Author: Morgan Day

 

Supporting Local and International Artists in Brooklyn: Day ’20 at the International Studio & Curatorial Program

Sep 19, 2019
 

For my winter co-op, I have had the opportunity to engage with artists from all over the world at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn, New York.  ISCP is a non-profit organization that supports local and international artists and curators by providing them with studio space. They also take residents on field trips to various museums and hold public programming to share the work of the residents with the general public.

I am working in two departments of the organization: Communications and Programming. For Communications, I help run the ISCP social media accounts by keeping up to date on what residents and alumni are up to professionally, then I write tweets or Facebook posts to promote their work. My favorite part about working for the Communications department is being a photographer. I take photographs of ISCP’s public events as well as the artists in residence in their studios. I always look forward to these studio visits, as I am able to talk to the artists and capture their work in progress. As an aspiring artist, I am always very excited to talk to established artists about their creative process. Lately, I had been feeling as though the art world was this impenetrable, intimidating community, one which I was not welcome in. These feelings of anxiety have been eased during my time at ISCP because I am able to engage in conversation with artists—who, after all, are people too.

One project I have been working on throughout my time in the Programming department is sending out a monthly list of open call opportunities for artists. This requires lots of time doing research. This particular project has opened my eyes to the many different ways there are to pursue a career in art. I also learned more about what the application process for things like grants and residency programs looks like. I found this helpful, as I hope to one day be submitting applications myself.

Living in New York City never ceases to surprise me. During my time here, I have felt incredibly inspired, humbled, and awed. ISCP has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people within the art world and has taught me so much about how to move forward with my personal artistic journey.

 

Artist in Residence: Day ’20 in Maribor, Slovenia

Jul 23, 2018
 

For my 2018 Spring co-op I am studying film photography in Maribor, Slovenia. Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia and is close to the boarder of Austria.  Slovenia became an idependent democratic country in 1991 after the collapse of Yugoslavia. Slovene is the official language of Slovenia. Slovene is a unique language, as it is a romantic and slavic language. Slovenia is best known for it’s mountains and white wine. The Julian Alps stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia and contain the highest peak in Slovenia (and former Yugoslavia). As for wine, Slovenia grows the oldest variety of grape in existance today to create their white wines. Many vineyards line the hills surrounding Maribor.

During my time in Maribor, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a “Transnational Guerilla Art School” called GT22. GT22 is a space for artists to create and share their work with the Maribor community. The organization is open to everyone who would like to participate. The space was originally a nightclub. In 2013, the building was converted to a creative space containing a small theater, a darkroom, a computer lab, an internet radio station, a printmaking studio, and a gallery space.

For a small donation fee, I am able to use the darkroom at GT22 to develop and print the photographs I take on my 35mm film camera. Through engaging with the other people who use the space, I have learned a great deal about different photographic processes and deepened my knowledge of the chemistry used in the darkroom. I have also been able to attend the various community events that are held at GT22. For example, one night they held a film screening about homeless children in Ukraine who are often addicted to drugs. The director of the film was from Maribor and attended the screening for a Q&A after the film. These events are very informative about many local and international issues. They have also been a great way for me to engage with the Maribor community and meet people in the city.

During this co-op I have also had the opportunity to travel to Dublin, Ireland and Berlin, Germany. These trips were wonderful additions to my independent studies, as I was able to visit the art museums in these cities. Both Dublin and Berlin are extremely rich in history. I learned a lot about national history in both countries, for example, the Great Famine in Dublin and the Berlin Wall in Berlin. I became facinated with how the history of a place effects the art which is being produced there. This led me to read articles about art history, national identity and political art.

Overall, my co-op has been a great opportunity for me to artistically experiment and learn more about the European modern art scene. I have also become more interested in history and its connection to art. I am incredibly grateful for GT22 for allowing me to use their facilities and exposing me to the local arts community in Maribor.