April 15, 2010
I have to say I'm still a bit in shock to have this happen to me. After receiving quite a few finalist notifications recently for big fully funded residencies, all which eventually turned into rejections, I had something go my way. In perspective now, this is probably the most important news that I have gotten in my short career, and I see a new line of my personal history starting out.
"We're in the business of rejections," I always say.
"It's not that we're losers, we just didn't win this time," is another common utterance.
How else do we keep going as artists? Rejection is something we'll experience more than adulation or reward, and we have to have thick skins to shrug off the loss of even the most strongly desired opportunities.
So what happened to me that I'm so friggin excited about? Why am I rambling in my news roll when this should be a concise place for updates? Well, let me tell you...I received notice that I'm now officially the Director of INKubator Press in Kansas City at the Arts Incubator!!! I'm over the top on this one! I'll be taking over as head of a new print shop, decked out in all the best of presses including multiple intaglio presses, litho, letterpress, and a fantastic screen printing setup as well. It's better than what my MFA program provided (sorry, don't mean to knock you NMSU!). I'm working on my plan for how we're going to use this space as they haven't truly established what they want to do with it yet. I just wanted to post this notice and officially start to get the word out that I'm going to be stepping into a new era of my personal print-ti-tude. Now I have two jobs in my field, during a huge recession to boot. I am kind of excited...I guess.
March 9th, 2010
As of a few days ago, I am officially hired on as a consultant for the McGregor/Marquette Center for the Arts. My job at MMCA is to create a 3-5 year business and sustainability plan so that this upstart art center can flourish along the river in eastern Iowa. Our plans thus far include creating an engaging set of programming including exhibitions, performances, and other community and regional art events. It's an exciting time for me and a great new opportunity to broaden my own experience as an artist and a facilitator.