The Hopper Prize is now accepting entries

$3,500 Grants - All Media Eligible

Deadline: May 17, 2022

The Hopper Prize is now accepting entries for the Spring 2022 artist grants.

They are offering $3,500 and $1,000 grants to artists and photographers around the world.

Grants will be awarded through an open call art competition juried by leading contemporary curators. Current Jurors:

— Jody Graf, Assistant Curator, MoMA PS1

— Pamela Meadows, Curator, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

The Hopper Prize was established in order to increase the recognition of artwork created by artists and photographers. Their aim is to advance artists' careers by providing them with unrestricted financial support that is coupled with a platform for increased visibility. They accept submissions twice a year via an open call.

They are currently accepting submissions for the Spring 2022 grant cycle.

Program Highlights

Total Awards: $11,000.00 USD for visual artists

• $3,500.00 – 2 artists will each receive a $3,500 (USD) grant

• $1,000.00 – 4 artists will each receive a $1,000 (USD) grant

• 30 artists will have their work archived at hopperprize.org

• A selection from the submissions will be featured on their Instagram feed @hopperprize

• Additional exposure will be available to winners through their Journal: Insights into Contemporary Art

Connect with Curators

They collaborate with contemporary curators holding prominent positions at major institutions in order to select our grant winners. The open call provides you with a direct path to get your work in front of these forward thinking exhibition makers. Jurors for the current awards are:

Jody Graf

Assistant Curator

MoMA PS1

&

Pamela Meadows

Curator

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA)

The jurors will be selecting 6 artists from the open call who will each receive an unrestricted cash grant.

2 artists will win $3,500 and 4 artists will win $1,000.

The jurors will also select a shortlist of 30 artists who will have their work archived here.

Grant awards are unrestricted and may be used any way the recipients choose.

When submitting your work, you will have the option to opt-in to be considered for possible Instagram features on our feed @hopperprize, where we currently reach an audience of over 65k. Our editors will be featuring select submissions on a rolling basis prior to the application deadline.

In addition to grant awards, their shortlist, and Instagram reach, we will be providing an additional platform for exposure via the online Journal Insights Into Contemporary Art. They launched this digital publication to give artists a new channel to amplify their voice while providing an in-depth look at their work, practice, and background. Grant recipients and shortlisted artists will all receive the opportunity to publish an interview to include any work of their choosing as a means of providing continued support beyond the open call.

Eligibility

The Hopper Prize is open to all artists age 18 and older working in any media. There are no restrictions on genre, subject matter, or media. They welcome entries in all media.

They are committed to supporting artists from diverse cultural backgrounds at all stages of their professional careers. All artists are encouraged to apply.

Deadline

May 17, 2022

Simple Application

They've made the grant application simple to reduce the stress of submitting your work and save you time. The application is short and can be completed in under 20 minutes.

To apply for a grant, you only need to submit this information:

• Name & Email

• Instagram Username (optional)

• Up to 10 Image or Video attachments

• Artwork captions

• Artist Statement & Biography (optional)

• $40 submission fee

Apply Now - HERE

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

Deadline: August 2, 2022

This program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.

Apply here.

There is a new mural at Glen Echo Park!

There is a new mural at Glen Echo Park! The Bumper Car Pavilion now has an original J. Jordan Bruns mural donning its facade. After a solid week of painting, and countless revisions, it is completed. 

The Bumper Car Pavilion Mural at Glen Echo

Also join Jordan for the opening reception of Tadaima, his solo show at Artists and Makers Studios. The reception is this Saturday, May 7, from 11:00 - 3:00pm. The following week on Sunday, May 15 from 1:00 - 3:00pm, he will be hosting a discussion of the ink wash technique featured in the show.

Tadaima is a phrase that means “I’ve just come home now” in Japanese. J. Jordan Bruns, a long time Glen Echo Park resident artist has returned from a three-year sabbatical in Tokyo, Japan. 

“Tadaima” will highlight some of the work created during his sabbatical as well as work created since his return.  On display will be Bruns’s ink wash paintings of Japanese Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines. These works are made using acrylic ink, as a substitute for more traditional Sumi ink, in monochrome of either blue or gold. Each piece has areas of high resolution around the focal points and abstract ink splatters or uncontrolled washes in other areas to balance the realism.  

