Work and Progress

Monday evening I was invited to take part of an artist discussion put on by the Durfee Foundation. There was about eight artist from cross disciplines Theater, visual arts, new media, Performance, installation/sculpture. I was a representative for the visual arts discipline. A facilitator coordinated all the questioning (and kept the group from going off the main topic of discussion) There were two forms of questions posed 1. individual experience and Questions addressed to the entire group, by a facilitator .

Individual Questions

Q: How much money do you think you need to realize a body of work in your discipline?

I can’t really put a price on it. Anything will help, that is there is always a place to use the money $500.00 can pay for paint and brushes. $5000.00 can help pay for studio space for a year and buy some very basic materials.

Q: How often do you as a representative of your discipline apply for grants?

In Los Angeles I don’t think I apply for grants as often as I should the process of writing for grants can be time consuming. Although Grants such as the ARC Grant make the process so simple its much easier to consider. This does not mean I can’t use the money, anything helps.

In Los Angeles I am able to work and fund the majority of my works by my self. Although the amount of time I have in the studio becomes limited because I do have to be out of the studio to make money.

Q: What do you do to support yourself as an artist?

If you aren’t living off your work It’s good to have a gig that is closely linked to your discipline. Mostly I teach college students drawing and painting. Its a good skill to have and I think that teaching informs my work in the studio, while being a studio artist helps inform the people I’m teaching.

Q: When do you know you need a grant?

1.When I need to spend more time in the studio to finish a show for an exhibition. A grant would allow me to take on less work outside of the studio freeing up my time to work and think about projects.

2. In Los Angeles vs. NYC I have more space to create larger works so naturally I want to take on larger projects that are out of my budget and would better be realized through the support of a grant.