Grad School Notes

NYU|Tisch: Arts Politics

[artspolitics]

Seminar in Arts Activism Show 2013

I think this might be a nice way to end this particular tumblr blog as I make a new transition to James Madison Univ for my MFA. Follow my new tumblr for updates about my work, progress, notes, ideas, rants etc from the next three years. 

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/jonhenryjmumfa

[jonhenry]

I am launching an artist/activist residency at my new home in Harrisonburg, VA. I am hoping it attracts young and emerging artists whose work focuses on social justice issues. Or maybe an artist who just needs a weekend get away in the country. It is self-funded so I cant offer any major support to artists besides a warm bed n food, creative space, and emotional support (ie buy your own supplies). The ultimate goal is to make this a two way exchange and challenge the notions of what a residency is or could be. The only cost to the artist is a donation of art, which will be used for future exhibitions. Once there is a sizable collection, I hope to donate the work to a museum or archive. My relationship with the artists continues after the residency as a steward/promoter of their work. Please tell your artsy/activist friends!?

[jonhenry]

Things are getting meta at the ‘Inclinations’ opening with a profile of the exhibit now on grindr.

[jonhenry]

The exhibition Aug 1 - Aug 31 Opening reception Aug 3, 6pm- 9pm

Gay Community Center Galley 1407 Sherwood Avenue, 23220 Phone [phone] ext. 20

Featuring work by Jon Henry, Dee Glazer, & Ruffin Marshall. 

  My Grindr Portrait series will be there :-)

[jonhenry]

Ricardo Gamboa’s I AM NOT RICHARD BLANCO

  Tomorrow marks six months since Obama’s Inauguration as 44th President of the United States. The following day, January 21, Richard Blanco was invited to share his poem “One Today" at the celebratory ceremony at the Capitol. It was muy, muy, muy bad. I’m not Richard Blanco, but if I was, that poetry recitation woulda gone down like this… 

  A cool video by a former class member of mine at NYU.

[jonhenry]

FB invite to the panel I am sitting on this weekend. 

[jonhenry]

I am launching an artist/activist residency at my new home in Harrisonburg, VA. I am hoping it attracts young and emerging artists whose work focuses on social justice issues. Or maybe an artist who just needs a weekend get away in the country. It is self-funded so I cant offer any major support to artists besides a warm bed n food, creative space, and emotional support (ie buy your own supplies). The ultimate goal is to make this a two way exchange and challenge the notions of what a residency is or could be. The only cost to the artist is a donation of art, which will be used for future exhibitions. Once there is a sizable collection, I hope to donate the work to a museum or archive. My relationship with the artists continues after the residency as a steward/promoter of their work. Please tell your artsy/activist friends!?

[artspolitics]

I hope my NYC/NYU friends might apply

[artspolitics]

A Conversation about Art, Community, and Economies

A Conversation about Art, Community, and Economies

Sunday June 30th, 1 PM - 2 PM  Al Safa Restaurant 8002 5th Avenue (at 80th Street), Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY 11209 R Train to 77th or 86th Street Stations

Organized by exhibiting SAW artist, Anna Lise Jensen - with fellow SAW artist Jon Henry and artists Saul Robbins and Pam Steinman. 

Humus, Tabouli, Baba Ganuosh and Baklava will be served, as well as tea & Arabic coffee.

Jon Henry will talk about the art residencies he is creating in Harrisonburg, VA; Saul Robbins discusses the particular type of transactions that takes place in his Manhattan project, How Can I Help? - An Artful Dialogue; Anna Lise Jensen describes her SAW project in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Pam Steinman will share a catering concept she is developing, providing healthy food for the elderly.

bayridgesaw.org SpaceAllOver.org thejonhenry.com saulrobbins.com

Come here me & some other rad artists talk about our work/future/vision

[jonhenry]

I am in the process of signing up a new lease here in H-burg. Im looking at getting a two bedroom home. My idea is that the second bedroom would serve as an ad hoc artist residency (yet unnamed) for artists (mainly visual) who are interested in spending time in Harrisonburg (up to three months). I...

[artspolitics]

Rejections

These past two months have been filled with a bit more rejections letters than I had hoped. Each one stings a little and together that are an attack on confidence. Thankfully, I had been hosting those feast of failure events this past year so failure isnt so bad.  Im realizing just how many exhibitions I've applied to over the past year. I have been in a show every month since last August (sometimes more). Ive gotten in a fully funded grad school program. I've secured solo-shows at Uni Museums, in permeant collections, been published, lectured, etc. Ive received fellowships, been employed, relatively debt free, and received multiple awards.  I was hoping this big load of success would get me into at least these three exhibitions/programs/residencies that I liked. Yet, I didn't.  I've been looking over the accepted folks resumes and work to parce together an idea about my rejection. Like all rejection (especially with art), it doesn't make sense sometimes. It seems in most cases that Im the youngest person applying to these shows/programs so that could be something too. Im also one of the only folks without an MFA. 

Im hoping as I complete my MFA at JMU it gives me both the artistic and resume edge I need. Folks sorta scoffed at the idea of it being 3yrs instead of two but I like that fact. It gives me a chance to grow more, mature, develop more work, etc and it happens all under the 'protective' auspice of the university's funding/resources. I think I will be able to up my game to a new level over the next three years and hopefully be ready get some more acceptance laters :-)  As of now, I am content (I sometimes have to pinch myself). I am making my own success  path, career, and focus. There have been mistakes, rejections, and hiccups along the way, yet Im doing something special to me and unique in the art world (arent all our paths unique there?). I think a back to my past year at NYU's Arts Politics MA Program and realize just how far Ive come artistically and intellectually and personally.  When I feel bottomed out, I always like to create a ladder up inorder to give me something to do. As I settle into the summer months, I will be returning to older work and writing up essays about the pieces to further develop them and myself. I think this will be a healthy and productive way to better explain my work, process, and visions. It should parlay well into the future years as I create more work, series, and papers.  loves. and thanks for reading this diary post. Gotta air out the failure or it  decays from within. 

[artspolitics]

Check out this nifty virtual tour of the "Wide Open" exhibition at Roman Susan. My piece is right next to the entrance door. 

[hyperallergic]

Lynnette Miranda, no title or date given

[artspolitics]

Anna Lise Jensen just sent these pics from the opening

[jonwhportfolio]

Community Seed Bank Project Ongoing

Distribution of boxes filled GMO-Free corn inside dime bags.

Sites:

Wingnut Collective, VA

Text on box and linked QR Codes:

Welcome to the Community Seed Bank Project.

Please safe guard these seeds so our future generations will be able to eat.

Most banks are hierarchical structures that concentrate resources. This trend parlays into the world of seed banks with nations and corporations ferreting away our food security in far off places like Svalbard.

What if a local farmer or community needs access to these resources to feed themselves? Do we fly up to Svalbard or pay some heft fee? How come our communities cannot be trusted with these securing our own future?

This ongoing art project, Community Seed Banking, seeks to ignite a conversation around these topics and others concerning our food security and access.

[artspolitics]

This final piece was inspired by my course work with Karen Finley in Art Research & Conceptual Studio. We did a unit on Svalbard Seed Banks. I already had been interested in ecology & environmental issues. My family are multi-generational farmers in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, We've been following the various cases around Monsanto and big agg as we develop an organic model.  

Please contact me if you would like a box for your space of gallery.

[jonwhportfolio]

Families & Trees Bay Ridge Storefront Art Walk 2013 Installation & performance at Owl Head Wine Bar May 18, 2013 5 paintings converted to transparencies  50 white pine saplings 50 numbered 1st edition prints wrapped around pine saplings 1 shag rug

[artspolitics]

News Co

The fourth annual Storefront Art Walk kicked off this weekend.

verage of the Bay Ridge Store Front Art Walk. Check out my piece in the slideshow 

[artspolitics]

Honey Locust Tree Relocation Check out the video from this cool/nifty performance/happening that I participated in last week.