Posts By: Spudnik

2018 Studio Fellowship: Call for Applications

Deadline to Apply: March 25, 2018

Spudnik Press is accepting applications for our newly revamped fellowship program!

The Spudnik Press Cooperative Studio Fellowship is committed to providing Chicago’s most committed and talented emerging artists with comprehensive professional opportunities and artistic and technical support. To this end, the Studio Fellowship packages many opportunities for artists to advance their artistic practice.

During this seven-month program, Fellows receive unfettered access to the professional printmaking facilities at Spudnik Press Cooperative. By working in our shared studio and monitoring weekly Open Studio sessions, fellows are actively engaged with our community of printmakers and benefit from ongoing support and feedback from staff and peers.

The impact of the fellowship program is greatly expanded through a weekly professional development seminar, as well as by providing Fellows with the unique experience of planning and presenting two culminating public projects.

Fellows also receive advanced notice and discounted registration for all Professional Practices Programs offered to our members. Opportunities include portfolio reviews with curators, off-site visits to resources and arts professionals throughout Chicago, exhibition opportunities, and more. By gifting each fellow a complimentary one-year Studio Membership, fellows can continue to take advantage of all member opportunities for the five months following their Fellowship.

 Studio Fellowship Mission

The Spudnik Press Cooperative Studio Fellowship is an intensive seven-month program that provides emerging artists opportunities to develop the artistic and professional skills needed to build a successful career in the arts. Key program components work in conjunction to provide mentorship, technical training, meaningful interactions with art professionals, public programming experience, and leadership opportunities. These key program components consist of the following:

  • Access to professional printmaking facilities
  • Weekly seminars addressing various elements of professional practices
  • Leadership experience through regularly monitoring Open Studio sessions.
  • Presentation opportunities through two culminating public projects.

Furthermore, as ambassadors of Spudnik Press Cooperative, Fellows play an important role in ensuring our members and studio users have a welcoming experience at our shop and also help us grow our community. The contributions Fellows make to our day-to-day operations are invaluable and help shape the future of our facilities.

Eligibility

The Studio Fellowship program best supports:

  • Emerging artists, typically recent college graduates.
  • Artists with substantial printmaking experience, such that they are able to perform all monitoring duties.
  • Artists whose current art practice requires access to printmaking facilities.
  • Artist who have are already dedicated to a regular studio practice.
  • Artists who are able to commit about 8 hours a week to the fellowship program in addition to maintaining their art practice.
  • Artists whose goal is to create or sell art a primary source of income.
  • Artist in transitional points in their career.
  • Artists seeking opportunities to meet Chicago-based arts professionals.
  • Artists interested in building meaningful connections with a creative community.

To Apply

Please thoroughly review the SPC Fellowship Information Packet. Download and complete the 2018 Studio Fellowship Application Form. Return this application form and all requested materials to marcela@spudnikpress.org no later than Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Important Dates:

  • Deadline to Apply: Sunday, March 25, 2018
  • Fellowship Period: May 2 – November 30, 2018
  • Fellowship Orientation & Training: May 2018. Dates & times TBD.
  • Weekly Professional Development Seminar: Wednesdays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. beginning May 2.
  • Individual Monitor Shifts Begin: Friday, June 1, 2018

 Any inquiries regarding our Studio Fellowship can be directed to Marcela A. Serment, marcela@spudnikpress.org.

2018 Residency Program: Call for Applications

Deadline to Apply: April 1, 2018 

The Spudnik Press Cooperative Residency Program provides mid-career to established artists one to six weeks of full studio access and the support necessary for the production of new print-based artwork. The Residency Program supports a broad range of artists, including those working outside of the discipline of printmaking and in communities beyond Chicago. Each residency will be modified to adapt to the interests and needs of the individual artist.

The Resident Artists also play an integral role in the Spudnik Press community, bringing new perspectives, experiences and resources as they partake in a variety of public programs and professional opportunities throughout the duration of their residency. These activities vary from one artist to the next and may entail participating in artist talks, private events, and critiques, teaching master workshops, or presenting an exhibition.

For the first time, our Residency Program is now open to national and international artists. However, the program is dedicated to supporting at least one local artist each year.

To Apply:

Please download and review our 2018 Residency Information Packet. Return all requested materials to marcela@spudnikpress.org no later than April 1, 2018.

Important Dates:

  • Deadline To Apply: April 1, 2018. Notification will be sent approximately one month after application deadline.
  • Residency Period: June 1, 2018 – August 31, 2018
  • Duration: One and six weeks

Please be advised that additional logistical criteria will be considered in the selection process such as budget, scheduling, and alignment with other planned programs at Spudnik Press Cooperative. Stipends offered to each resident artist will vary based on the duration of the residency, travel distance or travel costs, and estimated time commitment to community-based activities such as teaching, guest speaking, and providing studio visits.

Please direct all questions to marcela@spudnikpress.org.

Now Hiring: Part-time Development Assistant

Spudnik Press Cooperative is accepting applications for a part-time Development Assistant position.

The Development Assistant will broadly contribute to Spudnik Press Cooperative’s development and fundraising efforts. Working in a supportive role to the Executive Director, this position will primarily focus on individual giving and special events.

To apply:

 

Professional Practice: Portfolio Review with Jordan Martins

Wednesday, February 28, 2018
4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Spudnik Press, 1821 W Hubbard, Suite 302

$20 for Spudnik Press Members
$10 for Resident Artists and Studio Fellows
Register Online

Guest Reviewer: Jordan Martins

In an effort to continue our mission to unite our community of printmakers with art professionals throughout the Chicagoland area we are launching a revised edition of our portfolio reviews this 2018. Professional Practice: Portfolio Review will consist of a 30-minute, individual portfolio review with a curator, educator, gallery director, or arts administrator.

This is a unique opportunity for artists to receive feedback on a current body of work or upcoming project, as well as suggestions on how to prepare for other professional opportunities.

Joining us for our first portfolio review of the year is Chicago-based visual artist, curator, educator, and musician Jordan Martins.

Jordan Martins Bio:
Martins received his MFA in visual arts from the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil in 2007, and teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and North Park University. He is the executive director of Comfort Station, a multi-disciplinary art space. Martins’s visual work is based in collage processes, including mixed media two dimensional work, photography, video and installation, and he has exhibited nationally and internationally. He is co-director of the Perto da Lá, a biennial multidisplinary art event with international artists in Salvador, Brazil.  From 2014 to 2016 he served on the programming committee for the Chicago Jazz Festival. He was a resident in the Chicago Artists Coalition’s HATCH program in 2013, a mentor for their LAUNCH program in 2016 and 2017, and currently serves on their Educational Advisory Panel.

Registration Details:
Space is limited to six artists. Advanced registration is required. The non-refundable registration fee can be paid online. The registration deadline is Monday, February 19, 2018 or when all spaces are full. Exact time slots will be assigned by Friday, February 23, 2018.  Registrants are encouraged to arrive 10-15 minutes early to their scheduled appointment.

Announcing New Professional Practices Member Programs

With a new year, come new opportunities for Spudnik Press members! Professional Practices is our new comprehensive professional development series. Each year, Spudnik Press Cooperative will continue to offer our members exclusive access to exhibition opportunities, print exchanges, and member art sales. Newly added opportunities include quarterly portfolio reviews and off-site visits to galleries, museums, artist studios and more.

Continuing our mission to provide comprehensive artistic support to our our community of printmakers, we are launching an ongoing portfolio review program. Our Professional Practice: Portfolio Review series allows any Spudnik Press member to sign up for a 30-minute individual portfolio review with a guest curator, educator, gallery director, or arts administrator. Throughout 2018, there will be four portfolio review opportunities. We’re delighted to kick-off the year with Chicago-based visual artist, curator, educator, and musician Jordan Martins! Later in the year, we will be joined by Meg Duguid, Elizabeth Lalley, and Bert Green.

