Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Robert J. Kern AKA RJ Kern
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2016
End Date
February 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Anoka
Benton
Blue Earth
Carver
Clay
Crow Wing
Freeborn
Hennepin
Hubbard
Isanti
Mahnomen
Otter Tail
Washington
Anoka
Benton
Blue Earth
Carver
Clay
Crow Wing
Freeborn
Hennepin
Hubbard
Isanti
Mahnomen
Otter Tail
Washington
Project Overview
Artist Initiative
Project Details
Kern will create “The Unchosen Ones,” by photographing ten to fourteen Minnesota county fair animals in their environments. Exhibitions and artist talks are planned for various locations in Minnesota.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Joseph Allen: Photographer; Brett Kallusky: Assistant professor of photography, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; Ellen Kingsbury: Photographer; Arts Board grantee; Jeffrey Millikan: Photographer; adjunct professor of photography, University of Minnesota; Vivienne Morgan: Photographer, adjunct professor at Bemidji State University; Stephen Ozone: Photographer and Arts Board grantee; Paul Wegner: Art department faculty teaching photography at Inver Hills Community College, Arts Board grantee; Bonnie Wilson: Consulting curator, librarian and archivist; former curator of photography, Minnesota Historical Society, Oakdale
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$10,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will produce a series of 10-14 portraits of county fair animals in their environments. The work will be exhibited and include public discussions. Attendees will vote for a winner from among the photos before and again after the gallery talk. They will be given an evaluation to comment on the work and their experience. 2: Teach Minnesotans about the technical photographic processes used to create the images to include an in-person lighting demo during artist talk. I will collect visitor guestbook comments and evaluations about their experience.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Over sixteen portraits of county fair animals in their environments were created. The work was exhibited and included public discussions. Headcount was made at receptions along with guest book and photographs made to document the event. 2: Two artist talks and receptions were offered to present the work, discuss the approach, and answer questions. A guest book documented comments. An artist talk was presented at 3:00 p.m. on February 3, 2017 at the Central Lakes College Art Gallery is located at Central Lakes College (Brainerd Campus). A second gallery exhibition resulted from the work at Gallery 360 in Minneapolis, Minnesota with an artist reception on April 15, 2017.

Description of Funds
Project Manager
First Name
Robert
Last Name
Kern
Organization Name
Robert J. Kern AKA RJ Kern
State
MN
Phone
(303) 474-0983
Email
rj@kern-photo.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency