New York Arts Practicum

New York Arts Practicum is a summer arts institute for current students and recent graduates to learn experientially in order to bridge their lives as art students into lives as practicing artists. Participants complete apprenticeships with mentor artists, produce work for critique without access to their institutional facilities, and learn about contemporary practices through site visits to artist studios, galleries, and museums. The 8 week intensive program offers participants a supported environment to experience the challenges of life as an artist, seeing the many different ways one can be an artist today. Mentees work in their mentors studio two to three days per week, meet Tuesday evenings for a critique seminar, and convene Fridays for site visits in artist studios, galleries, and museums. Past participants called the experience: demystifying, life changing, and an inspirational reality check.

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#NYAP2018 (at New York, New York)

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WEEK 8: July 28th, 2017

The last day of the Practicum ended with a dinner in Central Park. We shared our food, support, and thoughts on one another’s artistic development and experiences over the course of the program. Whether it was encountering a new city and its challenges, improving art practice and work, or connecting with others, participants were glad to have been a part of such a journey—we were all grateful for the Program and the opportunities that transpired from it.

For most, this was said to be one of the hardest parts of the Practicum.

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WEEK 4: Friday June 30th

An exciting day. NYAP started with a site visit to Harlem: Columbia’s Lenfest Center. Here, this University exhibited ‘Uptown’,  a new Triennial featuring artists who live and work in Upper Manhattan. 

Participants then ended the day with a visit to Gavin Brown’s Enterprise and viewing the Brian Belott show. Belott has been collecting children’s art and is showcasing them in this current exhibit.

Photos By: Kalaija Mallery

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WEEK 3: June 23rd, 2017

Friday began with a visit to artist, Christopher Willauer’s studio. He shared with us his most recent exhibition, “It is you who awakens me,” and was open in telling us the context of his work. We very much appreciated Christopher’s honesty and thoughtfulness when speaking about his art pieces and enjoyed the insightful advice he gave to us emerging artists.

NYAP then headed to Interstate Projects to visit Geetha Thurairajah, another previous practicum participant , where she described her artistic process and experiences with residences. We then finished off the day with a site visit to Artsy: an online resource for art and education. Photos by: Kalaija Mallery

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WEEK 2: June 16th, 2017

Artist Amy Khoshbin at Safe Gallery and studio speaks about her practice: a merging of performance, video, costume, collage work, and comedy. Amy shares with us how humor allows for a human connection and gets individuals engaged. 

Photos: Kalaija Mallery

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WEEK 1: June 9th, 2017

Friday began with visits to several Chelsea Galleries; an exhibition of Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s work was among one of them. Exiting the David Zwirner Gallery, artspracticum gathered outside in a discussion that further explored the context of the work:

While the gallery’s press release provided a description of the Gonzalez-Torres’s pieces, there wasn’t mention of the artist’s lover—relative to longevity and the aids crisis. The idea of the take aways being replenished and how their weight as a mark of a person’s well being, was not heard through the opening reception’s writing.

Because Gonzalez-Torres’s meaningful work had been presented in this way, this had been a thoughtful and considerable moment for participants. Photos: Kalaija Mallery

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artspracticum visit artist Leon Reid IV at his Greenpoint, Brooklyn studio. 

“Make sure you respect your time and energy enough as artists to understand the business side of your practice.”

Leon provided valuable advice to our group of emerging artists including how to negotiate gallery fees and how to work with consignment documents. 

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#TBT As we finish up our last week of the New York Arts Practicum 2015, it seems like a good time to think back to our very first visit with artist @rafaelrozendaal at @newinc in early June! 

During his presentation, Rafael explained how he was able to grow and transition from being a completely net-based artist to also occupying gallery space. “For exhibitions I’m not always thinking about objects, but I’m thinking about the space as a surface.” 

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A critique of participant work with the artist Marina Zurkow at her Brooklyn Studio. We held individual critiques and also got to see Marina’s work-in-progress for her upcoming bitforms show. 

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Artist and activist Dread Scott invites artspracticum to his Brooklyn studio to discuss his political practice. As a non-market based art practitioner, we find out how Dread has been able to maintain his career in New York while remaining committed to his social practice.

Dread was featured on the July/August cover of Sculpture Magazine. Read his article here

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Magda Sawon, Founder/Director of postmastersgallery talks to artspracticum about how the notorious Ed Snowden bust made its way into the gallery after being seized by authorities from Fort Greene Park in April 2015.

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marymattingly talks to artspracticum about her public art projects and what it takes to overcome all that bureaucracy.

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artspracticum visit Jennifer and Kevin McCoy at their studio and gallery- auxiliaryprojects in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. 

We got to discuss themes of digital dystopia, running a gallery space and the realities of living in New York as artists.

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Artist Danielle Tegeder in her studio with artspracticum.

From imaginary solo shows to her own group show, Danielle shares candid stories of how she managed to carve out her own unique path into the art world.

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Joshua Citarella ( joshuacitrusella ) at his solo exhibition- Rez, currently on view at Higher Pictures.

Joshua talks to artspracticum about the transmutable qualities of image-making today, technologies of deception and why formal education doesn’t make the cut on his CV.

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Week 8 - August 01, 2014  The last day of NYAP began with a trip to artist B. Wurtz's studio. B. Wurtz talked about his experiences at Cal Arts with Baldessari, his collections of everyday objects, and the many sculptures found throughout his home.  After, students met with Director of Percent for Art, Sara Reisman. Reisman shared some of her favorite projects and talked about her experiences collaborating with artists.

In the evening, NYAP had their final farewell taco dinner at Prospect Park. 

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Week 8 - July 29, 2014  NYAP met with artist Brad Troemel in his Brooklyn studio where he talked with students about the vacuum sealed sculptures in his studio, Jogging, selling art on Etsy, and the importance of social media to his practice. Troemel also talked candidly about artists' relationship with the market and the importance of networking.