Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts
presented by TransCultural Exchange
April 27-29, 2007

Conference Success Stories

Alexandria, Egypt
Photos by Susan Paszkiewicz-Toler

"At the Boston conference in the spring of 2007, I learned of an artist residency opportunity in Egypt. In October, I flew to Cairo for a month-long residency with an excellent artist who does fine papermaking, painting, and printing. It was spectacular. My studio was located in Old Islamic Cairo. Every day I walked past many historical religious sites, sometimes stopping to explore them. Across from my studio was a sculpture studio. It was great to see the work there and to talk with other artists. An Egyptian artist I met invited me to visit her studio too. We are discussing a possible joint show in Egypt, and then perhaps in the United States. My residency included a five-day workshop in Alexandria, where I studied with a professor who was a design consultant for the new Alexandria Library. In Alexandria, I met artists from around the globe who were attending an international workshop. A Web designer from Nigeria and I now e-mail regularly, sharing images of our work. I'm returning to Egypt in April 2008 for another residency and the opportunity to connect with other cultures and artists."

- Susan Paszkiewicz-Toler, Attendee
2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts

Berlin and Reykjavik
Photos and Print by Lara Loutel

"I was assigned to (the Bridge Guard Residence Art/Science Center founders) Hanneke and Karol Frühauf for the portfolio review at the 2007 Conference. They were interested in reproducing one of my pieces in a limited edition screenprint. Between the Frühaufs and the TransCultural Exchange it was financially possible for me to meet the Frühaufs in Zurich to sign and number the edition, and also spend time in Berlin and Reykjavik. I also met two artists in Berlin who have worked with TransCultural Exchange and the Frühaufs suggested I meet with one of the artists who had worked at their residency. I remain in contact with all of these people as well as other artists who I met. The 2007 Conference directly led to a greater exposure of my work through the Frühaufs' edition, a chance to travel, and many foreign artist contacts which will make future foreign activities much more likely to occur."

- Lara Loutel, Attendee
2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts

Gozo Contemporary

Gozo, Malta
Photo by Naveed Nour

"Not knowing something is one problem; but not knowing what we don’t know is a bigger problem. Once I figure out what I don’t know, my life becomes much easier, because then I can learn. Based on my research, that was exactly why I decided to participate in the 2007 TransCultural Exchange Conference, with the hope of meeting peers from around the world who would open my eyes to new paths and ideas. My reasoning paid off in ways I would never have imagined possible. The conference was an opportunity for me to capitalize on, and so I did. The format was extremely friendly and accessible, with great international participants who were there to share their knowledge. I met artists, curators and educators from all over the world; and as a result I was rewarded with an invitation by Gozo Contemporary in Malta to participate in a week long artist residency program. Subsequently I also received a stipend from TransCultural Exchange towards this program, which is helping me to complete my project. The result of my travel to Malta is an art collaboration with Norbert Attard, a great international artist from Malta and founder of Gozo Contemporary. I have created and now maintain relationships with other TransCultural participants, which will turn into future collaborations. Last but not least, my networking with guests at the last dinner of the event has led to my collaboration with the Massachusetts College of Arts for whom I have designed and will teach a new course. For sure this won’t be the end of my experience and I can’t hardly wait for the next chapter of TransCultural Exchange in 2009.

To learn about the Malta Project, please visit http://www.naveednour.com/mltproject.html.
For more information about me please visit:

www.naveednour.com | www.photoemerge.com | www.historyrecalls.org"

- Naveed Nour, Attendee
2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts

Kala Residency

Berkeley, California
Photo courtesy Jitendra Baoni

"Attaining Kala Residency was a dream fulfilled. I met international contemporary artist and got an opportunity to enhance and share knowledge. After reaching Kala Art, Berkeley, I got that what I dreamt of. The working atmosphere was extremely friendly with all the possibilities of equipment and facilities.
The best part was twenty four hour studio access. I chose to do lithography in Kala. I am fascinated with lithography and its technique as the results are unique.

Kala often had exciting programs in the evening, so I could meet art educators and artists from different countries who visited there.

At the end of my Kala AIR residency the Kala community decided to keep my talk about the work which I did during my residency. That was very exciting thing for me as I could discuss about my work with the artist community. After my talk an art lover bought one of my litho works for her collection.

Experiencing artistic life globally was like a lifetime experience."

- Jitendra Baoni

http://jitendrabaoni.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-experience-as-kala-air-berkeley-sf.html

Marnay-sur-Seine, France
Photos by Edythe Wright, Julieve Jubin and Alejandro Ferriero

"My residency and exhibition at CAMAC, in Marnay-sur-Seine, France came about directly from my participation in the 2007 TransCultural Exchange Conference. I signed on early and was paired with the director of CAMAC for a portfolio review, which resulted in an invitation to reside at the center and produce an exhibition. Marnay is a beautiful little village about 1.25 hours southeast of Paris by train. My month-long stay was a tremendously productive and edifying experience. I made some very good friends among the international group of artists who were my fellow residents and enjoyed feeling like a part of village life, while also visiting Paris and Amsterdam briefly. I produced a strong, new body of work for an exhibition at the end of my stay, the opening of which was one of the best times I’ve ever had."

- Edythe F. Wright, Attendee
2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts


Studio in South Africa	With the Magwasa in the South African Bush

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Photos by Elizabeth Geissler

"At the TransCultural Exchange Conference in Boston 2007 I was invited to be part of the Residency project at the University KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. This was for me an extraordinary experience. Beyond the challenges and benefits of placing oneself in a distant and unique environment it was filled with that most special of all elements; the time and space dedicated to making one’s work. The project I was involved with the UKZ-N program offered me an environment with opportunities and experiences that have infiltrated both my art work and my thinking and understanding of and connection with the cultures and peoples of Central and Southeastern coastal South Africa. I worked in my studio alongside the Faculty and Grad/Post Grad students in the Center for Visual Arts, allowing their mindsets and creative intentions to inform me. At the same time I was able to “teach by experience” and was asked to give a workshop in ‘The Altered Photo’. I met indigenous artists exhibiting internationally and am involved in a four way collaboration with three of the UKZ-N Faculty in the upcoming TransCultural Exchange Project Here,There and Everywhere. My visit culminated in a one person show in the CVA’s Jack Heath Gallery and as a result my work is now in a collection in South Africa and with an American collector who was there as well. The connections I made were gratifying and unforgettable. I gratefully look forward to the upcoming venue for the International Collaboration as an extension of the opportunities initiated by the 2007 Conference."

- Elizabeth Geissler, Attendee
2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts

jesseca_image

Debrecen, Hungary
Image by Jesseca Ferguson

My time in Debrecen [at the Third International Artist Colony of Debrecen] last summer was absolutely MARVELOUS! Very productive in terms of making work, in terms of networking with artists from several countries (as well as Hungary), in terms of seeing and experiencing a country I had long dreamed of visiting, but had never been able to. I started out in Budapest, staying for 5 nights with Hungarian colleagues of my in-laws, visiting flea markets and old book shops in search of materials. In Debrecen, I was able to find another flea market (thanks to one of the artists there) and also was loaned a wonderful book to photograph and/or Xerox. As it turned out, my pinhole camera did not function (unforeseen problems with the Polaroid back), so I ended up working in collage and printmaking (gum Arabic transfer method using a mirror-imaged Xerox). This technique proved intriguing to other artists, so I taught it to a number of people, some of whom began to use it right away! (I have also incorporated it into my teaching here in Boston. I even gave one demo in German, my common language with a Hungarian pinhole photographer I met thanks to the kindness of one of the other artist participants.

I met wonderful people – whom I hope to stay in touch with and hope to see again – whether here or back in Hungary (or Slovakia, or Poland or Spain

There will be a catalogue of the work/artists at the 2008 Debrecen colony by the end of the year – I really look forward to seeing it. I am sure it will provide a wonderful way to re-live this highly productive and inspiring experience of spending 18 days in Debrecen, in the company of other artists.

- Jesseca Ferguson, 2007 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts attendee