Individual Artist Project Grant

Exposing people to information that may be upsetting, in a beautiful way, is very effective. If you present ugly information (environmental degradation, the depredations of colonialism) in an ugly way, it is only a very rare person who will not flee the scene. I try to draw people in by creating a beautiful piece of art, and then hit them with the ugly facts. It seems to work. When I was writing environmental books, I tried to present upsetting information in a humorous way, and embellished my books with amusing illustrations; this tactic seemed to work as well.I am trying to execute large-scale papercuts that convey information about major rivers, in a compelling way, so that the audience learns from the work, and is inspired by it. I try to challenge myself with every papercut I embark upon, by attempting things that I have never attempted before, so that I am never quite sure whether I can actually manage to execute a concept I have envisioned. So, with this work, I am trying to improve my artistic skills, as well as improve my ability to communicate with viewers. By doing these large pieces, I am also hoping to be able to show my work in a variety of venues. Why ARAC should have confidence that I can execute this project. I have already executed the Mississippi River phase of this project. See my resume for further evidence of large projects that I have completed. If I got this grant, the measurable outcome would be whether I manage to complete at least four large papercut pieces depicting the river Nile, from Lake Victoria to the Delta.