After being fully funded for her artists in residency program (Project Grant), Tina Dillman set out to seek the first artists to participate in the initiative. The artists that she has chosen are from outside of the Buffalo area, which means that Grant Street (where much of the residency occurs) will have an infusion of artistic life that would not have otherwise occurred without the program.
First up, starting in June, is artist Ray Mack, who Tina met while studying at the San Francisco Art Institute. Mack is based in Seattle, WA, and intends to conduct a series of “Saturday afternoon pop up painting sessions” that will be open to women and young girls living on the city’s West Side. The sessions will occur in underutilized parks and spaces along Grant Street. The culmination of the effort will be a gallery show at Buffalo Arts Studio, which will open on Friday June 28, 2015. The Project Grant home base will host Wednesday evening lectures and classes that will help to orient the women with their artistic goals.
Come July, Project Grant will welcome Erik Parra who currently resides in San Francisco. The artist will be involved with a series of drawing and collage based workshops. The workshops will be held at the Old First Ward Community Center, to coincide with the Old First Ward home for the 2015 City of Night event. At the end of the workshop sessions, the resulting art installation will be on view at City of Night, scheduled to take place on July 18.
The month of September, Project Grant welcomes an artist who hails from Berlin. Kyla Kegler will spend one month in Buffalo, as she sets out to create a collaborative performance that will ultimately be performed at Curtain Up! The combo dance and theatrical performance will be a welcome addition to the main kick-off event that takes place in the Theater District. Along the way, Kyla will also be participating in donation based yoga classes that will be conducted at the West Ferry & Richmond church.
On April 21, 2015, from 6-9pm, art activist Tina Dillman will be speaking at Resurgence Brewery. Anyone interested in learning more about Project Grant, and these fascinating artists who will be spending time in Buffalo, is welcome to attend. To learn more about each artist in residence, click here.
6 Minute Building Stories | April 21, 6-9 PM | Resurgence Brewery | 1250 Niagara St, Buffalo, NY