Hello, friends—
Greetings from the central California coast! It’s been a long week of driving, the kind where you’re gradually making progress and seeing something new every day, but time is completely manipulated into a delirious continuum—one I’m both hyper-aware of and totally bewildered by at the same time. I’ve been on the road for just a little more than three weeks, but it might as well be three months.
The other day I was driving out of Las Vegas—hot, lots of traffic—on Interstate 15, and I drove by Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains. I’m not sure exactly how to explain the phenomenon of knowing something through images—beautiful, distraction-less, probably lightly Photoshopped documentation—and then seeing it in real life… over six lanes of traffic and a median barrier and past electrical wires while trying to avert the glare of solar farms glinting in the distance.
For a split second, I thought, ooh, I’ll definitely exit the freeway and go check it out! Famous art! But then I saw the mass of cars and decided I was much happier to see the multi-hued stacks of boulders from a distance (it was also over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was pretty comfortable with my AC). I still saw it, right?
Seven Magic Mountains is fascinating because it seems so incongruous with its surroundings. Gorgeous against a desert backdrop, of course, but also… the congested multi-lane highway? Unlike a carefully designed museum experience, the work is subject to the natural elements, urban infrastructure, and major foot traffic that occasionally puts the work itself at risk. The installation was originally scheduled to be in place for two years, but it was so popular that it has now been there for eight—and counting.
I love that it is essentially a roadside attraction as much as an example of an authored work of contemporary art. That dialogue itself is specific to its site along a major artery flanked by rocky mountains and dotted with casinos, gas stations, and the occasional Joshua tree—a very American landscape. And I love to be surprised by something—even initially turned off—so I have to think about it. When I think, “I don’t like this,” I want to understand why. Usually, it means there’s something interesting happening, and I definitely like interesting.
The more I thought about how “wrong” it felt to have it along the highway, the more I enjoyed that it was there, being wrong. It’s surprising, bright, and a little trippy—what better to break up an otherwise monotonous transit through the desert? I hope it remains for as long as it can be safely maintained, even if I still have no desire to get off the highway to see it more closely.
See you next week!
—Kate
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What you’ll find below:
Featured project: After the Winter in The Niche
Four exhibitions on view this week in London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Paris
Thirteen opportunities for artists with deadlines coming up soon
Featured Project: After the Winter
The strange era of online-only exhibitions may be mostly behind us, but the period spurred by pandemic seclusion was interesting in terms of expanding the nature of online publishing. Or at least that’s how I like to think of it.
As part of Dovetail, Young Space’s sibling project, an adjacent section called The Niche emphasizes in-depth features that fall somewhere between the editorial and the curatorial—not quite an exhibition, not quite a typical article.
For the first time in about a year and a half, a new feature is now in The Niche! Featuring work by Adam Farcus, Aly Ogasian, Claudia O’Steen, and Lizz Stringfield, the projects in After the Winter explore the artists’ ties to the Midwest and examine their understanding of landscape, the environment, and community amid a rapidly changing climate.
See more at niche.dovetailmag.com.
This feature was supported by a generous grant from Arts Midwest.
Exhibitions
MEXICO CITY | KÖNIG GALERIE
Antony Valerian: Help Yourself to Pretzels
Hamburg-based artist Antony Valerian created new work while in residence in coastal Mexico for his first show in CDMX, influencing the palette and some motifs—such as skeletons—that place his dreamlike abstractions within a specific geography.
Runs through June 20
LONDON | SPLIT
Mike Ballard and Julia de ruvo: STANZA
Sculptures by Mike Ballard, evocative of industrial structures or reimagined traffic signage, are presented alongside Julia de ruvo’s emotive canine paintings in an exploration of urban space and access.
Runs through June 26
LOS ANGELES | MOSKOWITZ BAYSE
Alexa Guariglia: The Outside World
I love this gallery blurb: “As both observer and participant, Guariglia examines the mechanisms of urban life, absorbing the complex symbols and taxonomic systems around which humanity organizes itself.”
Runs through June 29
PARIS | CIACCIA LEVI
Olve Sande: Verdurous Drift
Growing up in a region of the U.S. that attracted Scandinavian immigrants in the 19th century, I’ve always been intrigued by the folk art of rosemaling. In his new body of work, Norwegian artist Olve Sande draws on the traditional decorative painting practice in gorgeous, monochromatic canvases.
Runs through July 13
Artist Opportunities
Young Space emphasizes fully-funded opportunities with low or no entry fees and programs that focus on creative and professional development for visual artists. Deadlines are coming up soon to apply for these grants, fellowships, residencies, and more.
LAST-MINUTE
MOCA GA's Working Artist Project for 2024/2025
Deadline: June 12
The Working Artist Project (WAP) is a year-long fellowship program facilitated by The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA). The program was created by MOCA GA to champion established visual artists of merit who are based in the Atlanta metro region (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties). Each year, a guest curator selects three of our best and brightest to receive a solo exhibition, promotion, a studio apprentice (in support of emerging artists in the Atlanta Community), a full-color catalogue, and a $15,000 stipend to create work over the course of the year.
Submission fee: none
Seventh Gallery Open Call for Public Banner Art Proposals
Deadline: June 14
Seventh Gallery, a nonprofit space in Los Angeles, is seeking public art projects to animate the organization's outdoor space through a series of exhibitions featuring banners fixed to the gallery's exterior. Seventh is particularly interested in projects that critically and creatively engage with the idea of the banner or flag itself, considering their strong symbolic value and identity-shaping qualities. Selected artists will collaborate on the development and printing of their artworks onto banners. Seventh will cover the costs of printing and installation, with artists retaining ownership of the banners after the exhibition concludes.
Submission fee: none
ARTIST-RUN
Provide Feedback to Help Build an Artist Access Fund
Deadline: June 14
Starving Artists’ Access Fund is an initiative designed to provide sustainable support and free memberships to marginalized and economically disadvantaged artists. The fund aims to improve their access to opportunities, foster career development, and enhance their professional visibility. The initiative is seeking feedback via a survey to make the application process accessible and get a sense of what artists need.
REFLEKT Residency in Berlin or Cologne
Deadline: June 16
REFLEKT residency program encourages the artists/curators/art practitioners in residence to expand their research, develop a concept/prototype, build a project, or create an artwork together with the hosting organizations and local communities. This year, the program offers four slots to work and engage with respective art scene and public in Germany for three months with the following preferred hosts:
SAVVY Contemporary (Berlin) | September 2 to November 29, 2024
TanzFaktur (Cologne) | September 2 to November 29, 2024
The Goethe-Institut will cover the costs for airfare to Germany (return, economy class), visa and travel expenses for visa appointments, travel insurance, as well as accommodation during the residency. Artists will receive a lump sum of fee and daily costs of €3,000 for the whole residency, plus a subsidy of €600 for production/research.
Submission fee: none
Passage Artist-in-Residence in Photography or Film
Deadline: June 16
Under the theme ‘Status Landscape’, the residencies are intended to enable an examination of the current state of the landscape using the example of the Dübener Heide, a nature park in eastern Germany. The two ‘Passage Shorts’ residencies will take place in Ferropolis. Funding includes accommodation in the Dübener Heide or accommodation on the campsite of the festival splash! from July 4 to 7, 2024 or MELT from July 11 to 14, 2024, up to €200; ticket and photo pass for the respective festival splash! or MELT; travel expenses to and from the festival up to a maximum of €300; and a one-off grant of €300.
