ProVisions Artist Community

Our most recent collaborative project has been Co-Founding ProVisions Artist Community in Honey Grove, PA. This summer ProVisions is offering two one-week workshops for beginning to advanced level artists seeking to develop skills in sustainable methods of constructing and designing jewelry. The first session, "Merging the boundaries of art and nature," focuses on utilizing found objects and integrating a variety of artistic disciplines—from sculpture to drawing—into bodily adornments. The second session, "Reclaiming Resources," will give students the opportunity to transform unused, unwanted, excess jewelry into new innovative pieces of adornment.
Please download or print our application and send it in by April 16th, 2010!
For any questions, please e-mail Sarah Zentz or Dana Richardson at: provisionsartistcommunity@gmail.com Provisions Application 2010

Serving Artists: An alternative to Food Stamps.

In July 2009 we had our first experience with asking for support from the government, specifically Food Stamps. Encouraged by a fellow artists living in San Francisco, Ca we first wondered, are we really qualified? As self employed artists, just out of college without a home, we thought we were. We live a very minimal income and consumer lifestyle. 

The selling point for swaying us is when we were told a high sum of money that goes towards food stamps is actually recirculated back to the government when it is not fully taken advantage of by the public. Each year, we were told, funds are recirculated because not enough people that are qualified are asking for support. So we got an application in Pennsylvania. 

At first, we felt uncomfortable with the process for the following reasons: 

1| It requires a proof of a permanent address that you are paying rent to. 

Problem: We don't have this. For the past year, we have been traveling. 

2| It requires proof of a steady income or salary. 

Problem: We are self-employed artists. We have received income through independent commissions, self-promoted art sales, and lectures. To say the least, this income is not stable and we could not prove that for the amount of hours we were working, and the amount of money we earned was more than minimum wage. 

3| It requires to agree to "job-readiness." 

Problem: Due to us being "capable" workers, with degrees and no physical handicap, we would have to take any job they found for us that we were capable of doing. If we denied the job opportunity, the food stamps would be taken away immediately. 

2nd Problem: We do not consider ourselves "unemployed." We are self-employed artists who feel we work well more hours than a typical 9-5 job. This did not matter under their terms of recognition. Said more bluntly, we quickly learned an alternative lifestyles or specifically emerging independent artists were not considered applicable for Food Stamps. No wonder the title "Starving Artist" surfaced.   

4| It required signing over permission for the government to have access to monitoring our bank accounts and statements for the next 6 months.

Problem: This seems fishy. 

2nd Problem: If we deposited an amount more than what would equal to minimum wage, we would be immediately taken off food stamps even if the next month, we were not expecting any income. 

Note: We could get around these small obstacles by ways of altering (stretch the truth) to be applicable for their ridged application. 

Problem: This is against our ethics. Having to lie to eat = dirty food. 

Bottom line, someone brought up, what are your alternatives? 

1| Plant a garden on someone else property (since we don't own our own). 

Problem: In most cases, illegal. 

2| Steal. 

Problem: Also illegal. 

3| Dumpster dive. 

Problem: Again, illegal. 

Do alternative lifestyles, in our circumstances, have to break the law to eat? A major part of our lives involves constant creative problem solving. 

Our Solution: 

In August 2009, we Co-Founded a project titled "Serving Artists." To learn more about this project and how to start your own food reclamation project, please view: 

http://www.servingartists.blogspot.com/

Best, 

Dana Richardson & Sarah Zentz

Lancaster Screening: RJM

First and foremost, a huge thank you goes to Christina Miller & Susie Ganch! Without the two of you, the project would not exist! We feel honored to have had this opportunity to collaborate with you in documenting Radical Jewelry Makeover! The genuine dedication both of you put into RJM is truly infectious! We hope that our time and effort helps launch your dreams of this project! 
Secondly, we would like to send out a special thanks to the stars that showed up with sincere enthusiasm towards the project! Your time and willingness to share your experiences with us made this film come alive! Not only has it impacted us hugely, the film will continue to influence others across the world! 

Lastly, if you haven't heard, the first screening went fabulously! We couldn't wipe the tears or smiles from our faces!

Stay tuned for future screenings and for when the dates the DVD will be available for purchase!

Premiere Screening!

We are pleased to announce the first two screenings of our 12-minute documentary of "Radical Jewelry Makeover."

Please, take the freedom to spread the word and we sincerely hope to see you there!

Progressive Galleries Exhibition

Take a look at our video installation!
Thank you Progressive Galleries!

X Chromosome Exhibition

Come view our video installation at Progressive Galleries in Lancaster, PA.

When: August 7th (First Friday)
Where: 323 N Queen St (Keppel building)

Click here to view Progressive Galleries newsletter including the description of our work.

Akademie Schloss Solitude

The Akademie Schloss Solitude fellowship is a residence fellowship.

The next application round will take place between July and October 2010 for a fellowship during the time period 2011-2013.

The fellowship includes the following:

A combined apartment / studio, furnished with electricity, water and heat free of charge.

Conditions:

Duration of residencies
6 to 12 months
Grants
a monthly stipend of 1000 Euro
Allowance granted to artists
- One time travel expenses incurred by the fellowship holder travelling to and from Stuttgart from his/her primary residence.
- A supplement for "double housekeeping" (rent subsidy)
- freight cost subsidy for the transport of materials, tools and instruments to and from Stuttgart
- a project promotion subsidy and one-time materials subsidy
- in the case of guests from non EU-countries, assumption of part of their health insurance expenses.
Applications:
- for international artists up to 35 years old or artists who have completed their university or college degree within the past five years (and are not currently enrolled)

RJM @ MAD

The first screening of the Radical Jewelry Makeover promotional video that we are producing will be screened at the Museum of Art & Design, NYC on September 12th, 2009.

Stay tuned to when it will be available to view online!

Radical Jewelry Makeover: Penland

Location: Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina
Date: June 21st-July 3th
Subject: Video and sound documentation of Christina Miller and Susie Ganch, designers of Radical Jewelry Makeover, in their collaborative workshop at Penland School of Crafts 2009(4th RJM to date).

Click here to view specifications of this years RJM Penland.
Click here to view the RJM Blog.

Palos Verdes Library Lecture

On Saturday May 23rd, 2009 at 1-3pm.

Click here to view the link to the advertisement through PVLD website.

national park grants

Additional information on the Save America's Treasures program can be found on the NPS website at : www2.cr.nps.gov/treasures
the NEA website at :www.arts.gov/endownews/news00/2000SATlist.html
Travel links to outdoors living/ sites for potential art grant proposals in CA:http://www.totalescape.net,

Volunteer Ecuador: The Colibris

Click here to view a website that will further inform you of what we will be doing and where we will be in Ecuador. When you go to the website, on the right hand side is different photo albums (ex: "My Life in Ecuador," "Artesanias," "Colibris Community"). In the album Artesanias, there are photos of the jewelry these women are creating. In the album Colibris Community, you will get a feel for the village we will be living in. In the album Cloud Forest, you will get a feel of the environment that surrounds the village. After viewing these photographs, I felt much more aware of what it will be like to volunteer with this women at the Colibris.

And of course, soon enough you will be seeing pictures of me in Ecuador! Our adventure begins February 13th and we are there until May 10th!