We are also broadening the scope of our conversations with art professionals in Chicago by going directly to the source. From the museum and the gallery to the auction house and the art fair, to intimate conversations with artists and collectors, our Professional Practice: Off-site Visit series will introduce members to the numerous and diverse art spaces and individuals that contribute to Chicago’s vibrant arts landscape. In addition to connecting with other professionals in the city, these visits are intended to present our members with a range of resources and career paths. 

For more information and current opportunities, please visit Member Opportunities. If you are not currently a member and would like to partake in these opportunities, please join or renew your membership.

Image: Portfolio Review with guest artist and curator Betsy Odom and Grace Makuch, Studio Fellowship Alumnus.

Join Our Board of Directors: Seeking Artists & Art Supporters

The Spudnik Press Board of Directors is a team of experts working behind the scenes to ensure our organization is resilient, mission-driven, and advocating day-in-day-out for artists and the arts. Our Board supports staff as we spearhead new initiatives like our Equipment Fund and expand Member opportunities. They also plans classy and fun fundraising events like our recent Print Factory Art Party.

With so much happening at Spudnik Press, the Board of Directors plans to expand from 8 to 12 members. Incoming directors will have the opportunity to contribute to our next Strategic Plan, help us improve our fundraising efforts, and expand our network of supporters and advocates. We do have a few particular needs:

  • Active members of Spudnik Press: Represent your fellow artists!
  • Project management and group facilitation experience
  • Finance and accounting experience
  • Fundraising and/or event planning experience
  • Business planning and/or strategic planning experience

Key Responsibilities Include:

  • Interpret the organization’s work and values, represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson.
  • Represent Spudnik Press stakeholders through approving annual budget, business decisions and participating in an annual performance review of Executive Director.
  • Extend personal invitations to potential supporters, continually expanding our network of donors and clients.
  • Attend bi-monthly board meetings held on Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm
  • Serve on one of the following committee: Development, Governance, Annual Benefit, Finance or Programming.
  • Contribute a minimum of $375 to Spudnik Press Cooperative per board term.
  • If this is your first time serving on a board, attend Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities training.

Key Benefits Include:

  • Opportunities for professional development as a board member.
  • Honorary Spudnik Press Membership, inclusive of all benefits, to align with their board terms.
  • Endless gratitude from Spudnik Press staff.

To Apply:

  • Send resume or bio summarizing qualifications plus a letter of inquiry to Angee Lennard, Executive Director, angee@spudnikpress.org.

Download the Board of Directors Job Description

Image: Board Members, Andy Warhol Dutes Miller & Stephen DeSantis at the Print Factory Art Party, Oct. 2017. 

10th Anniversary Campaign: 55% to $65,000

As of 1/11/2018, we have made it 55% towards our goal of raising $65,000 goal from individuals and businesses by June 2018. Our organization is so grateful to the 275 people who contributed $35,906 thus far.

We are asking our community to consider donating $50, $25, or even just $5 to enable us provide continue and improve the caliber of programs that we offer Chicago’s creative community.


Ways to Support our Campaign:

  1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
  2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
  3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
  4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
  5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

 

Make a tax deductible donation

Entre Rios y Montañas

Featured Artists:

Jonathan Herrera

Dates:

4/27/2018 – 6/9/2018

Location:

The Annex @ Spudnik Press

Corresponding Events:

Opening Reception & Artist Talk:

Friday, April 27, 2018
6:00 – 9:00pm

Press Release:

Spudnik Press Cooperative is pleased to present Entre Rios y Montañas (Between Rivers and Mountains), a solo exhibition featuring new work by Chicago-based artist Jonathan Herrera.