Bruns will host a demonstration and discussion titled “Working in Ink Abroad” on Sunday, May 15th from 1:00-3:00pm. This event will allow attendees to see his sketchbooks from three years of travel in Asia and Oceania. Bruns will also discuss and demonstrate how the technique used in plein air ink sketches relates to his more resolved ink washes in the studio.  

Tadaima

At Artists & Makers Studios 1 11810 Parklawn Dr Ste 210, Rockville, MD 20852

Opening Reception:

Saturday, May 7 from 11:00 - 3:00pm

Artist Discussion: “Working in Ink Abroad”, Sunday May 15, 1:00 -3:00pm

Looking for a sponsor

 Maybe we can find this artist a sponsor  --   I kinda like the fresh, open approach?

Dear Sir 

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Karema Karissa and I'm an artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. I write to you seeking patronage in order to continue my career in art. I seek your patronage for many reasons that will benefit both of us, to be honest, mostly me as I am in need. I'll start by telling you a bit more about myself and the work I do.

I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2013 I graduated from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa with a bachelor's degree in commerce majoring in marketing. Upon graduating I ventured into a career in art as this has been my interest since I was 8 years old. Throughout the years I have tried different mediums and techniques. In 2019, I finally established my own niche and launched my website kareshart.com in 2020.

My niche is modern art with modern techniques. I apply smooth layer upon layer with wax based Prismacolor colored pencils, ink vector patterns and gold acrylic paint to create unique high quality skyscape and arabic calligraphy pieces.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to sell to the point that I would be able to earn a living entirely out of my talent. I truly believe in my talent and my aim is to make a name for myself as a great talent of my time. To book my place in history as an artist who showed dedication, character, hard work and exceptional talent in his niche. I would like to live out my life creating art.

I priced my work low in order to survive but surviving is not living. Out of 101 pieces currently I have sold 12 in 2 years for a total of $650. My artwork was priced $140 each on my website but I believe it is worth so much more. Thus I have disabled purchases on my website as I now seek a patron for this collection of artworks. It has taken me a whole lifetime of ups and downs, failures, progress, learning and unlearning, to get to this level of skill. 22 years to be precise. Prior to my website launch and the establishment of my niche, I sold over 60 pieces of art since the official launch of my art career in 2013. But not at a price enough to make a living. I do believe that I am an exceptional talent. All I need is someone to believe in me.

You can visit my Instagram page @karesh_art. If you scroll down my page while checking the dates you will see that I have been constantly working on my craft. I can producing 5 to 8 pieces a month. All of them are beautiful, similar yet unique in their own way.  My goal is to create one of the largest bodies of artworks in my niche. I have done 101 pieces so far, I would like to get to 1000 God willing. I am passionate about my work, I love what I do. Unfortunately my work has stalled because of financial constraints and lack of time. I have had to seek other sources of income to cater for my living expenses. This has taken up the time I had to work on my craft. Thus I am in need of your assistance to save and maintain my career.

A short description of my work is as follows: The skyscapes/seascapes are inspired by the mystery that's above us and below us. Whenever I look up to the sky I'm amazed at the possibilities of what could be out there in the universe. Same goes for the ocean, so much of it is yet to be explored. The vast array of amazing creatures, plants, mountains and trenches. So much more than the eyes can see. Another inspiration is the general beauty of the sky and the ocean. How they both change with different times, seasons and tides. We live on a beautiful planet and we are responsible for its preservation.

My Arabic calligraphy is inspired by the need to educate on Islam, sending reminders to my Muslim brothers and sisters and the beauty of the Arabic language. It's my way of giving back and spreading peace and love to a people that are greatly misunderstood.

Historically, people in positions of power like kings, queens and wealthy people funded all types of visual artists. They guaranteed financial security to artists giving them an opportunity to earn a living while creating art. They would do so through patronage. This increased value and security and shaped artists to be viewed as people possessing unique skills that warrant respect, admiration and payment. This earned these individuals the title 'Patron of the Arts' as they stood out as those who are capable of supporting artistic talent. With their passion for talent and philanthropy they changed the lives of many artists and paved the way for growth of the art industry over the years shaping it to what it is today.

