| | | News and Opportunities for Artists of Fairfield County February 25, 2019 PART TWO We regret the delay in mailing this issue, due to an issue with the mailing house |
| | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit service organization that supports its members through unified marketing, capacity building, professional development, and advocacy services. This newsletter is sent to all who request it - but we ask that, if you are not a member, you explore membership benefits and consider joining this community of more than 600 individuals and organizations. See member benefits here. Join here.
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| | | | | Grace Weaver, Undercover. 2018 |
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| | | Photo in artsy by Christian Fregnan on Unsplash. |
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| SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AND ARTISTS' WORK
From artsy. Casey Lesser writes in a Feb. 14, 2019 artsy article, about the experience of New York artist Juno Shen, who in 2015 started experiencing mood swings: she felt irritable and couldn’t motivate herself to leave her apartment, let alone make art. She was later diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression commonly known to surge in colder months. Determined to get to the root of her problems, she learned that SAD "is triggered by inconsistencies in one’s exposure to sunlight, which cause your body’s circadian rhythm to become desynchronized,” she explained. She struggled for years, from September to May, until she found ways to effectively treat it—including maximizing her natural light intake, meditating, and seeing a cognitive behavioral therapist. Shen is hardly alone: It’s estimated that as much as 13-23% of the U.S. population may experience some form of SAD, which has symptoms ranging from long periods of depression, lethargy, and a lack of motivation, to sleeping issues, feelings of hopelessness, agitation, and difficulty concentrating. Artists who experience SAD, like Shen, find their productivity and practices change according to the seasons. Psychiatrist Dr. Norman Rosenthal, who pioneered light therapy treatments for it, has studied the link between SAD and creativity. "You often find artists who come alive during the spring and summer, like Emily Dickinson, Wallace Stevens, and Vincent van Gogh, who all recognized how the changing light affected their moods, and how that influenced their productivity” and what they created. If a person is experiencing SAD, they should seek treatment, such as light therapy, which involves regular exposure to a special light that imitates natural light in order to lift mood. However, going for a walk outdoors is another strong option. Rosenthal suggested making one room in the house or studio very bright by painting it in a cheerful color. Shen herself started sculpting with neon, and found it helped: "When I was first learning to bend neon, I spent over six hours a day forming hot glass in a bright blue flame. I didn’t realize it at first, but neon bending was the perfect combination of meditation and light therapy." Her boxes that hold glowing neon symbols are not therapeutic devices, she said, “but there is no doubt that they were forged in the flames of severe mental anguish. The experience was very frightening for me, and I’m very thankful that I was able to emerge from the flames a stronger person.” Read complete article here. |
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| 85% OF ARTISTS IN U.S. MUSEUM COLLECTIONS ARE WHITE 87% ARE MALES
Artnet news and artsy report on a study showing that the permanent collections of America’s museums are disproportionately male and overwhelmingly white. The study published by the Public Library of Science is based on online data from 18 major U.S. museums—including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston—had at its disposal more than 40,000 works by over 10,000 artists. Analysis of gender, age, race, and ethnicity showed that 85% of artists in these museum collections are white, and 87% are men; the general U.S. population is 60.7% white non-hispanic and 50.8% female, according to recent census data. The study also highlights museums that significantly under- or over-performed in certain demographic categories. For instance, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is the only institution among the 18 featured museums that showed a significantly higher percentage of black and African American artists in its collection, while the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles showed significantly more Hispanic and Latinx artists than the other institutions. With regard to women artists, researchers found that the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), the Met, and MFA Boston have "a significantly lower proportion of women"—all below 8%. Leaders in the sample were LA MOCA (which had 24.9%), SFMOMA (18.1%), and the Whitney (22%). While acknowledging the technical limitations of their study, which relies on data from online collections that are neither exhaustive nor standardized across institutions, the study’s authors conclude: “Our demographic estimates provide museums with a benchmark for diversity in their collections, and could be used to make decisions impacting collection development.” Last weekend, New York City’s Morgan Library & Museum became the focus of an online petition after it revealed a 2019 exhibitions program featuring exclusively white male artists. |
