masterpiece 2.0
click here for more info about this social media art project by baschz and selfcontrolfreak
via tinkebell
click 
MFA PROGRAMS
**I just got this question from a reader and although I normally don't deal with MFA issues, I thought I'd post it because it's a common question that keeps popping up in my email box:
Q: Dear Mira,
Do you know of low-residency MFA programs (poetry) that offer financial aid in the form of grants, not simply loans? Or can you point me to a resource that lists these? I can't imagine there are very many such programs. I've done some searching, but "financial aid" usually seems to focus on loans, and I can't go into more debt, so I'm looking for some balance of loans and grants, if I am to pursue an MFA. I live in western MA, and something near here would be especially good, but a low cost, quality program is my priority.
A: That's a tough question, one I had to research for myself a few years back when I was applying for MFA programs in fiction. I opted out of the low-residency system because when I was looking, the programs I was interested in didn't offer funding at the time (although some might now...I'm not sure). However, the Warren Wilson program now offers some scholarship funding so others might too. You need to pick the places you are interested in and just see what they offer. Since you are in Western, MA, if it is possible for you to do a full MFA Program, you have one of the best in the country at Umass Amherst (where I went to) and they give funding via teaching fellowships, internships at literary journals, etc. For info on both low-residency and traditional MFA programs, the best site I have found is a blog: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com. There's a link regarding funding and many other helpful links. Sorry I don't know enough about this subject but if anyone else out there does, please comment below! And check out the creative-writing-mfa-handbook blog. It's excellent! And good luck!
Best Wishes, Mira
***BTW: (For those of you who do not know what a low-residency program is, it is an MFA program for working adults who cannot go to grad. school on a daily basis. You attend intensive workshops, lectures, and so on, for ten days twice a year for two to three years and send your manuscript you are working on (or images from your art portfolio) about every three weeks to your teacher/mentor for feedback. There are programs like this all over. A couple of the most famous ones are Warren Wilson in Asheville, North Carolina, and Bennington in Vermont. For more information on MFA Programs, here is a great blog I just came across: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com (and for specific low residency info: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/2006/03/from-low-residency-queen.html).
Q: Dear Mira,
Do you know of low-residency MFA programs (poetry) that offer financial aid in the form of grants, not simply loans? Or can you point me to a resource that lists these? I can't imagine there are very many such programs. I've done some searching, but "financial aid" usually seems to focus on loans, and I can't go into more debt, so I'm looking for some balance of loans and grants, if I am to pursue an MFA. I live in western MA, and something near here would be especially good, but a low cost, quality program is my priority.
A: That's a tough question, one I had to research for myself a few years back when I was applying for MFA programs in fiction. I opted out of the low-residency system because when I was looking, the programs I was interested in didn't offer funding at the time (although some might now...I'm not sure). However, the Warren Wilson program now offers some scholarship funding so others might too. You need to pick the places you are interested in and just see what they offer. Since you are in Western, MA, if it is possible for you to do a full MFA Program, you have one of the best in the country at Umass Amherst (where I went to) and they give funding via teaching fellowships, internships at literary journals, etc. For info on both low-residency and traditional MFA programs, the best site I have found is a blog: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com. There's a link regarding funding and many other helpful links. Sorry I don't know enough about this subject but if anyone else out there does, please comment below! And check out the creative-writing-mfa-handbook blog. It's excellent! And good luck!
Best Wishes, Mira
***BTW: (For those of you who do not know what a low-residency program is, it is an MFA program for working adults who cannot go to grad. school on a daily basis. You attend intensive workshops, lectures, and so on, for ten days twice a year for two to three years and send your manuscript you are working on (or images from your art portfolio) about every three weeks to your teacher/mentor for feedback. There are programs like this all over. A couple of the most famous ones are Warren Wilson in Asheville, North Carolina, and Bennington in Vermont. For more information on MFA Programs, here is a great blog I just came across: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com (and for specific low residency info: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/2006/03/from-low-residency-queen.html).
ARTIST TRUST FELLOWSHIPS FOR WASHINGTON STATE ARTISTS
(ALL) The Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship awards $7,500 to practicing professional artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability. The Fellowship is a merit-based, not project-based award. Artist Trust seeks applications from individual generative artists for the 2009 Fellowship. This year artists in the following categories are invited to apply: Music, Media, Literary and Craft Arts (Emerging Fields, Cross-Disciplinary, Performing, Visual and Traditional & Folk Artists can apply in June 2010.)
Deadline: June 12, 2009
Deadline: June 12, 2009
melissa moss : artists who blog
Melissa's blog: www.melissamossart.blogspot.com
Melissa's website: www.melissamossart.com
Melissa's shop: www.melissamoss.etsy.com
Why did you decide to start a blog?
My friend Marisa Haedike convinced me that it was a great way to get more traffic to my site. I had just had my son and was feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do much work so I wanted to have something that I could update regularly to let people know what I was up to.
But I really started blogging regularly when we moved and drove cross-country from Los Angeles to Asheville, NC. I used it as a way to let my friends and family know where we were each day and about our traveling adventures.
How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?
I would say only recently that it has affected my work. I am now doing daily drawings that I post on my blog and just the fact that I have announced that I’m doing this has really made me sit down every night and create something. I kind of needed that kick in the pants.
What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?
I check the blogs of my good friends Marisa Haedike (Creative Thursday) and Cathy Nichols all the time because I love their work and I miss them and want to see what they’re up to. I also love Whorange, sfgirlbybay & Poppytalk.
Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?
The best advice is to update your blog often, daily if you can. Then people will know to go back on a regular basis. This is very difficult for me to do with a 20 month old son but I’m working on it. And now the daily drawings will help.
What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?
The comments are so great. It’s so nice to get a really sweet note from someone you’ve never met. It makes you feel like your posts aren’t just floating around in cyberspace.
What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?
Well, this economy has been really tough. I used to have a steady 9-5 job in publishing and was never really affected by the economy. But I think the art world has really suffered.
But the most rewarding thing is that I’m not at that 9-5 job anymore and I get to paint and draw for a living and be with my son all day. You can’t beat that.
Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?
I think the best way is to get mentioned on other blogs. I definitely see my sales increase after a mention. Etsy has also been great. It’s better when you have new things to list often though...I’m working on that.
How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
The older my son gets the easier it is. The first year was pretty hard. But now he can play on his own for short periods of time. Enough for me to check emails at least.
What are your main goals for 2009?
I really want to get into a routine of painting more. It always feels so good when I’m in the middle of a painting and especially when I finish one. But starting one is so hard sometimes. And also to spend as much time with my son as possible and stilll earn a living. He’ll be in school in a few years and I want to take advantage of this precious time.
Thanks Melissa!
ON MY ODD LITTLE LOGO
Good morning. A couple people asked me this week why I chose that odd little guy with the hat for my logo. Well, here's the answer: the engraving comes from the Netherlands and the title is "The Making of Gelderland in Beeld." When I first saw it (on the most amazing blog in the world, BibliOdyssey) I mistakenly thought it meant: The Making of Money (gelt). I liked that a lot because here was a little dude with a big heart, offering things to the world (books, beautiful places, nature, money, etc), and for my blogalicious and altruistic purposes, that worked for me. But I have since found out that Gelderland is a real place and "in Beeld" means "in a picture." Gelderland is actually a province in the east of the Netherlands, bordering on Germany to the east, Utrecht to the north, Noord-Brabant to the south and Zuid-Holland and Utrecht to the west. Nevertheless, perhaps the title does, in some strange way, mean the creation of money or culture or general goodness (Dutch speakers help me out here). And since I really like the picture, the little dude is here to stay, at least for a while. Below is the full sized
engraving where the detail resides, for you archival geeks out there. And speaking of the creation of gelt (as opposed to guilt), a great big thank you to the couple people who sent me donations last night—while I was sleeping! As some of you know from reading my long grant article, I can't work full time anymore so I greatly appreciate any contribution, large or very wee, any book purchase via my site (more books to come eventually), or anytime you simply pass on this site to other people. It is all good, all gelt, and all guilt-free. More to come soon...I'm always thinking of you and how to get you money, time and a place to create. I love doing this blog and when I'm done with my book revision (hopefully the end of May), I will launch some new things I think you'll like. In the meantime, keep making art, have a big heart and toss some good things into the air.
ARTS WRITING GRANT OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS APRIL 27th
(ARTS WRITING) Creative Capital/Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program
The Creative Capital/Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program is pleased to announce the renewal of the Arts Writers Grant Program for a five-year period. The 2009 grant cycle will open for submissions on April 27, 2009. Designed to encourage and reward writing about contemporary art that is rigorous, passionate, eloquent and precise, as well as to create a broader audience for arts writing, the program aims to strengthen the field as a whole and to ensure that critical writing remains a valued mode of engaging the visual arts. The program’s renewal signals the continued commitment of Creative Capital and the Warhol Foundation to these goals. These grants range from $7,000 to $50,000 in four categories—articles, books, short-form writing, and blogs/new and alternative media—and support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences. Creative Capital will start accepting submissions starting April 27th, 2009. They also have other kinds of grants available so please check the website. For more info on the arts writing grant, go to: http://www.artswriters.org/home.php
The Creative Capital/Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program is pleased to announce the renewal of the Arts Writers Grant Program for a five-year period. The 2009 grant cycle will open for submissions on April 27, 2009. Designed to encourage and reward writing about contemporary art that is rigorous, passionate, eloquent and precise, as well as to create a broader audience for arts writing, the program aims to strengthen the field as a whole and to ensure that critical writing remains a valued mode of engaging the visual arts. The program’s renewal signals the continued commitment of Creative Capital and the Warhol Foundation to these goals. These grants range from $7,000 to $50,000 in four categories—articles, books, short-form writing, and blogs/new and alternative media—and support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences. Creative Capital will start accepting submissions starting April 27th, 2009. They also have other kinds of grants available so please check the website. For more info on the arts writing grant, go to: http://www.artswriters.org/home.php
GRANTS FOR LESBIAN WRITERS
(WRITERS) Astraea Lesbian Action Foundation: e-mail Address: info@astraea.org, website: www.astraea.org. The Lesbian Writers' Fund Awards offer grants of $10,000 each to emerging lesbian writers in fiction and poetry who have published at least once in a magazine, literary journal, or anthology. Write to Lesbian Writers' Fund Awards at above address or see the web site for guidelines and application. Application Deadline: June 30
showtime: jds architects
jds architects present "the walker through walls" at the centre wallonie-bruxelles gallery in paris. click here for the jds website and here for their blog.
showtime: art amsterdam
click here for the website.
happy famous artists will visit the show so let us know
if you want to meet!
EMERGING ARTISTS: NEW MEDIA GRANT WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT
For a fourth year, the Caisse populaire Desjardins du Mont-Royal and OBORO in Montreal unite to offer a creative grant to an artist under 35 access to OBORO’s New Media Lab resources and equipment (a $5,000 value). The grant will be awarded to produce an innovative project that delves into the realm of new media (video, audio, web, or multimedia). In addition to basic technical support, the chosen artist will have the opportunity to present his or her completed work to the public in an artist talk. The winning project will also be given a choice spot in OBORO’s annual programming. OBORO also offers prizes for short films and videos and help with production assistance for creative media projects. For a complete project description go to: http://www.oboro.net/pdf/press/0809/news/bourse_pop_eng.pdf For Questions and further info, email:oboro@oboro.net 
FULBRIGHT GRANTS: THE INSIDE SCOOP
Greetings Earthlings.
As promised, here are some notes I took while at the Transcultural Exchange Conference in Boston a couple weeks ago. I spoke about Fulbright grants a little at my talk during the first day of the conference, but the next day I was fortunate to hear Fulbright spokesman, David Abrams speak and I learned a couple new things about this amazing web of overseas programs. Anyway, first, a brief explanation of the Fulbright Program from their website: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
There are several programs administered by the Fulbright Program. Go here to figure out which program is right for you: http://fulbright.state.gov/fulbright/about/whichgrant. The two most people and former students of mine ask me about is the program for students, post-doc or MFA graduate students, and young professionals/scholars/artists and the other one for scholars (who can also be artists, by the way) There are also Fulbrights for professors from American universities to teach abroad and several other programs, all under the umbrella of the Fulbright Program, but I am going to just deal with the two travel programs for artists/independent scholars/professionals and students. If you are still close to your first or second degree and it was less than five years ago that you got it, you should apply for the Full Grant for students. In order to be eligible for a Full Grant, under the auspices of the U.S. Student Fulbright Program, you must be:
Example: I got a Fulbright (from the Fubright Scholar Program) when I was 35 yrs. old and was ten years out of grad school. I had no academic affiliation but applied as an independent scholar to collect stories from the Sámi (formerly known as Lapps) in Northern Norway, and to study their material culture in various museums.
Some random notes and tips regarding Fulbrights:
Applications:
• Describe in detail what you are doing to do. One of the biggest mistakes on applications is writing way too much background information on a subject rather than dealing with the project you want to pursue.
• Think about your methodology: How are you going to do what you are planning to do? Talk about this in a detailed and articulate way.
• Why that country? What does that country offer to your research (or your art) that another one wouldn't? You have to have a reason to go there.
• How will the experience contribute to your personal and artistic development?
• Make sure that your project doesn't sound insurmountable. Be realistic. For instance, if you are planning on going to India for nine months, don't write about a project that would take you over three years to complete. Think about what you can actually achieve in the set amount of time that you have, given all the cultural barriers you might encounter.
A Couple Misconceptions:
• You have to be fluent in the host country's language.
Nope. It really depends on the project. If you are applying to France to translate all of Proust's work then yes, you do need the language. But if you want to go to, say Brazil, and do a series of paintings based on the cultural history of Carnival, then you don't need the language. It really depends on the project. The Fulbright Program is very understanding when it comes to people in the arts wanting to pursue creative projects abroad.
• You need to have letters from institutions from the host country.
Up until recently, I actually thought this was necessary, because when I applied years ago I heard that it did. But the truth is that it depends once again on where you are applying to and why. The description of the award listed will tell you whether or not you need letters. Read the description very carefully. Example: The description of the award says getting invitation letters from the host country would be advantageous to your application. And let's say your research is entirely dependent on your access to specific museums somewhere. You must then write those places and tell them you are applying for a Fulbright and ask if they would be willing to send you an invitation letter to come and perform research at their institution. Make sure you say you do not need office space or financial assistance, etc., but that you just need a letter inviting you to visit them. And do this way in advance. If the deadline is October, do you do this in the middle of the summer? Absolutely not. You do it way months before. Things are slower in some countries and in the summer, many people go away on vacation for four to five weeks. Also, it is much better to get a snail mail official letter than some email message. Much better. On the other hand, some countries really prefer you NOT to get invitation letters. Asian countries in particular. If you have any questions about the letter issue or anything at all, it is a really good idea to call the staff person at the Fulbright office who is responsible for the country you applying to travel to. Most of the staffers are friendly and helpful and you can bypass a lot of problems by just calling their office directly.
• If you get accepted to a residency overseas you can apply for a Fulbright to pay for your travel.
WRONG. That is not what a Fulbright is for. A Fulbright must be used for your research in the host country, not for funding to attend a residency. Sorry. That would be really cool but it ain't gonna happen.
• You won't get accepted to a country where you have already been.
Well, that's not really true. It depends on many things. Take me for example. I had been two Norway twice before I applied, but the time lapse had been ten years. If I had just been there the year before, or if I had relatives there and went back frequently, then it would definitely lessen my chances. But I hadn't been to Norway for ten years and I also wanted to do research on a place that I had never been to in the north, above the Arctic Circle. The Fulbright Committee looks at several things when making their decision. I had also traveled to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East but that didn't seem to matter either. It also depends on the rest of the applicant pool. Let's say two people apply to go to England and study papermaking techniques at some traditional paper mill. Their applications are almost identical. But one of them had just been to England the summer before. That could be the tipping point. But I wouldn't worry about it. Just apply and see what happens.
A couple other questions people always ask me:
• If I apply for a Fulbright, can I also apply for other grants to supplement my trip?
Yes, in fact that is a great idea. However, when you mention to either source that you are applying for funding elsewhere, make sure that what you are applying for is not duplicated. For instance, Fulbright grants give you airfare to and from the host country but do not offer in-country travel money (I think there is an exception for some arts programs in Africa but that's about it). Look carefully at what each grant is willing to pay for and what they are not and see if you can try for both. As I said in my grant article ("Finding Money for Your Dreams"), applying for more than one grant shows resourcefulness. Just don't double-dip, if you know what I mean.
• What if I get a Fulbright to do specific research but end up going down a very different path than what my proposal had mapped out?
I think it's best to go with a plan but leave yourself open to a new culture, to new ideas, to the unexpected. I knew a guy who went to Ireland to study labor history and ended up spending half his time at pubs learning traditional fiddle tunes. He did his research, but his life became immensely enriched by his musical connections in that country. I went to Norway to do anthropology research, came back and wrote only one article about the Sámi, but now, years later, I am plotting out a graphic novel that is set in the place where I lived and incorporates all kinds of mythological and historical details I learned while I was there. My point is that you never know what will happen to you in a new country and even though you must go with a detailed plan, leave yourself open to change.
Thanks for reading this....these are just a few little pointers on Fulbrights. For the real meat and potatoes of the Fulbright Grant Program, visit their websites: http://us.fulbrightonline.org for students and/or artists/scholars, etc. less than five years out of school or http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/FAQs.htm for artists/scholars over ten years out of school.
Good luck and feel free to leave comments and questions. Good luck!
As promised, here are some notes I took while at the Transcultural Exchange Conference in Boston a couple weeks ago. I spoke about Fulbright grants a little at my talk during the first day of the conference, but the next day I was fortunate to hear Fulbright spokesman, David Abrams speak and I learned a couple new things about this amazing web of overseas programs. Anyway, first, a brief explanation of the Fulbright Program from their website: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
There are several programs administered by the Fulbright Program. Go here to figure out which program is right for you: http://fulbright.state.gov/fulbright/about/whichgrant. The two most people and former students of mine ask me about is the program for students, post-doc or MFA graduate students, and young professionals/scholars/artists and the other one for scholars (who can also be artists, by the way) There are also Fulbrights for professors from American universities to teach abroad and several other programs, all under the umbrella of the Fulbright Program, but I am going to just deal with the two travel programs for artists/independent scholars/professionals and students. If you are still close to your first or second degree and it was less than five years ago that you got it, you should apply for the Full Grant for students. In order to be eligible for a Full Grant, under the auspices of the U.S. Student Fulbright Program, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- A graduating senior; hold a B.S./B.A. degree; be a master's or doctoral degree candidate; or you are a young professional or artist, and
- Are thinking of studying, teaching or conducting research abroad, and
- Are in good health
- Round-trip transportation to the host country
- Maintenance for the academic year, based on living costs in the host country
- Book and research allowance*
- Medical Insurance
- Mid-term enrichment activities in many countries or world regions
- Full or partial tuition, in most cases (see relevant Country Summary for details)
- Language or orientation programs, in some cases (see relevant Country Summary for details)
- These grants provide some funding for research, books, and/or supplies. Grantees with projects that require extensive research support, in-country travel, study materials, or equipment should explore additional funding from other sources to supplement the Fulbright funding.
Example: I got a Fulbright (from the Fubright Scholar Program) when I was 35 yrs. old and was ten years out of grad school. I had no academic affiliation but applied as an independent scholar to collect stories from the Sámi (formerly known as Lapps) in Northern Norway, and to study their material culture in various museums.
Some random notes and tips regarding Fulbrights:
Applications:
• Describe in detail what you are doing to do. One of the biggest mistakes on applications is writing way too much background information on a subject rather than dealing with the project you want to pursue.
• Think about your methodology: How are you going to do what you are planning to do? Talk about this in a detailed and articulate way.
• Why that country? What does that country offer to your research (or your art) that another one wouldn't? You have to have a reason to go there.
• How will the experience contribute to your personal and artistic development?
• Make sure that your project doesn't sound insurmountable. Be realistic. For instance, if you are planning on going to India for nine months, don't write about a project that would take you over three years to complete. Think about what you can actually achieve in the set amount of time that you have, given all the cultural barriers you might encounter.
A Couple Misconceptions:
• You have to be fluent in the host country's language.
Nope. It really depends on the project. If you are applying to France to translate all of Proust's work then yes, you do need the language. But if you want to go to, say Brazil, and do a series of paintings based on the cultural history of Carnival, then you don't need the language. It really depends on the project. The Fulbright Program is very understanding when it comes to people in the arts wanting to pursue creative projects abroad.
• You need to have letters from institutions from the host country.
Up until recently, I actually thought this was necessary, because when I applied years ago I heard that it did. But the truth is that it depends once again on where you are applying to and why. The description of the award listed will tell you whether or not you need letters. Read the description very carefully. Example: The description of the award says getting invitation letters from the host country would be advantageous to your application. And let's say your research is entirely dependent on your access to specific museums somewhere. You must then write those places and tell them you are applying for a Fulbright and ask if they would be willing to send you an invitation letter to come and perform research at their institution. Make sure you say you do not need office space or financial assistance, etc., but that you just need a letter inviting you to visit them. And do this way in advance. If the deadline is October, do you do this in the middle of the summer? Absolutely not. You do it way months before. Things are slower in some countries and in the summer, many people go away on vacation for four to five weeks. Also, it is much better to get a snail mail official letter than some email message. Much better. On the other hand, some countries really prefer you NOT to get invitation letters. Asian countries in particular. If you have any questions about the letter issue or anything at all, it is a really good idea to call the staff person at the Fulbright office who is responsible for the country you applying to travel to. Most of the staffers are friendly and helpful and you can bypass a lot of problems by just calling their office directly.
• If you get accepted to a residency overseas you can apply for a Fulbright to pay for your travel.
WRONG. That is not what a Fulbright is for. A Fulbright must be used for your research in the host country, not for funding to attend a residency. Sorry. That would be really cool but it ain't gonna happen.
• You won't get accepted to a country where you have already been.
Well, that's not really true. It depends on many things. Take me for example. I had been two Norway twice before I applied, but the time lapse had been ten years. If I had just been there the year before, or if I had relatives there and went back frequently, then it would definitely lessen my chances. But I hadn't been to Norway for ten years and I also wanted to do research on a place that I had never been to in the north, above the Arctic Circle. The Fulbright Committee looks at several things when making their decision. I had also traveled to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East but that didn't seem to matter either. It also depends on the rest of the applicant pool. Let's say two people apply to go to England and study papermaking techniques at some traditional paper mill. Their applications are almost identical. But one of them had just been to England the summer before. That could be the tipping point. But I wouldn't worry about it. Just apply and see what happens.
A couple other questions people always ask me:
• If I apply for a Fulbright, can I also apply for other grants to supplement my trip?
Yes, in fact that is a great idea. However, when you mention to either source that you are applying for funding elsewhere, make sure that what you are applying for is not duplicated. For instance, Fulbright grants give you airfare to and from the host country but do not offer in-country travel money (I think there is an exception for some arts programs in Africa but that's about it). Look carefully at what each grant is willing to pay for and what they are not and see if you can try for both. As I said in my grant article ("Finding Money for Your Dreams"), applying for more than one grant shows resourcefulness. Just don't double-dip, if you know what I mean.
• What if I get a Fulbright to do specific research but end up going down a very different path than what my proposal had mapped out?
I think it's best to go with a plan but leave yourself open to a new culture, to new ideas, to the unexpected. I knew a guy who went to Ireland to study labor history and ended up spending half his time at pubs learning traditional fiddle tunes. He did his research, but his life became immensely enriched by his musical connections in that country. I went to Norway to do anthropology research, came back and wrote only one article about the Sámi, but now, years later, I am plotting out a graphic novel that is set in the place where I lived and incorporates all kinds of mythological and historical details I learned while I was there. My point is that you never know what will happen to you in a new country and even though you must go with a detailed plan, leave yourself open to change.
Thanks for reading this....these are just a few little pointers on Fulbrights. For the real meat and potatoes of the Fulbright Grant Program, visit their websites: http://us.fulbrightonline.org for students and/or artists/scholars, etc. less than five years out of school or http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/FAQs.htm for artists/scholars over ten years out of school.
Good luck and feel free to leave comments and questions. Good luck!
I'M COMING TO NYC
Okay, this is shameless promotion. Sometimes you just gotta do it....I am reading in NYC (along with a couple other people) from an anthology I'm in that is coming out soon. I'm announcing it on my blog because if any of you faithful bloglettees are from the city, I'd love to meet you! So come on down to the KGB Bar (85 East 4th St., between Bowery and 2nd Ave.) on Tuesday, April 28th, at 7 pm to hear me read from Dirt: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House, along with other writers Janice Eidus, Mindy Lewis (editor) and Rebecca McClanahan. It's free! AND it has nothing to do with grants, fellowships and residencies.
On another note: I'm in the middle of revising a book and am on deadline, so my postings are not as frequent as I'd like them to be. That should change in about a month or so. Some of you have sent me great requests and ideas and I plan to honor them...a couple things coming down the road, along with the usual deadline here and there: Fulbright grant tips (coming this weekend I hope), more info on environmental residencies, and info on residencies in Latin America. I also have plans to do some interviews with residency and grant foundation directors as well as artists whose careers have benefited greatly from particular residencies. But that's later down the road....as you know, I do this for free and it takes a lot of time. But I love doing it and I love hearing from all of you. And it was especially cool to connect with some of you who came to hear me at the TCE conference in Boston.
Best wishes and happy spring...hope to see some of you down in NYC at the end of the month. Mirabee
On another note: I'm in the middle of revising a book and am on deadline, so my postings are not as frequent as I'd like them to be. That should change in about a month or so. Some of you have sent me great requests and ideas and I plan to honor them...a couple things coming down the road, along with the usual deadline here and there: Fulbright grant tips (coming this weekend I hope), more info on environmental residencies, and info on residencies in Latin America. I also have plans to do some interviews with residency and grant foundation directors as well as artists whose careers have benefited greatly from particular residencies. But that's later down the road....as you know, I do this for free and it takes a lot of time. But I love doing it and I love hearing from all of you. And it was especially cool to connect with some of you who came to hear me at the TCE conference in Boston.
Best wishes and happy spring...hope to see some of you down in NYC at the end of the month. Mirabee
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
Q: Dear Mira,
A: Thanks for writing and great to hear from you. I'm glad you liked the talk I gave. As for recommendation letters, unfortunately, you need to contact those people in advance, send them a brief description of what you are planning on doing, a little info on the place, and so on. The letter should be specific to what you are asking for. I know. It's a pain in the butt and who likes to bother anyone? But it's just part of the deal and remember that those people whom you are asking have also been the ones who asked in the past. For some things you can use a standard letter from someone but not that often. An example of this is when someone is leaving an MFA program and they create a professional file in the career office. When that former student applies for a teaching job, the office just sends out the student's file which contains their CV, other related materials and general letters regarding his/her teaching experience.
A couple hints: ask WAY in advance (no one likes to get asked at the last minute), ask someone who knows you and your work well, and make sure you send a nice thank you email or card. Those thank you's go a long way! Hope that helps!
Mira
I enjoyed meeting you at the TransCultural Exchange conference in Boston—your talk was so informative. I'd like to invite you to my studio in New York whenever you are in town. I'm in the process of researching residencies (there's a lot out there). I wonder how you handle the letters of recommendation that are requested by residencies, grant organizations, etc.. Do you stockpile these letters in your files and use as needed or do you ask your contact people for a letter each time the requests come up?(I hate asking-it feel like begging.) It's especially tricky when the organization wants the letter sent directly from the recommender.
A couple hints: ask WAY in advance (no one likes to get asked at the last minute), ask someone who knows you and your work well, and make sure you send a nice thank you email or card. Those thank you's go a long way! Hope that helps!
Mira
jamie shelman : artists who blog
Jamie's website: www.jamieshelman.com
Jamie's blog: www.smallexpectations.blogspot.com
Jamie's shop: www.jamieshelman.etsy.com
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I decided to start a blog to promote and share my new Etsy shop- The Dancing Cat. I studied painting at the Rhode Island Scool of Design and only recently started creating my little cat illustrations! I’ve always made silly little animal drawings but never took it serious and while at RISD I painted almost entirely abstractly. My cats have become another way for me to express my emotions and reflect how I feel! Plus I have a secret love and obssession for cats, I always want to squeeze them when I ever I see one! I love sharing this through my drawings...
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
I came up with the name for my blog, Small Exepectations - of the great kind - after reading Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations and enjoying it immensely! A reminder that it’s usually the small and simple things in life that make it great!
How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?
Tons of inspiration to be gleaned from the blog world, I love the feedback and immediacy of what I do- being able to share something I just drew on the same day is instant gratification.
What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?
I like them all! Visit my blog for my list on the right, I’m the one that ends up going through and clicking them all to check in with what everyone’s doing!
Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?
Time Management! It is too easy to get sucked into computer world and never escape, all your time disapperaring into a void of nothingness!– make more time for drawing, thinking, creating , less time on the computer!
What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?
I love making other people laugh and smile, if I’ve done this I’ve done everything! (I’m especially good at making myself crack up with some of the silly drawings I come up with- this is good too)
What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?
Income and understanding from those not involved in the arts is the most difficult! I love the arts, the more I draw and create the more I love it! I also really love looking at art and observing life! Plus an arts education has really sharpened my critcal eye and visual sensitivity which transcends art and enters into all aspects of life!
Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?
RISD Alumni shows, blog interviews, etsy, my website, group gallery shows
How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
Long walks, laughter, waking up early, bike riding on a really good bike on a windless day. My husband Tom cooking dinner and always making me smile ☺
What are your main goals for 2009?
Better promotion! More drawings! Never getting too serious about anything.
Thanks Jamie.
The Encaustic Center
Deanna Wood and Bonny Leibowitz are proud to announce the opening of The Encaustic Center in Richardson, Texas. Our focus is sharing the beautiful art of painting with wax in all of its various forms.
The Encaustic Center offers beginner and intermediate workshops and studio workdays along with special events such as demonstrations, exhibitions, guest artists, supplies and our big Grand Opening May 15th!
Check out our website to see more information on classes and events going on at the center.
If you're in the area, I hope you can make it to the Grand Opening on May 15, 7-10 pm. There will be artists from TexasWAX/Dallas doing encaustic demos, music, and more.
Workshop schedule:
$100 (includes all materials)
April:
Thursday, April 30 - 9:30 am to 3:30 pm - beginner workshop with Deanna
May:
Saturday, May 2, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - beginner workshop with Bonny
Saturday, May 23, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - intermediate workshop with Deanna
Thursday, May 28, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm - beginner workshop with Deanna
See Deanna's work at www.deannawood.com
See Bonny's work at www.bonnyleibowitz.com
The Encaustic Center
580 W. Arapaho #271
Richardson, Texas 75080
directions
www.theencausticcenter.com
ARTISTS' RESIDENCIES IN NEW ORLEANS
(ALL) NEW ORLEANS SIX WEEK RESIDENCY WITH STIPEND
Environmentally themed residencies at A Studio in the Woods. This prestigious and funded fellowship, just outside the city limits of New Orleans, is offered to artists of all disciplines
—visual, performing and literary or a six-week placement at our New Orleans facility. Cammie Hill-Prewitt, Prog. Coord.
504-392-5359 http://www.astudiointhewoods.org
A Studio in the Woods Announces Changing Landscapes: A Dialogue Between Art and the Environment, Four Funded 6-Week Artist Residencies. These environmental residencies are based on the premise that Southern Louisiana can be seen as a microcosm of the global environment, manifesting both the challenges and possibilities inherent in human interaction with the natural world. We ask artists to describe in detail how the region will affect their work, to propose a public component to their residency and to suggest ways in which they will engage with the local community. The call is open to artists of all disciplines who have demonstrated an established dialogue with environmental issues and a commitment to seeking and plowing new ground. Four six-week residencies which include a $3000 stipend and $1000 supply budget are to be offered between September 2009 and April 2010. Submissions must be postmarked by
June 19, 2009. A copy of the application can be downloaded from the website at astudiointhewoods.org. For more information, please email applications@astudiointhewoods.org.
*Note: If you haven't read my article, taken from my talk at the TCE Conference, "Finding Money for Your Dreams," you might find it helpful. Go to: http://miraslist.blogspot.com/2009/04/finding-money-for-your-dreams.html. And coming soon...tips on writing Fulbright Grants!