I therefore seek your patronage to save my career, to give me an opportunity to achieve my goals and to help me realize my full potential. Your patronage is going to have great benefits for me. My career is currently at risk and your assistance would help me maintain it. 

You will be helping me realize my dream just like every other athlete, actor, musician and so on who have had the opportunity to earn through their talent and hard work. This will give me the freedom to practice my craft for the rest of my life. I will be able to afford a better studio space, better supplies, better recording equipment, preservation of my artwork and so much more. I will be able to cater for travel expenses to attend exhibitions and mentorships in order to improve my career. I have received invites to exhibit my artwork and mentorship opportunities by masters of art but I lost the opportunities as I could not afford the travel expenses. Art can be capital intensive sometimes. I will have the opportunity to teach my craft and pass down the knowledge I have acquired throughout the years. I would like to help improve my community through my talent. The benefits are many. The world is full of people with different sets of skills. Some doctors, lawyers, bankers, footballers...Art is what I'm good at, so I'm asking you to grant me this opportunity.

I reach out to you because of your capabilities and I do believe this is where I can find someone capable of granting me the assistance I need. The values you uphold and your drive are a great inspiration. It would be an honour to secure your patronage. 

The benefit to you is first off, the delight of helping someone in need. You will also be an important part of my journey. An artistic journey I will be on, for the rest of my life God willing. You will be the patron who set the stage for me to become a great artist of his age. You will be a 'Patron of the Arts' for my collection and I will not let you down in making sure that your contribution is well placed. You will be amongst those who support people with unique talents in society in these times where talent has developed high consideration. If you give me this opportunity I will not waste it.

My proposal is that you purchase my whole collection of current artworks. They are 92 in total, 17 by 17 cm artworks. 68 skyscapes and 24 arabic calligraphy artworks. This will give me a lot of breathing space. I propose you  purchase them at $3,000 each. A total of $276,000 for the whole collection. This is for a skill that has been 22 years in the making. This will give me the opportunity to pursue and achieve my goals God willing. I do believe my work is worth it and so much more. I do believe you won't be disappointed when you see them. I lay great emphasis on quality. You can view the collection on my website kareshart.com, portfolio page.

The pieces can be kept in a private collection. They can be kept in a corporate collection. They can be hung all over the walls of your company premises. Art has been known to create an inspiring work environment for employees. The pieces can be given as gifts to family. They can be given to employees as gifts for appreciation. Amongst many other uses of Art.

Art is also an increasing asset. If you invest in my talent you will have a valuable asset in your hands. My success in the art industry, God willing, will also increase it's value. As the years go by the value of the asset keeps increasing. Recently a 2.75 by 2.75 inch sketch by Da vinci sold for 12 million dollars. Companies such as UBS have a collection of upto 35,000 artworks. I have attached a comprehensive report by Dr. Clare McAndrew, founder of Art Economics for the year 2022. This detailed report reveals the kind of value the art industry holds together with the shifts as per the market environment. Granting me your patronage will be a worthy investment that will benefit you in the short term and the long term. It will secure a future for generations to come. 

This is not entirely about the money though. This is about gaining the freedom to practise my craft. Something I have worked on for years and I feel I have earned it. I feel it is time I got the platform to truly realise my full potential. That platform is my freedom. With the limited time I currently have, I am already working on a new collection of artworks to keep my career a float. But it's my dream to be able to do this full time. Some of the piece are already available for purchase on my website.

Upon securing your patronage, my next step will be to find a mentor who is already established in the art industry. Someone who will guide me on how to introduce and maintain  my brand in the international art industry amongst many other benefits of mentorship. I seek to use this achievement of securing patronage to secure mentorship from a master of art. Your patronage will improve my reputation and grant me the resources to pursue this goal. I also have the option to reach out to the masters of art who had previously agreed to mentor me as I'll have the funds to meet the financial demands. I am also still in contact with the international art galleries that have invited me to work with them. All that's left is the financing. You're welcome to follow up on my progress anytime and as much as you please.

The artworks will be delivered as per your request. The pieces are not framed but are well packaged, secured and ready for delivery to the address you will provide. 

I welcome any proposal you have. Or any terms and conditions you may have. I have attached my art C.V with references and I can provide sample images of my artworks. You can also view the collection on my website kareshart.com, portfolio page. Videos of the creation of the piece are available on my Instagram highlights, page name @karesh_art. I am willing to provide any documentation that you need for authentication. I truly am in need of assistance thus I reach out as far as I can. I hope you shall consider my proposal.

I apologize for the long e-mail. Thank you in advance

Regards,

Karema Karissa

+254715750845

Job Opportunity: Arts Education Coordinator

Harwood Art Center has an opening for a full-time Arts Education Coordinator. They ae are looking for someone who "embodies the philosophy, mission and values of Harwood and our parent organization, Escuela del Sol Montessori, and who believes in our work as deeply as the other extraordinary members of our core staff. If you feel called to steward and create opportunities grounded in arts, engagement, community, citizenship, education and professional development, you are the person for this role."

They encourage you to apply using the form linked below. For best consideration, please submit as soon as possible. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.

APPLY HERE

How to make Fufú

 Fufú: This is how you do it 

That image to the right is not a banana, but a plantain (in Spanish platano). 

The plantain is most commonly eaten as a side dish in many Latin American cuisines, where it is simply boiled and then served as a side dish with perhaps a little olive oil and salt to add some flavor, especially if it's a green plantain, which are rather tasteless by themselves. 

The ripe ones are quite tasty and sweet, and are usually served sliced and fried. A few years ago you could only find them in Latin American bodegas, but now most major supermarkets carry them. 

But let's look at the green plantain. 

In most Latin American restaurants where it is offered, it is offered as a boiled side dish. In Cuban restaurants (and many Miami art galleries) it is also served as tostones, which essentially involves slicing up the plantain, frying it in olive oil for a while, taking it out and crushing it, and frying it again. Add salt and you're done. 

But Fufú is the real king of plantain dishes and it is rarely seen in any restaurants, even Cuban ones.

I think that maybe it is because Fufú possibly developed in the eastern part of Cuba (a province once called Oriente), and it may not be as well known or served in Havana, which is the only place that most tourists visit when they visit that unfortunate island and contribute money to the Cuban Armed Forces, which is who owns most of the tourist industry.

With its massive forests and mountains, a large African population from Spain's terrible slavery trade, coupled with its large French immigrant population which migrated to Cuba after the Haitian independence wars, a lot of Chinese working on the railroads that connected the sugar mills, and its concentration of Galician, rather than Castillians, Catalans, or Andalucian Spaniards, Oriente evolved into a very distinct region in Cuba, quite different from Havana and the other Cuban provinces, and so did its Cuban Spanish language and its cuisine. 

Oriente is where Bacardi rum was invented, and where Hatuey beer was created, and where the mojito and Daiquiri were invented... get my drift? 

And in Oriente the humble plantain is eaten as a very delicious side dish called Fufú, with the accent in the last "u" like in Hai-ku.... foo fú! 

Start with a couple of green plantains. Wash then and cut out the tips of the plantains, but leave the skin on. Cut the plantains into three equal pieces per plantain and bring to a boil in water and boil for a few minutes until the green skins start to peel away. 

While they are boiling, in a frying pan heat a generous dose of olive oil with a seasoning dash of salt and pepper (or Goya Sazon is you really want some exotic spices). 

Add chopped fresh garlic and chopped (very small pieces) onions to the hot olive oil and fry the garlic and onions; lots and lots of garlic. 

While the onions and garlic fry (don't overcook), the plantains should be ready, so pull them out, throw away the green skins and put the cleaned hot plantains on a large flat plate and mash them as you would d

Emergency Grants are available for Maryland artists!

Emergency Grants are available for Maryland artists! 

The purpose of the Emergency Grant program is to support the needs of independent artists as they adjust to income losses as the result of an emergency situation (including, but not limited to, the ongoing impact of the pandemic). 

This Emergency Grant program is accepted on a rolling basis with a monthly review process. Grants are available for up to $2,000. Click here for further details and the full program guidelines.