International Turning Exchange Residency Application Info

Download | ITE Application – Accepting applications for 2015 and 2016

For over eighteen years, The Center for Art in Wood has awarded seven prestigious fellowships for experienced artists in its annual International Turning Exchange (ITE) program. Each year the program selects five artists who work either solely in wood or who work with wood in combination with other materials; one photojournalist, and one scholar/educator – all selected from an international pool of applicants. Image by Karl Seifert, 2009 ITE Photojournalist, Jay Heryet demonstration at Open Studio.

About the Residency:

The ITE is sponsored by The Center for Art in Wood and all residents live and work on-site at the University of the Arts (UArts), in Philadelphia, PA, US. The residency is comprised of an 8-week, interactive program during which the seven resident fellows live and work together in Philadelphia. It runs from June through the first week of August each year.

The ITE is a collegial experience in which the residents work in the studio together resulting in an open exchange of creative and technical innovations. Residents are encouraged to pursue both individual and collaborative work that is explorative and experimental. The Photojournalist’s choice of medium employed to document the resident’s experience should reflect the individual’s interests and skills. As with the other residents, exploration and experimentation are encouraged and the Photojournalist is free to pursue artistic as well as documentary projects. The scholar/educator joins the group for one week mid- residency to explore personal research, engage in open discussions; and conduct interviews with the residents about their backgrounds and experimentation during the residency. The intention for this exchange is to stimulate scholarly dialog amongst the residents as well as provide the basis for a written reflection.

Residents receive a $400 weekly stipend; reimbursed round trip transportation to Philadelphia; housing at UArts, group use of a mini-van to obtain wood and supplies and travel in the region. A modest allowance for special materials is also awarded. Residents are often successful at obtaining donations or sponsorships to support their expenses and it is encouraged (not a criteria for selection to the program). Residents also participate in several Center-sponsored educational events. The events vary from Open Studio Day – when the public visits the ITE shop mid-residency for demonstrations and to see the developing ideas and work; an annual hands-on weekend with local artists at Echo Lake (Bucks County, PA) and regional trips to visit artists, collectors and museums.  During the final exhibition of “before” and residency works, the residents share with the public through gallery talks about their professional and personal experiences during the ITE residency.  All residents may be asked to donate a finished piece to The Center’s permanent museum collection, as selected by The Center’s Collection Advisory Committee.

Applicants:

Artists working either solely in wood or wood in combination with other materials and multiple techniques are encouraged to apply.  Applicants must demonstrate artistic innovation, technical know-how, and professional experience. Proposals for the residency should articulate how the ITE experience will facilitate new avenues of research, exploration, experimentation and techniques, as well as projected aesthetic approaches and concepts to be explored. These may focus on individual work or work in collaboration with others.

Sculptors and/or Furniture makers should outline their creative and technical expertise in wood, and how this relates to the explorations they propose for the residency. Applicants should set their work in the context of their respective field, and state the benefits of working with other artists.

The Photojournalist will outline their personal artistic history and work, and state how they propose to document all the participants throughout the residency – including all activities both in and out of the shop. Candidates can propose a range of documentation including but not limited to 35mm/large format/digital photography, blogs, video, and other innovative formats.  Unique proposals and use of “forward” technology will be of particular interest to The Center’s ITE selection committee.

The Scholar/Educator visits and lives on-site for 1 week during the middle of the residency while work is well underway in the shop. Applicants for this position should declare their academic interests,  explain how direct access to the other residents will enhance their professional activities at their respective museum, university or other educational institution or publication, and demonstrate a profound desire to attend the residency. The applicant agrees to provide a written summary or works to reflect their ITE experience as part of the final ITE exhibition. The statement will also be included in Center publications and/or online venues, and should be available for other publications by the Scholar/Educator.