Individual Artist Project Grant

An important part of my project proposal is to display the series of prints within Cook County for the general public to enjoy. Communities benefit from seeing their own landscape and culture reflected in artwork. Upon viewing this series, community members will see Lake Superior interpreted in new ways. The display will be open to the general public. While I do not have specific details firmed up for the display, I feel confident that I can find a venue within the timeline allotted as I personally know the local gallery managers and other small businesses with display space, including Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais Art Colony, Fika Coffee, Superior Creamery, Dappled Fern, etc. Furthermore, I believe my community will benefit from an investment in a new generation of fine artists. I am fortunate to live in a community that highly values art and artists. However, I am one of few fine artists my age in Cook County. I am also one of even fewer active printmakers in the area. By receiving this grant, I would bring new work into my community that represents a younger generation of local artists and has the potential to inspire other young artists to pursue art careers. My main objective with this project is to work toward abstraction in a new series of eight woodcut prints. Within this objective, I have multiple supporting goals: 1. Each print will be a limited edition reductive woodcut print 2. Four prints will be inspired by the water of Lake Superior 3. Four prints will be inspired by the sky above Lake Superior 4. Each print will focus on the colors, textures, and patterns of the water/sky without any other recognizable imagery (i.e. trees, shoreline, horizon will be absent) My measurable outcomes include: 1. Completing a series of eight limited edition prints based on the objectives above 2. Sharing the process of creating the series on social media 3. Displaying the series in Cook County for the general public to view 4. Sharing a reflection about the series on my website I am proud of the fact that I have built a successful art business over the past four years - which has included a pandemic and the birth of two children. In that time frame, I have successfully managed both an online shop and wholesale shop, prepared for three exhibits*, and created approximately 100 new woodcut prints. With limited childcare, our family needs to be strategic to designate enough studio time for me to work. I have become adept at predicting how much time a project will take and allocating the necessary time to make it happen. When I look back on all that I have accomplished, it speaks highly of my organization, drive, ability, and the support systems I have in place. *a solo exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post in April 2020 (which was canceled one week before opening), a rescheduled solo exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post in April 2021, and a featured artist exhibit at MacRostie Art Center in May 2022My first measure of success is straightforward: completing the eight woodcut prints as described in the above question. Beyond that, I will measure my success as follows: -Posting process photos/videos on social media a minimum of eight times throughout the project -Displaying the series somewhere in Cook County where residents and tourists can access the artwork for free -Completing a written and visual reflection that is posted to my website for people to see and learn about my project