2018 Artists Reception and Studio Tour
The James Weldon Johnson Foundation and Bard College Simon’s Rock
Hosted
2018 Artists-in-Residence Meet The Artists Reception and Studio Tour
Saturday July 28, 2018
Great Barrington, MA.
Artists and Friends of The Arts at Simon’s Rock
Provost and Vice President Dr. Ian Bickford
Bard College at Simon’s Rock Provost and Vice President Dr. Ian Bickford welcomed the artists and guests at Blodgett House followed by an intimate and interactive art experience and tour of the artist’s studios at The Daniel Arts Center, an exceptional campus resource dedicated to every form of art and media.
Meet the Artists reception at Blodgett House
“Partnering with Simon’s Rock has been the linchpin in making this dream come true.”
- Jill Rosenberg Jones, James Weldon Johnson Foundation
The James Weldon Johnson Artists-in-Residence Fellowship Recipients come to Great Barrington to use the Berkshires as their inspiration to create new works in painting and found objects. The artists create new work in studio spaces provided by Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and are also given access to the former home and writing cabin of James Weldon Johnson, now owned by the James Weldon Johnson Foundation, located next door to the Simon’s Rock campus.
Video Presentations
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artists-in-Residence Studio Tour
MEET THE ARTISTS HIGHLIGHTS July 28, 2018
Works and stories from the JWJ 2018 Artists-in-Residence were shared, including the creative process by Meclina Priestley (2018 JWJ Program Coordinator and 2017 JWJ Artist Fellowship Recipient), Patrick Eugene, and Sonya Clark.
JWJ Chairperson Jill Rosenberg Jones wore and shared art from Douriean Fletcher; and Kamil Peters' "WELD-ON" creation received rave reviews by his cohort partners to the joy and delight of the attendees.
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artist-in-Residence Studio Tour -
WELCOME by Jill Rosenberg Jones
James Weldon Johnson Foundation Chairperson Jill Rosenberg Jones retells the "Beard Was Text" micrography (using text to create images) story about the first time Jill met 2017 JWJ Artist Fellowship Recipient Meclina Priestley in New York City.
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artist-in-Residence Studio Tour
PATRICK EUGENE
Patrick Eugene is an emerging abstract expressionist painter who challenges the social, cultural and societal expectations placed on and held by his contemporaries. Patrick shares a story about one of James Weldon Johnson’s poems, Mother Night, and how it is the inspiration for his new work of art that is developing now at the Simon’s Rock studio during his JWJ residency.
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artist-in-Residence Studio Tour
SONYA CLARK
Sonya Clark is a fiber artist known for using a variety of materials including human hair and combs to address race, culture, class, and history. Sonya shares how her JWJ cohorts make “gold out of dust” and how she has drawn inspiration from James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Every Voice and Sing.
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artist-In-Residence
Listen to JWJ Fellows Describe the Making of WELD-ON
by KAMIL PETERS
Kamil Peters is a contemporary metal artist and his work embodies a wide range of intricate masks and sculpture to large-scale commercial installations, always incorporating the spirit of the past with a distinct modern edge as an interpretation of the natural world.
It is amazing when your new friends describe you as “deep, rich, unparalleled” when you are not nearby. That is what happened with Kamil had to leave briefly for a new “commission” job earlier in the day, leaving three JWJ Fellows to passionately share how Kamil uses “the resources that are here” to create a living sculpture with spirit called “Weld-on" — of course.
James Weldon Johnson 2018 Artist-In-Residence
DOURIEAN FLETCHER
Douriean creates fine art adornments as she believes that through dress and adornment women can define their beauty on their own terms and express themselves authentically. Her pieces are the unique products of her creative process in which she explores cultural identity, femininity, spirituality and divine power. Douriean became the Specialty Jeweler Costumer for Marvel's Black Panther movie and has made history by becoming the first Jeweler in the Motion Picture Costumer Union, Local 705.
How has the experience been as a James Weldon Johnson Artist Fellow?
“It’s been remarkable. I needed something to feed me, and to feed my soul, and this is the thing that does that…It’s been eye-opening with the support of the JWJ Foundation. The most, simplest, basic word is just ‘nice’ — to be around people who are supportive of my craft.”—Douriean, 2018