Submission fee: none
John O. Calmore Creative Activism Artist Residency at McColl Center
Deadline: June 17
The John O. Calmore Creative Activism Artist Residency at McColl Center seeks to honor the legacy of John O. Calmore, a pioneering figure who dedicated his life to combating racial injustice and poverty through both legal practice and academia. This residency calls upon citizen-artists worldwide, aged 21 and above, with a demonstrated commitment to socially and politically engaged art-making. McColl Center welcomes diverse artistic themes and disciplines rooted in the principles of risk-taking, creative expression, and critical thinking. The culmination of this residency will be an exhibition in Toronto, Canada. The McColl Center is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Submission fee: none
Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants for Australian Artists
Deadline: June 18
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust runs three funding rounds per year, through which individual artists can apply for grants of up to $15,000. The Trust funds nationally and supports artists working across the spectrum of the arts, from traditional art forms through to experimental mediums.
Submission fee: none
Innovate Artist Grant
Deadline: June 20
Innovate Grant distributes two $1,800.00 grants each quarter, to one visual artist and one photographer. Grant cycles are open four times a year (winter, spring, summer, and fall).
Submission fee: $35
Grants for Artists' Projects (GAP)
Deadline: June 21
Grants for Artists’ Projects (GAP) are unrestricted grants of $1,500 for artists working in all disciplines across Washington State.
Submission fee: none
Sunny Art Prize
Deadline: June 30
Every year, Sunny Art Prize shortlists 30 artists, among whom three winners are selected. All the shortlisted artists have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Sunny Art Centre in London. The three winners are awarded amounts of £3,000 for first prize, £2,000 for second prize, and £1,000 for third prize.
Submission fee: £25-45 depending on number of entries
Robert Giard Grant for Emerging LGBTQ+ Photographers
Deadline: June 30
Queer|Art’s first international grant provides an award of $10,000 for the winner and $1,250 for distinguished finalists, to support the creation of new work by emerging LGBTQ+ photographers. Named in honor of photographer Robert Giard (1939-2002), a portrait, landscape, and figure photographer whose work focused on LGBTQ+ lives and issues, the grant focuses on supporting emerging LGBTQ+ photographers whose projects address issues of sexuality, gender, or LGBTQ+ identity.
Submission fee: none
Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists
Deadline: June 30
The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists, a $10,000 grant, supports visual artists who are self-identified Black trans women.
Submission fee: none
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts + Agriculture Residencies
Deadline: June 30
Artists, ecological scientists, and scholars wanting to explore connections to nature, land conservation, historic preservation, agriculture and community building projects are invited to Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture in Sisters, Oregon. The organization invites artists, ecological scientists, and scholars whose work explores the theme of “Care & Stewardship” to apply for a 2025 residency. Stipends are provided to offset living and travel expenses for out-of-town residents.
Submission fee: none
Spellerberg Projects Call for Submissions
Deadline: June 30
Spellerberg Projects is seeking solo and group exhibition proposals for the upcoming year. We are looking for individual artists or groups to participate in month-long exhibitions in our storefront gallery in Lockhart, Texas, and events in our new upstairs program space. We are currently programming for late 2024 and 2025.
Submission fee: none
A Blade of Grass Field Funds for Artist-Led Gatherings
Deadline: June 30
Artists, creative practitioners, and culture bearers with a demonstrated history of creating socially engaged art are invited to apply for a $500 mini-grant to support an artist-led gathering.
Submission fee: none
RedLine Contemporary Art Center 2-Year Residencies for Colorado Artists
Deadline: July 1
RedLine offers 2-year residencies for 15 to 18 emerging, contemporary artists in Colorado. All Artist Residents and Resource Artists receive fully subsidized studio spaces to provide financial flexibility, giving artists the freedom to explore and experiment without commercial constraints. Resident Artists also receive mentorship, career development, and promotion during their time at RedLine.
Submission fee: none
If your organization hosts valuable opportunities for artists and you’d like to learn more about featuring it in this digest and on Instagram, I’d love to hear from you! Reply to this email to inquire or check out yngspc.com/sponsor.
See all opportunities
Paid subscribers can access a full list of all current opportunities anytime—updated at least a couple of times each week.
Whether you’re a free or paid subscriber, you can also browse through listings in earlier digests in the archive.
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