han hoogerbrugge: ‘if it ain’t rock’n roll it ain’t worth a fuck’


flash god han hoogerbrugge in the great damn magazine: perfect combo!
go get issue 27 with this super cover & see more of han's work on prostress, in nails, @ the hotel, in sala parpalló & of course on the happy famous artists website :-)

Painting & Writing Fellowships, Residencies Overseas and More for the New Year!

Greetings all...Thanks to www.re-title.com, FundsforWriters.com and Poets & Writers for a couple of the following opportunities!

(ARTISTS) The British School at Rome: Artists Residencies & Fellowships: Applications are invited for a number of residencies in the visual arts. They offer an en-suite studio and bedroom, meals taken together in a communal dining room, 24-hour access to a historic library collection, a research grant, and at least one group show; they are tenable for three, nine or twelve months.

The awards available for 2011–12 include: Abbey Scholarship and Fellowships; Australia Council Residencies; the Derek Hill Foundation Scholarship; and the Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture. See http://www.bsr.ac.uk/ or contact the Registrar, Gill Clark, at bsr@britac.ac.uk Closing dates for applications: mainly January 2011
(see http://www.bsr.ac.uk for precise details and dates)

(POETS) Martin Dibner FellowshipsFellowships of up to $1,000 each are given in alternating years to emerging Maine-based poets and fiction writers to attend writing workshops or complete writing projects. For this year’s fellowships, poets may submit a writing sample of five to seven pages and a resumé by January 15, 2011. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for complete guidelines: www.mainecf.org/DibnerFellowship.aspx

(ALL) The Wellcome Trust Arts AwardsThe Wellcome Trust is inviting organizations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards. The Arts Awards support projects that engage the public with biomedical science through the arts including dance, drama, performance arts, visual arts, music, film, craft, photography, creative writing or digital media. Applications are invited for projects up to £30,000.

The aim of the awards is to support arts projects that reach new audiences which may not traditionally be interested in science and provide new ways of thinking about the social, cultural and ethical issues around contemporary science. The scheme is open to a wide range of people including, artists, scientists, curators, filmmakers, writers, producers, arts workers and education officers. Deadline: 28 January, 2011. Further Information - http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/arts Email: arts@wellcome.ac.uk

(ARTISTS) Visual Arts Residencies—One-month residencies for visual artists are being offered in America's oldest working art colony on Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Ma. Included is a waterfront studio/ gallery/ living space, and access to a rich, cultural community.
June - October 2011. Application fee is $25. Deadline is March 1st, 2011. rockyneckartcolony.org for application and info. Ruth Mordecai, Director Residency Committee rglouc@comcast.net

(WRITERS) Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, United States/Japan Creative Artists ResidencyUp to five five-month residencies, each of which includes a monthly stipend of 600,000 yen (approximately $7,100) for living expenses, housing, and professional support, are awarded annually to published U.S. poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers to live in Japan and pursue creative projects. The residencies are sponsored by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts. The residencies also each include a travel grant of up to $6,000. Submit 10 pages of poetry or up to 15 pages of a long poem or work of prose, two letters of recommendation, a resumé, and proof of publication by February 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: February 1, 2011. www.jusfc.gov/programguidelines.asp E-mail address: artists@jusfc.gov
Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, United States/Japan Creative Artists Residency, c/o Margaret Mihori, 1201 15th Street NW, Suite 330, Washington, D.C. 20005. (202) 653-9800.

(WRITERS) David T. K. Wong Fellowship: A one-year fellowship at the University of East Anglia, including a £26,000 (approximately $41,300) stipend, is given annually to a fiction writer for a work that “deals seriously with some aspect of life in the Far East.” Submit up to 2,500 words of fiction with a £10 (approximately $16) entry fee by January 17. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines: http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/hum/lit/awards University of East Anglia, School of Literature and Creative Writing, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Natalie Mitchell, Fellowship Administrator.

(WRITERS) Charles Pick FellowshipA six-month fellowship at the University of East Anglia, including a £10,000 (approximately $16,000) stipend, is given annually to a fiction writer or creative nonfiction writer who has not yet published a book. Submit up to 2,500 words of prose and a letter of reference by January 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines: www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/hum/lit/awards University of East Anglia, School of Literature and Creative Writing, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Natalie Mitchell, Fellowship Administrator.

(WRITERS) Stadler Center for Poetry/Philip Roth ResidencyA four-month residency, including a $4,000 stipend, at the Stadler Center for Poetry at Bucknell University is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, or a creative nonfiction writer. The 2011 Philip Roth Residence is open to U.S. fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers who are over the age of 21 and not enrolled in a college or university. Using the online submission system, submit up to 20 pages of prose, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation by February 11. E-mail or visit the Web site for complete guidelines.
Stadler Center for Poetry, Philip Roth Residence, Bucknell Hall, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Andrew Ciotola, Operations Manager. Deadline: February 11, 2011. Web site: www.bucknell.edu/stadlercenter E-mail address:
(ALL) Byrdcliffe Art Colony ResidenciesThe Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild offers month long Artist in Residence (AIR) opportunities for visual artists, composers, playwrights/screenwriters, and writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Longer residencies are available for ceramic artists. The AIR sessions generally occur during the months of June, July, August, and September. Our goal is to provide solitude in a community and uninterrupted time in which to concentrate on creative work alongside fellow artists. Opened in 1903, the Byrdcliffe Art Colony was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1979 for its architectural and historical significance. It is located in the Catskill Mountains, 1.5 miles from the center of Woodstock, New York. For more information or to apply, please go to http://www.woodstockguild.org/artist_in_residence/index.html
Deadline is March 1, 2011.


the magical bestiary of julien salaud



julien salaud's show "dreams of a nyctalopic spider" @ palais de tokyo is unfortunately already finished, but definitely not forgotten. the young french artist, interested in the survival of endangered plant and animal species, manufactures his own universe of heavenly creatures, chimeras made of birds and insects, embellished with intriguing ornaments from beads, crystals and embroidery. he mentions jan fabre & thomas grünfeld as his inspirational figures.

pass the sickbag



there haven't been much input for our "pass the sickbag" category lately, which is def a good thing, but this treasure above - some sort of heraldry for the edl - cannot be left unnoticed. it scores on all grounds: visually, ideologically & hey, they even managed to misspell the title!

Goals for 2011

Painting by Leslie Saeta
Scheduled Air Date: December 30, 2011
"Goals For 2011"

Join hosts Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry as they highlight ways to sell your art.  Today Leslie and Dreama will conclude the five week series on "goal setting" and share their personal goals for 2011.  We also hope you will join us and publish your goals on your blog on January 1st. If you would like, you can leave a comment on this post and share the link to your blog listing your goals for the year. We encourage you to share your goals!
Click here to listen to this show.

More on the My Words Project

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that due to some generous late contributors to the My Words Are My Shelter Project, I was able to send off another $150 to the shelter. They decided to open the box of journals, etc. and the cards I sent with checks and every contributor’s name (except those of you who asked to be anonymous) on January 4th since not all the women were going to be at the shelter on Christmas. So thank you once again for your generosity and support for this project. I’ll let you know how the poetry workshop goes in February.

I have some new opportunities to post this week so until then....Happy Holidays and thanks again!
Yours,
Mirabee

ab fab: merry f*ing xmass wall street!



crocheted olek (moniker for polish-born & ny-based artist agata olek) hits the iconic wall street bull statue in her latest guerrilla action.
in the artist's own words: "it lasted 2 hours but it was there..."
hell, yeah! thumbs up, agata!

hfa top 10 of 2010 (& 1 extra)



looking back @ 2010, here's our list of the shows we loved most (in no particular order):
francis alys – a story of deception @ tate modern, london
han hoogerbrugge – la grande fête #1 @ sala parpallo, valencia
systematic @ zabludowicz collection, london
dead or alive @ museum of art & design, new york
whitney biennial @ whitney museum, new york
marc quinn - allanah, buck, catman, chelsea, michael, pamela and thomas @ white cube, london
hans van houwelingen & jonas staal - a history of violence @ torch gallery, amsterdam
john baldessari – pure beauty @ lacma, los angeles
felix gonzalez-torres - specific objects without specific form @ wiels contemporary art centre, brussels
sophie calle - rachel monique @ palais de tokyo, paris

& the extra one is from dec 09/jan 10:
didier marcel & tomas saraceno @ mudam, luxembourg

needless to say there were many other great shows we've been to, please see the ones we captured on our flickr. enjoy!

k-guy: no blood on your hands


great concept & smart execution. that's the least you can say about the "no blood on your hands" project by k-guy (check here the full project). you might know him from his controversial installation "in the loving memory of our boom economy" or from the pop/street artsy "coke kate". check out his other work or visit mallick williams where he participated in the group show dirty little secrets.

rofl: eu commission's verdict on dan flavin's art: "simple light fittings"...



the wisdom & qualified expertise of european institutions' experts has no boundaries:
brussels reclassifies dan flavin's sculptures in ruling that means they will be liable to 20% vat. more info in the guardian.

street art: the supreme (arts) leader



an ironic poster commenting on the deitch versus blu "affair" appeared last week in downtown la, only a minutes walk from the original crime scene ;-). this wheat-paste by an anonymous la artist depicts geoffrey deitch's as an iranian ayatollah, holding a paint roller. it has been first posted by igreen, an artists' collective describing themselves as not being affiliated with any political party, organization or group, presenting series of art events in solidarity with the iranian people's struggle for freedom and justice.

How to Set Your Goals For the Year

Painting by Dreama Tolle Perry
Scheduled Air Date: December 23, 2010
"How to Set Your Goals For the Year" 
Join Artists Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry as they highlight ways to sell your art on-line. Leslie and Dreama will discuss tips on "How to Set Your Goals For the Year.  They will share ideas that will help you outline your own goals for 2011.


Click here to listen to this show.

Happy Holidays and My Words Are My Shelter Update!

Greetings everyone!

I hope you enjoyed the interview with Gigi Rosenberg, author of the new book, Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary and Performing Artist. If you haven’t, please check it out. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that the My Words Are My Shelter project is officially closed for the season. Because of you, dear and generous readers, I was able to raise enough money to send 125 women each a journal, pen and pencil AND raise enough money for me to travel to Cleveland to do a poetry workshop at the Norma Herr Women’s Center and also send a $100 donation to the shelter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I will definitely do this My Words project again next holiday season and hopefully it will grow into something much larger over time. Perhaps other writing workshops at shelter or maybe down the road, some kind of foundation. If you would like to read about the project and the story behind it, please go here: http://miraslist.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-words-are-my-shelter-project.html. For the story behind my mother, Norma Herr, and the shelter in Cleveland, go here: http://www.mhs-inc.org/CWS.asp

One thing that was particularly lovely, aside from all the donations, was that many of you wrote beautiful letters and emails full of encouragement and support. Some of you told me about your own struggle with a family member who was homeless or who was mentally ill. Some of you said that you had been so inspired from this project that you decided to volunteer at a homeless shelter for the holidays. Others from as far away as Australia and Canada said that you wanted to start a similar project in your home town. That is the power of compassion—one small act can spark a thousand acts of kindness. So thanks again for all you have done—even those of you who couldn’t contribute but who sent me such kind and supportive cards and emails. I love you guys!

Have a safe, peaceful and creative holiday and I will post something when I get back from my family's, after the 26th. Lots of new opportunities coming soon!

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays to you all,
Mirabee

inti hernandez: bridging reality @ ron mandos



to sharpen yr perception skills before 31 dec 2010, we advise to visit 'bridging reality' @ ron mandos. the cuban born/amsterdam based artist inti hernandez exhibits several of his 'encounter places' models, as well as series of other installations & drawings. confusing for the eye & inspiring for the mind - or vice-versa ;-) -, but definitely worth it.
& fyi: great works by silvia b (we to-ta-lly adore!), katinka lampe, cindy wright, renato nicolodi, hans op de beeck & others are on display there as well.
(see pics from the show here)

ab fab: fabien souche



sometimes one has to travel to another city to discover an artist who lives around yr corner. so it happened that last month, during our visit to palais de tokyo, we admired the work of brussels-based fabien souche. awesome stuff, fabien! hope to meet u soon in person - we'll bring the sausages ;-)

russian criminal tattoos


fuel design is a well respected graphic design studio & publishing house that made fantastic work for ao. tracey emin, jake and dinos chapman or victor&rolf. their three volume russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia is just another masterpiece. it got a nomination for the brit insurance designs of the year 2010 and it contains hundreds of pictures and drawings, giving you a extraordinary view in the russian criminal culture. peek inside the book & treat your loved ones with something quite different under the xmas tree. (ht AndrewVassallo)

hedi slimane @ almine rech


2011 is announced as the definite breakthrough of hedi slimane as a photographer. with 2 simultaneous exhibitions, one at almine reich paris & another at almine rech brussels, and the launch of his new book "anthology of a decade" it will be difficult to go unnoticed. the paris gallery will show ‘california dreamin: myths & legends of los angeles’ which is a show curated by slimane, full of la finest artists. in brussels, alime reich will show new work of slimane titled 'fragments americana'. finally, the book - edited by ringier who also published slimane's 2008 rock diary - will contain 175 pictures and be an exclusive insight in the inspiration of slimane on which he created his so successful androgynous/rock 'n roll style at ysl & dior.

rip: captain beefheart


captain beefheart - don van vliet - passed away yesterday at age 69. he was definitely one of the most influential american musicians of the 1960s and early 1970s. after his music career, he did painting & featured in a short documentary "some yo yo stuff" by anton corbijn in the early 90s. read more about his life, his love/hate relationship with zappa & his shoe fetishism in his obituary in the guardian & on wikipedia.

blu versus deitch



from last week's press:
moca commissioned blu, one of the world’s most outstanding street artists to create a work for the north wall of the geffen contemporary at moca.
the geffen contemporary building is located on a special, historic site. directly in front the north wall is the go for broke monument, which commemorates the heroic roles of japanese american soldiers, who served in europe and the pacific during world war II, and opposite the wall is the la veterans’ affairs hospital. geoffrey deitch (moca's director since jan 2010) explained to blu that in this context, where moca is a guest among this historic japanese american community, the work was inappropriate.

following the whitewash of the mural, discussions arose all along the blogosphere about deitch being a gutless weasel, but hey you'd hardly expect the side of the death star to have 'darth vader sucks balls' painted on it, empires do as empires do... & as for the alleged offensive character of the mural, we advise to watch generation kill & fahrenheit 9/11. go figure!

(photo from unurth, hat tip patrick nguyen)

carsten höller @ hamburger bahnhof museum


carsten höller has built a new fantasy land in the great hall of the hamburger bahnhof museum in berlin. you can visit soma, his latest show, till feb 6 2011. plus if you have some money left after the new year & are looking for a unique experience, you can also stay a night between the reindeers.

showtime: david shrigley @ m museum leuven



thumbs up for the m museum in leuven! since its re-opening in september 2009, we have already seen some great stuff there, such as angus fairhurst's retrospective or the group show parallellepipeda. and the upcoming show is certainly going to keep, & further enhance, this trend: david shrigley's expo opens this friday & will last till end march 2011. failing to see it (while being in belgium) is punishable by this.

technology requested @ nimk


last weekend, we visited the dutch media art institute. the nimk has always been an interesting place for shows where art meets technology (remember space invaders!); their latest show - "technology requested" has fully confirmed this. the works do what a good show about new media arts should do: it renders technology invisible and creates an atmosphere full of human feelings. go & see!

Interview with Gigi Rosenberg, Author of The Artist’s Guide to Grantwriting

Today I am happy to introduce you to Gigi Rosenberg whose book, The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary and Performing Artist is coming out TOMORROW, December 14th, in stores nationwide. I was fortunate to grab her for a few questions before she sets out to promote her book. Gigi Rosenberg is a writer, speaker, and presentation coach. Her writing has been published by Seal Press, The Oregonian, Writer’s Digest, performed at Seattle’s On the Boards, and heard on Oregon Public Radio. As a presentation coach, she draws on her background in writing, visual art, theater, and corporate communications to teach artists and entrepreneurs how to give stellar public presentations.

Gigi, thanks so much for visiting us today. I’d like to start out by asking you to tell us a little about your new book and what motivated you to write it?

Mira: Thanks for having me! I’m a huge fan of your writing, your art, and your blog. I wrote The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing because I couldn’t find a comprehensive and inspiring reference guide as I was looking for and applying for grants and residencies for my own work as a writer. I also realized that -- in my workshops -- a book would be so useful -- students can only absorb so much in a two or three-hour session and it’s great to have a “go-to” book for when you're researching, or finessing, or feeling demoralized by grants, or the business side of being an artist. Also, I grew up in a family of visual artists so as a kid I thought that everybody made their living as an artist! I wrote the book to empower artists and to share what I knew and what I gleaned from dozens of interviews with artists and funders about how to talk about and write about your work so that others want to support it.

In your process of research and writing, did you learn anything new about grant writing that you didn’t know before?
My biggest surprise was realizing that “famous” artists struggle in the same way I do. There’s little difference between the time “before you succeed” and “after you succeed.” I always thought that famous artists had it easier because they’d already “made it.” In fact: every new project is scary. The only difference is that when you’re experienced you might manage the fear better or know that you just have to keep working to move through it. On the subject of grants I realized how many more opportunities there were than I thought there were. I also learned that the most important thing to do is to learn to write about your work as if you didn't create it -- that’s the challenge and that’s why you need other people to help. They can help you find the language to describe what you do and why you want to have money to make it.

I always say that too, that is, write the application as if you were someone else. I think it helps to distance yourself from talking about your work, which is really hard for some people to do. Sometimes it is the weakest link in an application and it should be the strongest, aside from the work itself. What are some of the biggest mistakes you see artists make in grant applications?

The biggest mistake that artists make is that they think grant application reviewers can read minds! Artists don’t realize that a reviewer is likely seeing their work for the first time and not everything will be obvious. Even though it’s hard, an artist has to explain what the project is in detail and why she wants to make it. Reviewers need the artist to connect the dots for them. The second biggest mistake is that artists don’t spend enough time on the work sample -- it must be not only their best work, but well-documented, and related to the grant. Lastly: budgets scare some artists and they don’t make them specific enough so they detail how the money will be spent. Think about it: when you give money away, you want to know how exactly the money is being spent.

I agree. Very good points. For me the budget one hits close to home! Even I have a hard time with the budget component of a grant application and I’ve written dozens of grants. But you get through it and if you don’t know how to do it, you ask someone to help. Sometimes artists are just too afraid to ask other professionals for help. Anyway, would you mind sharing with my readers five very short kernels of wisdom from your book?

What I learned from all the interviews I did is that 1) To win a grant, you have to apply. This may seem so dumb. But it’s true: your chances of winning are guaranteed to be zero if you don’t apply. Successful grant writers don’t let the competition dissuade them. 2) There are times when I’m better off continuing to build my body of work rather than applying for a grant. Preparing a grant application takes time. I have to decide if the time is worth it. 3) I always need an editor even though I’m a writer. 4) I can’t do a great job on a grant application if I don’t give myself enough time. 5) I don’t let one rejection get me down. I stand up again and get back to the work at hand.

You called me a few months back to talk to me about a chapter in your book. Can you tell my readers a little about that chapter and what you learned from writing it and why you think it's important in your book?


I think the chapter you’re referring to is “Stand Out from the Crowd” which is about how to take a good application and make it great. The best advice from that chapter was from you -- which is to write the grant as if you’re writing to a specific person, a friend even, someone waiting to fall in love with your project. If you write to an “institution” you’ll sound so formal and generic that it won’t grab anybody!

What do you hope your readers will get out of reading your book, Gigi?


I want readers to receive three things from the book: practical advice about where to find grants (including subscribing to your blog!), detailed advice on how to write a winning application, and inspiration so they keep applying for opportunities and keep making art. Most artists work solo and the danger of solitude is that you can lose hope. I want readers to have an inspiring and extremely practical reference guide to the world of grants and fundraising! Please let your readers know that they can download an excerpt from the book from the website: www.theartistsguidetograntwriting.com and they can get a free grant writing tip sheet when they sign up for my occasional updates -- which they can unsubscribe from at any time at www.gigirosenberg.com

Mira: Thanks for having me today. I can’t wait to read your memoir. When are you coming to Portland?!

Hah! Good question. I have never been there but plan to go sometime this coming year while I’m on book tour, or at least when the paperback comes out. I’ll let you know! Thanks so much for your time and insight. I look forward to reading your book!

For updates on Gigi’s workshops and to order her book (you can also order through my site as well), go here: http://gigirosenberg.com/book/


Getting Organized

Painting by Leslie Saeta
Scheduled Air Date: December 16, 2010
"Getting Organized" 
Join Artists Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry as they highlight ways to sell your art on-line. Leslie and Dreama will discuss tips for "Getting Organized".  They will share their own tips and those from all of our listeners as to how you can get organized for the new year ... in the studio and out!
Congratulations to Belinda Del Pesco who won the drawing for the free painting or workshop for the Annie Salness "Artwalk for Annie" fundraiser. Thanks to everyone as we raised $2,148.31. Thank you!


Click here to listen to this show.

Residencies in New Mexico, Kentucky, Illinois, Canada, and More!

(MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS) Roots and Rhizomes Percussion Residency at the Banff Center: Led by contemporary percussion champion Steven Schick, this unique program is geared towards early to mid-career artists, who want to contribute to the growth of contemporary percussion.

Roots and Rhizomes will feature three primary activities:

  1. performances by the residents of selected repertoire,
  2. coaching, lessons, and master classes,
  3. seminars and discussions led by faculty.

Roots and Rhizomes seeks to foster new music for contemporary percussionists by commissioning and premiering new work in an environment where performers and composers work collaboratively. Open to international musicians. For more info:

Contact Phone Number:
403.762.6100

The Banff Centre
Box 1020
Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1H5
http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=1095

(ARTISTS/CURATORS/SCHOLARS) Paths Crossing Production ResidenciesHelsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP) / Baltic Art Center / Fabrikken for Kunst og Design / Nordisk / Kunstnarsenter Dalsåsen / Temple Bar Gallery & Studios: You are eligible to apply if you live and are professionally based in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania or Slovakia.

In partnership with four North European artist-in-residence centres, HIAP is pleased to announce an open call for applications to visual artists and art professionals under the age of 40 from new and applicant EU Member States. Visual artists and art professionals are invited to apply for research and production residencies hosted by the organizers within the framework of the Paths Crossing project. This residency and cooperation project is co-funded by the European Union's Culture Programme for 2010–2012.

The five participating artist-in-residency centres are together able to offer fifteen individual production and research residencies, each from one to six months in duration. Artists, curators, critics and researchers based in Europe (see countries above) are all eligible to apply.

The selected applicant will receive:
• a travel grant
• a subsistence grant to cover living expenses
• a production grant
• free accommodation and studio space for the duration of the residency
• administrative, practical and curatorial support in developing a project within the framework of Paths Crossing
• support in establishing contacts with local artists and organisations

Applications will be accepted from professional artists and art professionals under the age of 40 with at least 5 years of continuous professional experience in the Visual Arts (no restrictions of approach or medium). No students please. The applicant should live and work in one of the eligible countries mentioned above. To foster artistic dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration, good command of English is expected. Application forms can be downloaded from: http://www.hiap.fi/paths_crossing/paths_application_form.doc

Deadline for applications: Thursday, January 13, 2011, 5:00 pm (GMT +2)

(ARTISTS & WRITERS) Santa Fe Art Institute ResidenciesResidencies of an average of 1-3 months for visual artists and writers. Residency provides housing and studio space. Artist responsible for travel, materials, and residency fee ($1,000/month). Financial aid packages available. For more info: (505) 424-5050, www.sfai.org. Deadline: December 31, 2010!

(ALL) Yaddo Residency in Saratoga Springs, NYResidencies of an average of 5 weeks for creative artists working at a professional level in their field. Residency provides housing, meals, studio, travel assistance and materials stipend; artist responsible for materials. FT: (518) 584-0746, FAX: (518) 584-1312, yaddo@yaddo.org, www.yaddo.org. Deadline: January 1, 2011.

(ALL) Spiro Arts Residency in Park City, UT Residencies of an average of 6 weeks for artists from all over the world working in multiple disciplines, including visual artists, writers, composers, songwriters, researchers, experimental and mixed media processes, etc. Residency provides housing, studio space and stipend ($600). Resident responsible for refundable housing deposit ($300) and travel. FT: (435) 649-6258, info@spiroarts.org, www.spiroarts.org. Deadline: January 14, 2011

(ALL) Ragdale Foundation Residency in Lake Forest, Illinois– Residencies of an average of 2-4 weeks for visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, media artists, and choreographers. Organization provides housing, meals, and studio space; artist responsible for residency fee ($25/day), deposit ($100/two weeks), travel and materials. Some financial aid available. T: (847) 234-1063, FAX: (847) 234-1063, mosher@ragdale.org, www.ragdale.org. Deadline: January 15, 2011

***insider note: Mirabee has stayed at Ragdale many times and loves it!

(ALL) Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities Residency in Carlisle, KY—Residencies of an average of 2-8 weeks for visual artists, writers, actors, and performance artists. Residency provides housing, studio, and meals; artist responsible for residency fee ($40/day), deposit (10% of residency fee), travel, materials, and local transportation. T: (859) 473-0552, artcroft@msn.com, www.artcroft.org. Deadline: The application process is now ongoing; no deadlines

Focusing On The Creative Side

Painting by Dreama Tolle Perry
Scheduled Air Date: December 9, 2010
"Focusing on the Creative Side" 
Join Artists Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry as they highlight ways to sell your art on-line. Today Leslie and Dreama continue their five - week series on how artists can prepare for the new year. On today's show "Focusing on the Creative Side" Leslie and Dreama will discuss how artists, in planning for the new year, can find their "voice" in their art. They will help you find your "signature style" and talk about how you can stay inspired in the new year.

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New Residencies & Grants and a My Words Project Update

Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your letters of support and all your donations to the My Words Are My Shelter project. It apparently struck a deep chord in many people and the response has been amazing. The update is this: In the very first day, I got $507! That is enough to send a box of journals, pens and pencils to every single woman at my mom’s shelter. I haven’t even checked my P.O. box for checks yet and today, some other donations came in. What I decided to do with the extra money, is to use the money for a ticket to go to Cleveland to the shelter (no need for housing as I have friends there) and do a poetry workshop with the women there this coming February. Any left-over money from this My Words project after that will be donated to the shelter in either check form or in the form of more journals or books (they really need books too!). So that’s the update. I’ll run this project until December 20th for now. I think that it will become an on-going project for the future and I hope that it inspires other such actions across the globe. Actually, it already has---I have heard from several people around the world who said they were going to do the same thing. Very cool! And all because of YOU!

Okay...onward and upward! I have a couple opportunities and will post more tomorrow or Friday. Have a great day and thanks once again for your support. I’ll keep you updated on the project.

Cheers,

Mirabee

(CA ARTISTS)
The Creative Work Fund Grants of $10,000-$40,000 for projects by San Francisco Bay Area artists and organizations. Projects must feature one or more artists collaborating with a nonprofit organization to create new works. Artists may be working in media (film, video, video or sound installations, radio, or computer-based media) or traditional arts (including performance). The Creative Work Fund celebrates the role of artists as problem solvers and the making of art as a profound contribution to the intellectual inquiry and strengthening of communities. for more info, call 415) 402-2793 or visit the website: www.creativeworkfund.org. Check website for guidelines.

(WRITERS & ARTISTS)
Provincetown ResidenciesThe Provincetown Community Compact is accepting applications for residencies in two dune shacks in the Cape Cod National Seashore (Provincetown, MA USA). These primitive dwellings in a magnificent setting provide one to three week stays, one with a $500 fellowship for a visual artist, and two funded writers' weeks. For details go to: www.thecompact.org

(MN or NY ARTISTS) The 2011 Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant Program—will award grants to emerging creative artists (composers, sound artists, playwrights, creators of performance art and experimental theater, and visual artists). Minnesota-based executive and program administrators working for nonprofit organizations in music, theater, and visual arts are also eligible to apply. The deadline for applications in Music, Theater, and Visual Arts is February 28, 2011.

The Travel and Study Grant Program places emphasis on individual exploration and growth. The program supports such activities as research leading to the creation of new work, the development of collaborations, participation in specific training programs, time for reflection and individualized study, investigating artistic work outside of Minnesota or New York City, and dialogue on aesthetic issues.
The application and guidelines are available at www.Jeromefdn.org If you have questions, please contact the Foundation office at 651.224.9431 or 1-800-995-3766.

(MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS) Music Omni Residency: Each August, approximately a dozen musicians--composers and performers from around the globe--gather for two and a half weeks to share in a unique collaborative music making residency program. Music Omi encourages its residents to participate as members of an international musical community; sharing ideas, performing each others works and writing music for one another while exploring their own musical vision. Music Omi invites applicants from all musical disciplines who wish to broaden their artistic horizons and engage actively with a diversity of other musicians.

Unlike most artists residency programs, where artists come to work in isolation, Music Omi actively encourages the exchange of ideas and the sharing of cultures through active collaboration. A singular feature of the Music Omi experience is the presentation of two public concerts at the conclusion of the program (one on the Art Omi campus itself near the conclusion of the residency, and the other at a New York City venue the day following the conclusion of the residency).

Applicants may be primarily composers, improvisers or performers, but have some proficiency in each of these areas. Music Omi welcomes academically trained musicians, musicians "of the street," players of traditional instruments, concert instruments, vocalists, and sound artists of all kinds. "Pop," "jazz," "classical," "folk," "experimental," and other such labels have no bearing on the selection process, only musical excellence and a wish to collaborate. It is recommended that applicants come not with specific projects in mind, but rather with a willingness to share their skills and sensibilities, and an openness to working together with others on jointly conceived musical projects.

All awarded fellows commit to remaining for the entire residency and to participating in the concluding concerts. Everyone accepted to Music Omi receives full room and board during his or her stay (note that Art Omi is unable to provide travel funds).

Contact Information
Contact Name:
Jeffrey Lependorf, Music Omi Director
Contact Email:
musicians@artomi.org
Contact Information:

Omi International Arts Center, Inc.
55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Google Map


My Words Are My Shelter Update!

Hey everyone....well, talk about a great response! I can’t believe how fast you all got back to me. It is amazing. I believe that I will totally make my goal and then some, which makes me think that this project is much bigger than I previously thought. Some people from around the world have emailed me about starting up their own My Words project at a women’s shelter near them. I’m also thinking that if I can get enough money beyond my journal goal that maybe I will travel to Cleveland and do poetry workshops for the women at the shelter. I’ll keep you updated about that. I know that they have done workshops there in the past and they have been very successful. And what a great use for their new journals and pens!

By the way, ignore the wikileaks/paypal hacking message I sent before. Everything is fine and no one’s account will be hacked into.

Thank you so much for your support for this project, even those who can’t send money but who wrote me really sweet and supportive emails. I’ll keep the project going until the 20th and then see what comes of it—either more journals for the women or poetry workshops if there is extra money. And if you DO donate via PayPal, don’t worry about it saying Mira’s List—that’s the account it will go into and the account I will make a check from. Just write a little note on your donation saying that it is earmarked for My Words Project, NOT Mira’s List, okay?

Cheers,
Mira

A Quick Note on Donations to the My Words Project

Rumor has it that...according to the NYT, a number of hackers have been threatening to shut down PayPal with denial-of-service attacks during the next few days, to retaliate against PayPal ending its association with WikiLeaks. So I’m not sure what to do...if you are worried, perhaps you should send a check instead if you were thinking of donating? Your choice. I’m not sure what to tell ya.
Thanks!
Mira

My Words Are My Shelter Project

Dear Readers,

As most of you know, this blog is mostly about helping you as artists to find funding and residencies throughout the globe. I try to keep my personal life out it this blog as much as I can, although now that I have a book coming out, a memoir no less, the line between my personal life and my blogging life as arts advocate will get a little blurry sometimes. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering what my book is about. Read on....

My mother, Norma, a brilliant pianist (see picture above, an illustration from my book), was struck down by schizophrenia early in her music career. For the last seventeen years of her life, she was homeless and her life story and the story of how I found her late in life at a women’s shelter in Cleveland, is told in my book, The Memory Palace (coming out mid-January).

Recently, the shelter where my mother lived, the Community Women’s Center of Cleveland, was rebuilt and renamed in her honor. It is now called The Norma Herr Women’s Center and is sponsored by the Mental Health Services, Inc. of Cleveland. It is a safe haven for women who have fled domestic abuse, substance abuse, homelessness and poverty. There they can receive food and shelter, friendship, counseling and assistance in employment.

One of the things the shelter does is encourage the women to keep a journal. They also hold poetry workshops when they can get funding or a writer to volunteer his or her time. This writing process is key to their empowerment. When I found my mother at the end of her life, I discovered that she kept a storage unit at U-Haul all those seventeen years. When I opened it up, I found seventeen years of diaries.

My mother wrote each and every day to help keep her imaginary voices at bay. She wrote descriptions of flowers in the park, she wrote poems, screenplays and soaring lyric prose. I read each and every one of these diaries and was blown away at their beauty and power, and yes, their sense of tragedy, delusion and loss. But ultimately, I realized how much keeping a journal helped my mother navigate through the world. I believe that she found a certain strength in writing every day—it gave her a different kind of sustenance than the food she received at shelters and from strangers. It gave her a voice.

This is why I am starting a project this year called My Words Are My Shelter. I am sending a box of hardbound journals made from 100% recycled materials, along with a pen and a pencil, to each and every woman at my mother’s shelter in Cleveland. The cost of sending that box is more than I can afford right now so I am asking you if you would be willing to help me out and be a part of this process. That said, I realize that everyone is asking for money these days, so please do not feel pressured. But if you do feel so inspired, here is what you can do to participate and to get your name on a giant card that I am sending out on December 20th:

1. To send one woman one journal, one pen & pencil, plus postage, it costs $5. You can click the donate here button on my blog (right hand side bar) and use your paypal account or credit card. Please write that it is for the My Words project because it is not a Mira’s List donation.

2. Or you can send a personal check made out to me, Mira Bartók, or to Mira’s List, and mail it to my post box address: Mira’s List, P.O. Box 273, Athol, MA 01331.

3. OR...if you don’t feel like donating, please consider donating something to your own local shelter or donating your time. Or buy a sandwich for someone on the street or a cup of hot chocolate, and tell them where the nearest shelter is. Do you know where the nearest shelter is?

Thanks for reading this. I’d love to raise $500 by December 20th and put a lot of names on the card I am sending out. Any money I receive above and beyond this amount will just be donated to the shelter for other much-needed items or put into an account for next year’s My Words Project. Please spread the word about this project and if you get inspired, why not start a My Words Are My Shelter Project of your own for your local shelter next year?

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Mirabee

lari washburn : artists who blog


Fresh artist interview for you today! Wonderful, thoughtful, talented Maine artist Lari Washburn will delight your senses and your soul with her beautiful mixed media artwork and peaceful words. Enjoy.


Why did you decide to become an artist and could you imagine doing anything else? If so, what?

I don’t really remember deciding to be an artist. My mother was an artist so I grew up with that life…seeing creativity as a way to live. Pretty much everything in our home was made by one of my parents, or it was an antique! I do remember standing in a museum, in front of a painting and deciding to go to school and get a BFA. But I think I was motivated to do this because I saw the joy and power of creating. I can’t imagine doing anything else now.


Do you still believe “do what you love and the money will come“?

I think the saying should be “Do what you love, and be deeply devoted to the practice it will take everyday and maybe the money will follow, but for sure the happiness of being true to yourself will follow.” That’s what I want…to be true to myself.


How has blogging and the Internet influenced your work as an artist?

I see all the possibilities out there, and how endless they are, and that inspires me. I see all the ways people make their lives work, and that excites me. I see things everyday that I would never have thought of or been exposed to, and that is fun. I think everything I take in is food that will ultimately be used by me somehow. I rarely know how this will happen consciously, but I see it later in my work. And I try to take in the best nourishment possible…things that are positive.


Please name 3 of your favorite blogs and tell us why these blogs are special.

Natsumi Nishizumi I enjoy this blog for its simplicity and peaceful quality. I think this artist has a spectacular eye and sense of design, combined with an appreciation of nature that always renews me.

Pia Jane Bijkerk I think the way this artist styles everything is always so fascinating. I like all the texture she adds in her photos and graphics, and how she always focuses on magical and moody-feeling settings. I aspire to add more of this to my blog.

Stitch and Tickle I love Sophie’s blog because she is so curious and inventive about life and her work. She always has something unique and funny and refreshing to write about. She always makes me see things in new ways. And her work is stunning, and I always like to see how it is progressing.


What is your greatest fear and what do you do to overcome it?

I don’t enjoy it when access to my intuitive self is clouded or blocked by too much wishing to be like somebody else! This is a big and sad danger that I try to nip in the bud right away when I see it coming. A good dose of going into the studio and making myself do things that are “bad” and “ugly” and “trite” is my cure.


Who would you like to trade places with for one day? Why?

Oh, maybe Cy Twombly, just to see how it feels to be so in touch with that incredible flow. I love the truth and exploration in his work so much.


What are your secrets for managing your time wisely?

Having a list of things I will accomplish each day and being really diligent about working until they are done. And taking a short nap every day if I can!!


If you could live anywhere in the world – all expenses paid – for one year, where would that be? Why?

I think it would be India. There is such a rich culture there, and so many completely new things to experience. I have heard that it is a very difficult place to visit because the full force of the human condition is presented to you everywhere, but I think if I could be courageous enough to expose myself to that it would expand me. Also, think of the color!


How do you maintain a healthy balance between your professional and private life?

I have work times and not work times. My spiritual practice advises living each day so that 4 things are in balance: right livelihood, service to others, being supportive to those who are emotionally dependent upon me, and time for myself. I try to follow this.


What are your top 5 goals that you’d like to accomplish within the next 5 years?

Be a kinder human being.

Continue to develop my drawing and painting skills.

Continue to develop my textile design skills.

Find gallery representation.

Become a really good photographer.


What is your advice for someone who would like to turn his or her creative dreams into reality?

Write down what you want, picture it in detail, and make some kind of plan to achieve it. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Do at least one thing every day to accomplish what you have said you want to do. Keep swimming no matter what.


Thank you for sharing Lari. Your words and your artwork are both inspirational and poetic.
 
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