Artist Initiative
Artist Initiative
Abeln will develop her graphic memoir based on her experience of coming-of-age while caring for her disabled mom. She will also host a Teen Lab: Comics class at a local library.
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.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre.
Krista Anderson-Larson: Director, CIRCA Gallery; gallery and collections coordinator, Macalester College; sculptor; Martha Bird: Visual artist and public health nurse; AK Garski: Visual artist and activist; art and art history adjunct instructor, St. Catherine University; Kristi Kuder: Sculptor, textile processes in metal and mixed media; Arts Board grantee; Andrew Messerschmidt: Painter; Kimber Olson: Visual artist, curator, and educator.
ACHF Arts Access
The artist will develop skills to create her first long-form comic work, a graphic memoir. This project will be a success If my mentors believe my memoir is ready to present to publishers. A written outline, cover art, and the first third of the book illustrated is expected for publishers to review. 2: Participants in the Teen Lab: Comics will learn how to make and discuss comics. Participation levels in the class will indicate the level of success. Library staff and the library's Teen Advisory Group will be able to rate the class participation compared to others.
Abeln completed the pitch packet for her graphic memoir and it is being presented to publishers. Abeln completed her pitch packet for her graphic memoir and submitted it to multiple literary agents. She signed with an agent and they determined the packet was ready to submit to publishers. 2: Abeln created a sixteen minute video presentation titled 'ALL ABOUT GRAPHIC MEMOIRS' which is available to view online. The video has been viewed almost 1,000 times, which is more people than would have been reached during workshops.