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| | CALLS FOR ENTRY- Deadlines
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| | | | | | | LIMNER GALLERY HUDSON, NY ARTE NATURA FEBRUARY 28
SlowArt Productions presents the group thematic exhibition, Arte Natura. This exhibition will focus on art inspired by the natural world and will be held at the Limner Gallery (Hudson, NY), May 9 – June 1, 2019. Eligible are all art forms relating to, or gaining inspiration from, the world of nature. Landscapes, skyscapes, flowers, vegetables, fruits and animals are all eligible. All artist interpretations of the natural world from the realist to the abstract and conceptual will be reviewed and considered. The competition is open to all artists, national and international, working in all media. All forms of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, graphics, digital and installation art, video, collage, digital collage, etc. are eligible. Maximum 72" high, 96" wide for wall mounted works; sculpture must fit through a standard height, 36" wide entry door. All works must be for sale. The gallery will take a 35% commission on all sales. Sale price is determined by the artist. Entry fee: $35 for one to four artworks entered, presentation is by digital image files. Guidelines and entry forms here. |
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| FIREHOUSE GALLERY MILFORD LIVING COLOR MARCH 8 - 9
The Firehouse Gallery, Milford, is calling for submissions to its Living Color exhibit, March 21 – April 14, 2019. Show your interpretation of “Living Color” in the natural world. If you pay attention, you will notice the splendid colors in nature – the plumage of birds, the lichens and moss on rock, the blue sky reflected on lakes and rivers. Show us your interpretation of the colors found in nature in the work you create. Juror: Robin Gilmore Jopp, artist and proprietor of Made In Bridgeport. She is a teaching artist for City Lights Gallery and Arts for Learning and many community based programs in Fairfield County. Work must be recent (up to five years old) and NOT previously exhibited at the MAC Firehouse Gallery. 2-d works must be framed and wired for hanging. No exceptions. Maximum artwork size: 24x36. Fees: $35 for one entry ($45 for two); fees include a non-refundable $10 jury fee per artist. All submissions must be be brought to the Firehouse Gallery: Fri. March 8, 12-4pm, or Sat. March 9, 9am- 12pm. Artists are encouraged to submit their work on the online registration page. Submissions can be brought to the Firehouse Gallery to be approved by the jury: Fri. March 8, 12-4pm, or Sat. March 9, 9am-12pm. Cash awards for first, second and third place winners. |
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| SPECTRUM GALLERY ESSEX LOTS OF LAUGHS! MARCH 17-22
Spectrum Gallery is calling for artists working in all mediums to submit art for the next exhibit, Lots of Laughs, March 29-May 19, 2019. Art can make us laugh and show humorous aspects of life. So let’s welcome the change of season with a few laughs and not take ourselves too seriously. Receiving is March 17-22 except Wed. March 20. Receiving hours are 12:30-6pm. Gallery Director always knows ahead of receiving which pieces have been accepted both in the gallery and the store so please submit early. Artists have the additional option to add work to the Spectrum Anytime online store for optimum exposure. Send 3-4 high resolution jpegs of your work with titles, medium, dimensions and date created directly to this email: Barbara@spectrumartgallery.org |
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| CT HUMANITIES
AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS
2019 CT BOOK AWARDS
APRIL 19Connecticut Center for the Book at Connecticut Humanities is now accepting submissions for the 2019 Connecticut Book Awards! These awards recognize the best books of 2018 by authors and illustrators who reside in Connecticut. Categories include: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Young Readers (Picture Books, Fiction, and Nonfiction). This year the awards will include the Bruce Fraser ‘Spirit of Connecticut’ Award, in memory of long-time director Bruce Fraser and celebrating Connecticut’s sense of place .Entry fee starts at $40 for a 2,000 copy or less print run. Submissions will be accepted through April 19, 2019. For guidelines and to submit, please visit https://ctcenterforthebook.org. |
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| | STAMFORD LOFT ARTISTS SEEKS ARTISTS |
| The Loft Artists Association is seeking artists of all mediums to join a dynamic group of accomplished artists occupying a building in Stamford’s historic South End. Two state-of-the-art galleries and fourteen studios provide ample opportunity for collaboration and professional growth. Apply at loftartists.org or contact loftartistassociation@gmail.com
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| | | OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE |
| | NEA MUSICAL THEATER SONGWRITING CHALLENGE APRIL 30
The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts partnering with the American Theatre Wing and in collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions and Samuel French, a division of Concord Records. The Songwriting Challenge is a national competition for high school students who have a passion for writing songs that could be part of a musical theater production and the wide range of musical styles represented in contemporary musical theater including hip-hop, rock, R&B, country, jazz, and more. Finalists for the Songwriting Challenge will be selected from six regions across the country and paired with mentors working professionally in musical theatre to develop their songs into Broadway-stage-ready compositions, via both video chats and in person working sessions. Finalists’ songs will be professionally recorded by Broadway artists in New York City. The songs will included on a CD and broadcast on national radio, as well as published in a songbook by Samuel French. Click here to start your application for the 2019 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge! Applications will be accepted through April 30th, 2019 at 11:59PM EST. For more information about the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, click here. |
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| LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM
YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION JUNE 7
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum (LMMM) is launching its sixth annual writing competition entitled, A Victorian Era Mystery: "Whodunit" at the Mansion, ending June 7, 2019, with an awards presentation on Sun., Nov. 17. Detective novels became popular during the Victorian era. The LMMM 2019 Young Writers’ Competition, whose themes are inspired by the great mystery genre trending in the mid-19th century, and still widely read today, aims to inspire and challenge all participants. The competition is open to all students, third through eighth grade. Their characters will be drawn from 19th-century members of the Lockwood or Mathews families, by reading their history on the LMMM website, under the tab, “History,” and by talking to the museum’s educators, if needed. Young writers may introduce fictional friends that might have visited the Lockwoods or the Mathews at the Mansion for a special occasion, as well as a fictional detective from the City of Norwalk. All descriptions must be in keeping with the historical period selected. Writers will have to learn about the Mansion’s Period Rooms, as they will serve as the backdrop for their story. The objective is to create a short historical and partly fictionalized account that will include at least three facts woven into the fictional story. All stories must have non-violent content. No murders, please! The stories will be picked up from contestants and their teachers on Friday, June 7th and competition winners will be notified by mid-September. Competition winners and their families will be Guests of Honor at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, 2-4 p.m. Requirements for the competition will be tailored to third-eighth graders and posted on the Museum’s website and on flyers. Email Iliana Begetis or call (203-838-9799, x113) |
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| | | | MILLAY COLONY RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS, WRITERS, COMPOSERS MARCH 1
The Millay Colony is an artists residency program in Upstate New York that welcomes 6-7 visual artists, writers and composers each month between April and November. Millay offers several flexible residency formats, all including a private bedroom and studio as well as all meals. Artists of all ages, from all cultures and communities, and in all stages of their career are welcomed. Millay offers ample time to work in a gorgeous atmosphere, organizing everything an artist needs for maximum productivity. The seven-acre Upstate New York campus is adjacent to the former home and gardens of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and the exquisite Harvey Mountain State Forest. Residents and guests have access to trails for hiking and bicycles, as well as meadows for picnics, and creeks and streams for cooling off. The Millay Colony Barn has four bedrooms and four studios with meadow and mountain views. The Main Building contains two residency suites and studios as well as common areas open to all residents. Applications to our artists residency program must be submitted online or postmarked by one of our deadlines, either October 1st or March 1st. All residents are judged anonymously by a panel of artists in their field. Millay aims to make the jury process as transparent and “fair” as possible. You can read about past juries on the Juries page. Apply here. For more information, call or email Managing Director Calliope Nicholas at 518-392-3103 or residency@millaycolony.org. |
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| LOWER EAST SIDE PRINTSHOP NEW YORK KEYHOLDER RESIDENCIES MARCH 1
The Lower East Side Printshop (founded in 1968, and now a premier not-for-profit printmaking studio in New York City that helps contemporary artists create new artwork and advance their careers) awards eight residencies to emerging artists working in various mediums, providing free 24-hour keyholder access, a $1,000 stipend, and basic access to printmaking resources and studio space in the Lower East Side. All disciplines are eligible to apply. Residencies are free and one year long, starting on April 1st and October 1st each year, and they take place in the shared Artists’ Studio, including the solvent/etching area and the darkroom.Keyholders work independently, in a productive atmosphere alongside other contemporary artists. Artists from all disciplines are eligible to apply; print-making skills are not required, but some familiarity with the medium is recommended. Basic instruction in printmaking techniques is available for new Keyholders. Technical assistance is not included in the program, but is available at additional cost. Participation is competitive. Applications are evaluated by a rotating committee of artists, critics, curators, and art professionals based on the quality of submitted artwork. A total of 8 artists are awarded the residency annually. Artists based in the New York City area and without access to a studio space are encouraged to apply. Electronic applications only. Guidelines here; application form here. |
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| | | | | CT OFFICE OF THE ARTS FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR CT ARTISTS MERIDEN MARCH 25 & 26
The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), working with the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF), is presenting a two-part free workshop on Financial Fundamentals for Artists. The workshops take place Monday and Tuesday, March 25 and 26, 4-6:30pm, at the CEFD offices, 965 E. Main St., Meriden, CT 06450. The workshops are free, but registration is required. This two-part introduction lays the groundwork for understanding small business financial fundamentals so you can temper decisions with a balanced eye toward the long term. Whether you are a visual artist, performer or educator hoping to make your passion pay the bills, you need the same knowledge as the owner of any small business. Lessons to be learned in the course include: Why financial management is important for all artists; why some businesses succeed and others fail; who does the work of bookkeeping, accounting and tax preparation; accounting basics (more than you think you might want); the two most common small business mousetraps; why financial reports are necessary tools for measuring success; how an income statement and a balance sheet are structured; what "cash flow" is all about and more. The instructor is Frederick Welk, a CEDF business advisor, serving as director of education and communications, who has spent 30+ years in specialty retailing and franchise development, operating his own company for 23 years. Register today here. |
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| | CREATIVE CAPITAL WEBINARS |
| Values-Based Goal Setting
Thurs. Feb. 28
7pm—8:30pm $25 Since 1995, Susan Koblin Schear has helped artists with compre-hensive, process-oriented planning and business development to expand their practices. In this online workshop, she will help artists set goals that align with their core values. Register. |
| | Website, Blog and Email Essentials
Mon.March 4
7pm—8:30pm $25
Take website and email communi-cations to the next level! Artist Sue Schaffner presents case studies, and the most up-to-date best practices for using digital communications tools to promote artistic work and engage new audiencess. Register. |
| | Unlocking Europe: Commissions & Festivals
Wed. March 13
7pm—8:30pm $25Europe pays $30 million in commission fees to artists every year, and artist Kurt Perschke has defined his career by receiving commissions from festivals and venues across the continent. In this online workshop, he will discuss how to research cultural presenters and festivals, identify opportunities, and how to pitch during commissioning season. Register. |
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| | | | | | INTEMPO FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
INTEMPO, a Stamford-based non-profit arts education and youth-development organization, seeks a Fundraising and Development Associate, who will work collaboratively with the executive director and grants manager to create and implement fundraising and development strategies to support increased growth and scalability. They will expand INTEMPO’s fundraising capacity, raising its visibility and positioning it as a leader among music education and youth development groups serving low income children of Fairfield County. Responsibilities include: work with ED and Board to create and implement annual fundraising strategy and plan for achieving fundraising goals; perform regular correspondence and outreach to current and prospective donors; research potential new funding sources, develop relationships and create new funding streams, including major gifts; lead design and implementation of annual appeal, summer program appeal, and crowd-funding campaigns; develop and manage donor database, tracking contributions, correspondence, and history; assist with planning and implementing high-profile events featuring key donors and stakeholders; work with grants manager to sustain current and seek new grants by assisting with grant preparation, review, management and/or oversight of grant proposals, submissions, and reporting; perform ongoing management, reporting, and stewardship of existing donors. Successful candidates will have: strong written and oral presentation skills; a commitment to INTEMPO’s mission; a professional demeanor and ability to speak with community members and families, high-level donors, and public officials; 2-3 years of experience in fundraising and/or development (or college experience equivalent); computer, Internet, and social media literacy, and proficiency in Microsoft Office programs; ability to travel to sites throughout Fairfield County; a Bachelor’s degree. To Apply: with "2019 Fundraising and Development Associate" in the subject line, email resume and cover letter detailing availability to angie@intempo.org. Resumes accepted immediately until March 30. |
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| MARKS PROJECT TECHNOLOGY INTERN The Marks Project, Inc. (TMP), a not-for-profit research hub of post-war American Ceramics seeks a paid Technology Intern to assist Database and Work Flow Manager. Intern will learn website quality control, become familiar with material and artists docu-mented, research tools and approach, workflow tracking, the mission and ethics of TMP.
TMP is a tight-knit team dedicated to documenting post-war American studio and contemporary ceramists, their work and marks. The right applicant will have the ability to grow into research assistant position, adapt to different research project responsibilities from analyzing, organizing and dispersing incoming data to ultimately publishing content on our website. TMP is dedicated to young scholars and developing talent, it is looking for an applicant who is enthusiastic and interested in building the skill set needed to create solutions to daily challenges. Successful applicant will enter a 6 week internship training period.
Requirements for Internship:
• Minimum 4 year degree ceramics, art history, library science.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, social media, cloud storage.
• Ability to develop research technology resources.
• Delights in details, tracking project and data.
• Proven ability to work in team.
• Must be self-directed, adaptable, organized, and professional.
• Experience troubleshooting technology.
• Applicant should have general knowledge of ceramics
• Work from home within 90-minute drive of Riverside, CT or Springfield, MA.
• Work remotely. Attend regular in-person meetings.
• Applicant must provide own high-speed internet access.
Position: Post-Internship position is Research Associate and reports directly to Research Coordinator. This paid position (minimum of #13/hour) continues training for up to 4 months of increasing responsibility. Send a cover letter, your resume including 2 recent references to: info@themarksproject.org. |
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| | MENDOLA ARTISTS SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB CONTENT COORDINATOR
Mendola Artists, am established artists’ agency in South Norwalk, CT looking for an innovative and creative thinker to join our team. The ideal candidate must be computer savvy with strong writing and communications skills. Responsibilities: Develop and assist in the creation of social media posts and email blasts to maximize agency outreach. Analyze current effectiveness of social media posts and identify improvements. Analyze artist/illustrator portfolios to provide technical, keyword and aesthetic assistance to our artists to ensure the most productive use of imagery. Office duties include invoicing, collections and monthly sales reports with Quickbooks and Excel. Send resume and cover letter to Tim Mendola, 212-986-5680 |
| | Jobs Previously Listed and Still Available
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| | FOR JOBS, FOR SALE, FOR RENT, VOLUNTEERS, AND CALLS FOR ARTISTS - CONSULT AND POST IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS |
| | | | | Feb. 28: Limner Gallery, Hudson: Arte Natura Submission Deadline
MARCH Mar. 8-9: Firehouse Gallery, Milford: Living Color Receiving
April 30: NEA Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Application Deadline
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| | | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) cultural nonprofit membership organization. We are grateful to our members and our donors whose support enables us to do our work. Donations are always very welcome and may be made here. In particular, we are grateful for support from: |
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