Seventeen Philadelphia-Area Women Artists Receive Leeway "Window of Opportunity" Grants
PHILADELPHIA, PA—In celebration of women artists and the impact of their art on the greater community, The Leeway Foundation awarded Window of Opportunity (WOO) grants to 17 women artists in the Philadelphia area after thorough deliberation from a local peer jury panel of artists–Julia Lopez, Trapeta Mayson, and Zoe Strauss (see bios below).
These WOO grants provide short-term, immediate assistance of up to $2,000 to women artists living in the five-county Philadelphia area who wish to take advantage of specific opportunities to significantly benefit their artistry and increase their recognition as an artist. These grants support the work of women artists at all stages of development and in all disciplines. The June 2004 WOO grantees range from Katherine Hyoejin Yoon, a writer attending an intensive mentoring and workshop retreat for emerging Asian American poets to that of Janet Goldwater, a well-known filmmaker who will create a sample reel for her upcoming documentary, ROSITA.
Grants totaling $32,558, were awarded to women living in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties representing a broad range of artistic disciplines and communities. These 17 recipients were chosen from a highly competitive pool of 90 applicants, the highest number of WOO requests ever for one cycle. They were awarded WOO grants based on many factors including the uniqueness and significance of the opportunity to the artist's development or recognition at this particular stage in their work, the potential impact of this artist's opportunity on the community, and financial need.
THE ARTISTS
Nathalie F. Anderson | Delaware | awarded $2,000
Poetry/Book Arts: Production of a limited edition book featuring a collection of poetry on phobias, a collaborative project designed by Mary Phelan, with prints by Sarah McEneaney. Support for printing and bookbinding.
Katie Baldwin | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Printmaking/Book Arts: Master workshop residency in traditional Japanese woodblock printing and papermaking at The Nagasawa Art Park Pilot Project in Japan. Support for travel expenses and printmaking materials.
Donna Bostock | Montgomery | awarded $2,000
Latin Jazz Music: Performances with band, Ellas y Amigos, at international jazz festival, Festijazz in Bolivia, in which live performances will be recorded for a CD. Will also conduct music workshops with area youth as part of festival. Support for travel expenses and CD production.
Deborah Caiola | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Painting: Exhibition at Bridgett Mayer Gallery in Philadelphia of "Texturing Women's Choices" project in collaboration with Dr. Sharon Ravitch, interviewing women born between 1935-1945 to share stories that will help in the creation of multi-dimensional portraits of each woman. Support for materials.
Candy Depew | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Sculpture: Artist-in-Residency program at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center to create a porcelain font project for candycoated.org webzine and to acquire industry-inspired ceramic techniques to supplement the creation of a new body of work. Support for materials and related shipping costs.
Theresa "Indigene" Gaskin | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Painting: Solo exhibition of a large body of work focusing on art that represents Caribbean roots and identity; paintings function as "storytellers" uncovering autobiographical experiences that relate to and communicate with audiences at Centennial Hall, Haverford School. Support for framing and transportation.
Janet Goldwater | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Documentary Video: Creation of sample reel for ROSITA, a documentary co-produced with Barbara Attie, focusing on the story of a nine-year-old Nicaraguan girl and issues of rape, abortion and religion. Support for editing, animation, and translation/subtitling.
Omomola Iyabunmi | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Sekere Music/Percussion: Intensive training to learn the Aro instrument, a part of Sekere music tradition, at the Obatala Centre for the Arts in Nigeria, with the opportunity to participate in rituals where this traditional music is played and used. Will include the Aro in performances with the Philadelphia-based female percussion group, Women's Sekere Ensemble, upon return. Support for travel expenses.
Neila Kun | Chester | awarded $2,000
Photography: First solo museum exhibition at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, PA, featuring large-scale photograms that explore dualities such as that of the private self and public image. Support for framing.
Susan Oh | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Pungmul/Korean folk music: Intensive workshop in rural Korean community to enhance knowledge of the small gong in Pungmul, a form of music that combines percussion, song and dance. Will become immersed in Pungmol culture and share techniques with peers in SoRi-MoRI Philadelphia Korean Cultural Troupe upon return. Support for travel expenses and materials.
Lynn Riley | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Latin Jazz Music: Performance at the Festijazz International Jazz Festival in Bolivia, the group Ellas y Amigos will represent the U.S. to share American jazz music, seeking opportunities for exchange with the area's Latin jazz musicians and serve as mentors to young women in the community through music workshops. Upon return will produce a CD of these live performances in Bolivia. Support for travel expenses and CD production.
Leticia Roa-Nixon | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Photography: First solo exhibit of black and white photography at The Lighthouse, a community center in North Philadelphia, sharing images of Philadelphia's Afro-Latino community in "The Third Root of the Hispanic Heritage." Support for materials, framing, and invitations.
Juliette Stango | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Music: Studio recording of vocal compositions in conjunction with 20th anniversary concert at the Ethical Society featuring Eglise Gutierrez, Frederick Antoun, Rachel Garcia and Mabel Ledo. Support for pianist and vocalist fees, as well as recording expenses.
Denise Valentine | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Storytelling: Travel to South Africa with the National Storytelling Network to further storytelling skills through cultural exchange with local communities, to learn different folktale traditions, the politics of contemporary oral stories, and the process of collecting and preserving stories in the African tradition. Support for travel expenses.
Veleta Vancza | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Metalsmith/Enameling: Exhibition of work featuring a mix of metal, color, and vitreous enamel structures mounted on the wall to create an elaborate installation, to be featured during the 2004-2005 Challenge Exhibitions at the Fleisher Art Memorial. Support for materials and installation expenses.
Yu Wei | Philadelphia | awarded $2,000
Dance: Performance of two solo dance shows at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, integrating dance that draws upon Chinese forms with live Chinese instrumentation and film. Support for production and documentation expenses.
Katherine Hyoejin Yoon | Philadelphia | awarded $558
Poetry: Intensive small group workshops and one-on-one mentorship with well known Asian American poets Rick Barot, Marilyn Chin, and Ishle Yi Park at the Kundiman Retreat for Emerging Asian American Poets in Virginia. Support for travel expenses.
THE SELECTION PANEL
Julia Lopez is a writer, performance artist, and educator. She has performed and read original works throughout the northeast (U.S.), Mexico City, Madrid, and Denver. She is a member of the Las Gallas artist collective and is presently working on a full-length multi-disciplinary performance, "Kidnapping Frida and Che." She advocates strongly for the power of the arts in education and social justice. She is Mami to her 11-year-old son, Damani.
Trapeta B. Mayson is a native of Liberia. She immigrated to Philadelphia with her family in 1975. She is involved with numerous arts and social-service related projects. Trapeta has been a fellow at Callaloo and Cave Canem. She has published in numerous journals including Aura, a University of Alabama Literary Journal; Strong Medicine: American Journal of Poetry; and Cave Canem's literary review. Trapeta is a 2002 Pew Fellow, a 2000 and 2004 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellow. She is also an artist in residence at Art Sanctuary's after-school teen arts program, and Painted Bride Art Center's ArtLAB Youth Poetry Series.
Zoe Strauss is a Philadelphia born and bred installation artist and photographer. She is in the fifth year of a 10-year project exhibiting her photographs under I-95 in South Philadelphia. Ms. Strauss is also the executive director of the Philadelphia Public Art Project, an organization dedicated to bringing Philadelphians the finest conceptual art in the world.
THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
The Leeway Foundation's Window of Opportunity grants support specific, concrete and timely opportunities that have a significant impact on an artist�s work–such as an exceptional chance for advanced study with a significant mentor; travel associated with a residency, reading, performance or exhibition; or the purchase of materials needed to complete a scheduled project. Women artists working in all fields, including the performing, literary, and visual arts, as well as mixed media, film, folk arts and community-based arts projects are encouraged to apply and may request up to $2,000.
To be eligible for a Window of Opportunity grant, artists must be female, 20 years of age or older, current residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia county, and have a commitment from a recognized institution, organization or mentor for a specific date or dates. Applicants may not be full-time or matriculated students in a degree-granting arts program.
There is one remaining WOO cycle in 2004, the deadline is:
• Monday, November 1 (Projects which occur after December 13 are eligible for this cycle.)
Applications are available online or by calling 215.545.4078.
THE LEEWAY FOUNDATION
The Leeway Foundation was founded in 1993 to promote the welfare of women and benefit the arts. Leeway's mission is to support individual women artists, arts programs and arts organizations, focusing on the Greater Philadelphia region, in order to help them achieve individual and community transformation. Leeway envisions a world where art is recognized as an essential part of the human experience; where it is employed and respected as a powerful catalyst for personal and social change; and where women artists are honored as role models, mentors and leaders.