The work featured in Entre Rios y Montañas stems from Herrera’s deep interest and continued investigation of the relationships between collective memory and historical instances of state-sponsored violence and trauma inflicted on politicized bodies. Often the victims of these crimes, or rather their bodies that disappear, leave behind stories not in words but in gesture. Trails of clothing are found in the deserts between borders as they get stuck on fences with barbed wire or wash up onto shores of beaches. These garments are sometimes attached to lifeless bodies while others manage to claim autonomy from the flesh.

Through these collographs, akin to rubbings, Herrera explores the connection between clothing and the body, as well as the relationship between forensic evidence and items of personal significance. By employing this print-based process, Herrera partakes in an act of remembrance as he produces tracings and impression of clothing left behind. His harsh, and almost violent, treatment of the objects carries forth into the artwork’s final presentation. Ultimately, the objects of clothing rendered in Herrera’s work are declarations unto themselves, left behind by bodies to evoke lived experiences.

Jonathan Herrera is a print-based studio artist and teacher from Chicago, IL. He holds a BFA from the Minneapolis College in Art and Design. Through his studio practice and teaching philosophy, Herrera engages multiple facets of place-making and thinking in order to express ideas through concept building, process, and materials. He constantly works to create accessibility in both art and education by connecting his studio work, public work, and community engagement. Herrera has recently exhibited work at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, The Soap Factory (Minneapolis, MN), and Concordia Gallery (St. Paul, MN).

Image: Jonathan Herrera, Untitled, 2017 (detail).

Roots

Featured Artists:

Yasaman Moussavi

Dates:

3/9/2018 – 4/21/2018

Location:

The Annex @ Spudnik Press

Corresponding Events:

Opening Reception & Artist Talk:

Friday, March 9, 2018
6:00 – 9:00pm

Press Release:

Spudnik Press Cooperative is pleased to present Roots, a solo exhibition featuring new work by artist Yasaman Moussavi.

The visual content of the Moussavi’s work for this exhibition is personal and intimate, consisting of etchings that depict creatures entangled in a natural space. As she explores the ties between individual and environment, she begins to unearth emotions, associations, and memories that one attaches to physical spaces to discover the abiding bond between nature and us.

For Moussavi, etching is a dance of covering and uncovering, building and destroying whatever she imagines onto her copper plates. In this sense, printmaking bridges her inner and external worlds. Moussavi also crafts an intimate relationship between her medium of choice and the visual message she wants to communicate by making her own paper. Upon layering and reconstructing handmade papers, she fuses the intricate forms found in her etchings with dynamic natural forms.

At a time in history when we suffer from great divisive rhetoric and disconnect in and with politics, the environment and each other, Moussavi dreams of growing roots and connecting with the self, nature, and people.

Yasaman Moussavi was born in Tehran, Iran and received her BFA in painting from the Al-Zahra University of Tehran and an MA in Art Studies from The University of Tehran. She also holds an MFA with an emphasis in painting and printmaking from Texas Tech University, where she explored and developed her skills in papermaking, printmaking and installation art. Moussavi has participated in many national and international exhibitions, including the Juried International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Irving Art center, TX, A.I.R Gallery Biennial, Brooklyn, NY, “Norouzaneh” International Mini Print Annual Exhibition at Sagene Kunstsmie, Oslo, Spazio 74/b Milan and Chicago.

Image: Yasaman Moussavi, Breathe on me, 2017.

Chicago: A Cross-Town Exchange

Featured Artists:

Victoria Marie Barquin | Chicago Printers Guild, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
Kai Boogert
Liz Born | Hoofprint
Matthew Bozik | Hoofprint, Chicago Printers Guild
Tiffany Breyne | Spudnik Press Cooperative
Nick Capozzoli | FugScreens Studios
John Cizmar | Chicago Printers Guild
Elke Claus | Evil Scientist
Eric Cortez | The Printstitute at Harold Washington College
Expressions Graphics
Liana Faletto
| Spudnik Press Cooperative, Chicago Printers Guild
Andrew Ghrist | A R Ghrist Prints
Megan Hinds | Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
Gabe Hoare | Hoofprint
Carolina Martinez | Spudnik Press Cooperative
Michelle McCoy | Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
Epifanio Monarrez | Instituto Gráfico de Chicago
Alexandrea Pataky | Chicago Printers Guild
Richard Repasky | The Printstitute at Harold Washington College
Nicolette Ross | Spudnik Press Cooperative, Double Trip Press
Robert Scheffler | Chicago Printers Guild, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
Emily Shopp | Spudnik Press Cooperative
Randi Stella | Spudnik Press Cooperative
Hannah R. Werner | Northeastern Illinois University Printmaking Studio
Connie Wolfe | Chicago Printers Guild, Mid America Print Council, Southeastern Graphics Council International
Tara Zanzig | Tararchy Screenprinting, Fugscreens Studios, Spudnik Press Cooperative

Dates:

1/19/2018 – 3/3/2018

Location:

The Annex at Spudnik Press

Corresponding Events:

Chicago: A Cross-Town Exchange 
Opening Reception & Artist Talk
Friday, January 19, 2018
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Press Release:

Throughout Chicago’s history, printmakers played an active role in the community as publishers and distributors. Local papers were printed and distributed as early as 1833. With easy access to freight lines, numerous plants, and a growing workforce, Chicago rose to become a printing giant during the late 19th Century. At a time ruled by commercial printing, many printers and publishers relocated south of the Loop into Printers Row, also known as Printing House Row, allowing them to expand into larger facilities and bringing them closer to the Dearborn Street train station. By 1960, there were 2,100 printing establishments in the city, including the world’s three largest at the time.

But as use of automation and digital technology changed the face of commercial printing, a new group of Chicago printers emerged. Independent, artist-run shops, including Landfall Press and Plucked Chicken Press opened in the 1970s. Since then, and no longer centralized in Printers Row, many print shops sprouted throughout the city and continue to engage the community through the creation of art that embraces socially engaged themes and/or by addressing a wide range of commercial needs.

Chicago: A Cross-Town Exchange is an exhibition that features a print portfolio of the same name, bringing together 26 artists/collectives from numerous print shops and studios across the city and surrounding neighborhoods. While this is a small sampling of the city’s thriving printmaking community, it is demonstrative of Chicago’s collaborative spirit and the many spaces that allow for the creation of printed work. This portfolio of prints includes multiple print processes such as screenprinting, relief, intaglio, and more.

Chicago: A Cross-Town Exchange will be on view at The Annex at Spudnik Press, 1821 W. Hubbard St., Suite 302, Chicago, IL 60622, starting January 19, 2018 through March 3, 2018.

Image: Expressions Graphics, “Brownstone,” 2017.

RSVP on Facebook

10th Anniversary Campaign: 54% to the Goal!

Since our last 10th Anniversary Campaign update, we have received $2099 in donations totaling $34,792.89 from individuals and businesses since we celebrated our first decade of programming (June 2017).

We are 54% to our $65,000 goal! To stay on schedule, we need $1208 by 12/31/17 from donationssponsorships, and memberships.

We are asking our community to consider donating $50, $25, or even just $5 to enable us provide continue and improve the caliber of programs that we offer Chicago’s creative community.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign


Ways to Support our Campaign:

  1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
  2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
  3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
  4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
  5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation

10th Anniversary Campaign: HALF WAY THERE!

With the help of 289 supporters who donated between $3 and $1000 since we launched our 10th Anniversary Campaign, we have hit a milestone: 50% to our $65,000 goal!

Thank you to each and every person who has pitched in so far to help us meet our ambitious goal. We cannot wait for our 2018 program improvements to go public so that you can see your donations at work.

To stay on schedule to 100%, we need to bring in $3307 by 12/31/17 from donations, sponsorships, and memberships.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign


Ways to Support our Campaign:

  1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
  2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
  3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
  4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
  5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation