News
Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia names 55 finalists
The Knight Foundation released the names of 55 finalists for its Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia 2012. Finalists include artists, musicians, collectives, and community groups in the region. Winners are to be announced in the Spring.
Visual arts finalists include: Asian Arts Initiative, Brandywine Workshop, Center City District, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Chestnut Hill Friends Meetinghouse Project,COSACOSA art at large, Crane Arts, David Clayton, Erica Hawthorne, Fleisher Art Memorial, Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund, Geoffrey Johnson, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Katarina Dudas, Little Berlin, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, Philadelphia Youth Media Collaborative, RAIR, Inc., Scribe Video Center, Sean Stoops, The Clay Studio, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, The Hacktory, The University of the Arts, The Village of Arts and Humanities, University City District, and Vic Reznik.
Congratulations to all the finalists!
Met hires contemporary art curator away from Tate
In a move to strengthen its role in contemporary art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art approved the appointment Sheena Wagstaff – a former curator at Tate London – as director of its new program of 20th and 21st Century art. The Met also plans to utilize the recently acquired Marcel Breuer building at Madison Avenue and 75th Street (otherwise known as the Whitney Museum of American Art) as its modern and contemporary outpost while it undergoes renovations.
Sharon Butler looks ahead to 2012
In a move to foresee the year of 2012, Sharon Butler makes seven predictions about the future in art. Among her predictions are that art funding will be on the rise, however artists will be faced with the ongoing challenge of how to represent their projects as giving back to the community. She also expects MFA enrollment to decline on account of fewer teaching jobs in the arts and a lack of job prospects for those studying art. That said, she expects new jobs to be created in the writing, art handling, and social media fields.
New Philadelphia art marketing campaign
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is set to launch a new marketing campaign – With Art Philadelphia – to bolster the city as a competitive global name in the arts. This effort marks the first coordinated and sustained marketing venture of its kind in the city, and coincides with the opening of the new Barnes Foundation.
People’s Biennial to open at Haverford College
Haverford College is hosting the People’s Biennial which opens on January 27. The show explores artists who work outside of the mainstream art world and includes 36 contemporary names from places not traditionally recognized as art hubs. Philadelphia’s Maiza Hixson, artist and Curator at the DCCA, has a video in this show.
Main Line Art Center director to retire
The board of the Main Line Art Center in Haverford has announced that long time Executive Director Judy Herman will retire in August. Herman has been the director for nearly 25 years and helped to greatly expand the art center’s staff and budget during her time as director.
Libby and Roberta Commonwealth Speakers
We told you before that Libby and Roberta were selected to share their knowledge as Commonwealth Speakers through the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The full list of speakers has been released, as well as the application for talks at your location. Visit your local library or community center and ask them to have Libby and Roberta come talk about art!
Bryn Mawr Film Institute live screening of Da Vinci exhibit
We’ve heard that some operas have been broadcast in local theaters, well now the Bryn Mawr Film Institute brings us a live preview of the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition at the UK’s National Gallery. The preview will screen on January 21 at 11:00 AM.
Vote for Philly artists!
So you’re not in Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina to vote in the primaries? Well you can still vote for something worthwhile – local artists! Visit the West Collects site or Saatchi Online to cast your vote for Philadelphia artists in their respective competitions.
Opportunities
A new reality show called Ultimate Craft Throwdown is casting for creative individuals to showcase their skills on TV. If you think you have what it takes, e-mail CraftCasting@gmail.com with your full name and contact info, city, a short paragraph about you, as well as pictures of you and your work. The deadline is January 20.
Art in City Hall is seeking artists for Meta-Fiber, part of FiberPhiladelphia 2012. The call is open to artists working with fiber and textiles in non-traditional ways.
Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA has an open call for its show Vanity Fare Art Inspired by Fashion. The deadline is January 28.
Rhizome Commisions 2012 is on the lookout for emerging artists who create significant works of new media art. Grants generally range from $1000 – $5000. The deadline is April 15.
The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha has opened up applications for their 2013 residency (via Wooloo.org). Applications are open in a variety of media: conceptual, drawing, film, installation, and digital. The deadline is February 28.
Flying Kite brings us this fun opportunity: Headlong Dance Company is looking to turn your house into a dance space! The group is seeking interested/interesting individuals to host a performance entitled “This Town is a Mystery” for the Live Arts Festival in September. Find details and application materials here.
The West Collection has announced its 2012 “Make” series. Proposals for 1-2 hour workshops are the name of the game. Propose a good workshop and get paid $500 to teach it! Send your outline to lee@westcollection.org by February 15 to be considered.
Proposals are currently being accepted for the Museum of Art and Peace in Germantown. The quarterly exhibitions feature work involved with social justice and peacemaking ideals. Visit the submissions page for all the information.
Artist News
In the Media: Theodore Harris, Philadelphia collage and assemblage artist, was featured in an interview with Montreal Serai.
The fine people from Extra Extra sat down with Title Magazine for an interview, and there is also a 30-minute podcast of their discussion as well.
