MCBA is pleased to announce the selection of six participants in the 2008-09 MCBA Jerome Foundation Book Arts Mentorship series: photographer and mixed media installation artist Gregory Carideo; painter and mixed media artist Tanaegh Haddad; textile and mixed media artist Amber Jensen; poet Sheila Lynch-Salamon; ceramic, mosaic and mixed media artist Deborah Ramos; and drawing and printmaking artist Mira Rojanasakul.

Three jurors, reflecting diverse perspectives and considerable expertise, reviewed the 57 applications received and selected the six recipients. Jurors were: Erica Spitzer Rasmussen, textile artist and professor of art at Metropolitan State University; Cecilia Ramon, sculptor, University of Minnesota Duluth faculty member and past Jerome Book Arts Mentorship recipient; and Michael Robins, Executive Producing Director of Illusion Theater. All were excited by the quality -- technical and conceptual -- of the applications received and, with careful deliberation and discussion, made a final selection of six participants.

Over the next year, the six emerging artists will immerse themselves in book arts workshops and private instruction in MCBA's studios, and develop independent projects with guidance from book artist mentors Jana Pullman, Bill Moran and Jody Williams. Their mentorship experience will culminate in a group exhibition at MCBA, opening in November 2009. Congratulations, artists!

 

About the Book Arts Mentorship

The Book Arts Mentorship is an artist development program aimed at introducing book arts to emerging artists whose primary medium is in another discipline.

Mentorships will be awarded biannually to six artists selected from the following disciplines:

• Literary arts (poetry, spoken word, fiction and creative nonfiction)
• Visual Arts (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, new media)
• Music (composing)
• Film and video (video/filmmakers, animation)
• Theater (playwriting)
• Dance (choreography)

Only originating artists in these disciplines are eligible for Jerome support; musicians, actors, directors, dancers, screenwriters and other such categories are not eligible.

Artists selected for the Book Arts Mentorship will receive:

• $1,500 for the purchase of materials and to supplement living or travel costs
  (subject to state and federal income tax guidelines)
• Three months of basic book arts training at MCBA
• Free tuition to participate in up to three workshops offered by MCBA through its regular adult education schedule (artist pays only supply fees)
• The ability to meet regularly with a mentor and attend master classes that provide contextual and historical foundations for book arts
• One year free membership to MCBA
• Recognition through a culminating exhibition in MCBA’s main gallery
  

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by emerging artists. An "emerging artist" is generally defined as an artist who shows significant potential, yet has not received a commensurate amount of professional recognition regardless of age or recognition in other fields. MCBA and the Jerome Foundation reserve the right to review and determine any applicant status as "emerging" or "established".

Applicants must reside in Minnesota and must have held legal residency in Minnesota for the preceding year.

You are not eligible to apply for the Book Arts Mentorship if you are:

• a student, full-time or part-time
• an MCBA artist-in-residence or staff member
• an artist who already uses book arts as a primary form for your creative expression
• an artist who is already well-established in your field of work
• a prior recipient of any MCBA / Jerome Book Arts Mentorship or Fellowship

 

If you have questions about the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Mentorship, please contact Jeff Rathermel, MCBA artistic director.