction, production, and inquiry.

Proposals will be accepted from individual artists as well as teams of artists, and from curators. A catalogue will be published for all of the projects.

To submit a proposal:

Please send a concise proposal of no more than three pages by June 30, 2009; it should include the project description which relates to the theme Status Report: The Creative Economy; the names and a brief bio of project participants; up to 12 images of art works or previous projects which have bearing on the proposal (jpeg format, no larger than 6" x 4", 200dpi); and a preliminary budget as to how the funds will be used, showing any additional sources of support.

Proposals should be submitted on-line to:
ccampbell (at) 18thstreet.org

or mailed to:

Clayton Campbell, Artistic Director
18th Street Arts Center
1639 18th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Artists’ Access to Healthcare - North

Artists are typically self-employed or employed part-time and struggle with the rising cost of health insurance. Many times artists go without health insurance or with very basic coverage.

With many regional programs underway, help is around the corner. In Minnesota the problem has encouraged The Artist Relief Fund and the Lake Superior Community Health Center to start the Artists’ Access to Healthcare - North. This partnership between the two community based nonprofits will help provide free or low-cost healthcare to individual artists in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and Douglas and Bayfield Counties of Wisconsin. Beginning March 25, 2009, individual artists may apply to the Artist Relief Fund for a voucher to be used at the Lake Superior Community Health Clinics located at 4325 Grand Avenue in Duluth or 3600 Tower Avenue in Superior.

“Health care is a major concern for the artists we serve. Many are self-employed and have little or no insurance,” says Erika Mock, President of the Artist Relief Fund board. “We are very excited to partner with the Lake Superior Community Health Center to provide artists with a new option for affordable healthcare. Helping artists connect to options for healthcare, especially preventative care is an important goal of the Artist Relief Fund. This program is a perfect start towards that goal, and we hope that the partnership will be able to grow to provide even more healthcare for area artists.”

Wende Nelson, Executive Director of the Lake Superior Community Health Center (LSCHC) adds, “At the LSCHC, we also believe that our country should provide affordable health care for its artists. For years our clinic has provided medical care on a sliding fee scale basis for working artists (full and part-time) who do not have health insurance, so we are very excited about this partnership with The Artist Relief Fund.”

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

New Jersy Paper and Printmakers Fellowship


Kiki Smith, Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions

New Jersey Print and Paper Fellowships 2009
Deadline: May 20th, 2009

New Jersey artists are invited to apply for a two week residency at the Brodsky Center For Innovative Editions. The artist will work with a master printer or papermaker to produce a print or handmade paper project. Participants will receive a $500 honorarium and ½ the edition. All projects will be completed within the residency period. This competition is open to artists in any medium.

Jurors are; Latoya Frazier, Director, MGSA Galleries, Rutgers; Stephen Westfall, Artist: and John Yau, Critic and Poet.

This competition is open for New Jersey residents only. Must show proof of residence (copy of utility or phone bill with application).

Submit:
10 jpegs on a CD not exceeding 72dpi and 5x7 in either height or width. Slides are not accepted. Each image must be labeled with artist last name and image number (ie….Lastname_01.jpeg). Resume. Image list including name, title, size, and medium. Statement of why you want to work with the BCIE and the project you would like to pursue in 500 words or less. Proof of residency. SASE

Send to:
Brodsky Center, Mason Gross School of the Arts, visual Arts, 33 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Monday, April 6, 2009

Individual Artist Grants For Winston-Salem and Forsyth County

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is Seeking Grant Applications for 2009-2010 Funding Year

Individual artists and small unincorporated groups are invited to attend the Regional Artist Project Grant Information Session at Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem State University

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, Noon

Applications due June 1, 2009

The grant offers support to artists in the local community and region, helping each artist further his or her career development. Individual artists and small unincorporated groups are eligible to apply.

For further details on grant categories and information sessions for Organizational Support Grant applicants at The Arts Council visit its website or contact Chris Koenig, at 336-722-2585, Ext. 121 or ckoenig@intothearts.org.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Art Resources Transfer

I just came across this great organization that truly believes in preserving and promoting artist's voices. It's called Art Resources Transfer and below is more information.

Art Resources Transfer, Inc., founded by Bill Bartman in 1987, is a non-profit organization committed to documenting and supporting artists' voices and work, and to making these voices accessible to the broadest possible public by establishing innovative methods of distribution and access.

Since its founding, Art Resources Transfer has maintained two interconnected, program areas: publishing (A.R.T. Press), and the free distribution of books to underserved communities (DUC Program).

A.R.T. Press primarily publishes books based on artist to artist conversations. The conversation format permits a thorough and at the same time informal investigation of the artists’ practice and the larger social issues that inform it. By virtue of their clarity, personal focus, affordability, and innovative method of distribution, these books make possible the presentation of contemporary artists and their work to a wide readership.

The D.U.C. Program distributes books on contemporary art and culture free of charge to rural and inner-city libraries, schools and alternative reading centers nationwide. The program aims to actively further a more egalitarian access to contemporary art, and is committed to fostering partnerships between publishers, non-profit organizations, librarians and readers to enrich and diversify library collections. The D.U.C program offers well over 490 titles by 90 different publishers. The program reaches readers in all 50 states and has placed well over 200,000 free books in public libraries, schools, and alternative pedagogical venues.