Leafy Subjects Exemplify the Social Life of Trees of Shyama Golden’s Verdant Portraits

“Intertwined” (2020), acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. All images © Shyama Golden, shared with permission

On the banks of the Martha Brae River in Jamaica, artist Shyama Golden noticed greenery that appeared like lovers embracing. She “started to see these anthropomorphic vine-covered trees everywhere, taking on the forms of various archetypes.” The scenes inspired a series of paintings titled With or Without Us that merges facets of landscape and portrait painting into verdant works expressing nature as a social entity.

The Los Angeles-based artist’s practice is influenced by myriad sources, especially literature and everyday experiences. “Sometimes the idea can come from reading, and sometimes I take inspiration directly from life, but I often do research to add more details as I go, even if the original idea didn’t come from anything I read,” she tells Colossal. With or Without Us takes cues from Richard Powers’ 2019 novel The Overstory, an evocation of the natural world comprised of interlocking narratives in which each character is deeply connected to trees.

For this series, Golden was fascinated by the invisible means in which trees communicate with each other using a network of soil fungi, an ecological survival mechanism that is under threat from deforestation and impacts of the climate crisis. By combining recognizable portrait imagery redolent of family photographs, headshots, or the art historical vogue for reclining female figures, Golden reimagines the leafy denizens of forests as individuals with distinctive personalities and relationships.

Find more of Golden’s work on her website and Instagram.

 

“Familiar Phantasm” (2021), oil on canvas, 60 x 60 inches

Detail of “Familiar Phantasm”

“The Hero” (2021), oil on panel, 48 x 48 inches

“The Muse” (2021), oil on canvas, 60 x 40 inches

“Blue” (2021), acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Detail of “Intertwined”

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Mikko Lagerstedt Photographs the Quiet Grandeur of Snowy Nordic Landscapes

“Winter Solitude.” All images Mikko Lagerstedt, shared with permission

Underneath soft light from the moon or the early morning sun, Finnish photographer Mikko Lagerstedt (previously) captures the quiet magic and mystery of Nordic landscapes. Ice clings to tree branches, an aurora streaks through the sky, and vast fields of snow cover the ground in scenes that are both serene and full of grandeur.

Part of the In The Solitude series, many of the images shown here are single-exposure photos edited in Lightroom, although a few utilize multiple shots to convey the majestic nature of the region. Lagerstedt tends to focus on the unique colors and textures of the area, including stars dotting a deep blue sky, lines etched into the earth’s surface by the wind, and strips of pastel light.

The photographer plans to offer prints of the collection this year, and you can find news about that release, in addition to an archive of his work, on his site and Instagram.

 

“A Cold Night in the North”

“A Passing Moment”

“In the Mist”

“Infinite”

“Resilience”

“Searching”

“Solitude”

“Stained Ice”

“Windswept”

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January 2023 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

Photo © The Sm;)e Book

Every month, Colossal shares a selection of opportunities for artists and designers, including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies. If you’d like to list an opportunity here, please get in touch at hello@colossal.art. You can also join our monthly Opportunities Newsletter.

 

Open Calls

Aperture Portfolio Prize (International)
This annual international competition is designed to discover, exhibit, and publish new talents in photography. The first prize winner receives $3,000, an exhibition in New York, and publishing in Aperture magazine.
Deadline: January 6, 2023.

PHDC Request for Proposals at Festival Pier, Philadelphia (International)
PHDC is seeking a proposal for a public artwork for Festival Pier, at Spring Garden Street and Columbus Boulevard, with a budget of $1,100,000. Five finalists will develop and present their proposals and receive a $3,500 honorarium before one project is chosen for commission.
Deadline: 3 p.m. EST January 10, 2023.

Passepartout Photo Prize (International)
The Passepartout juried contest will award one photographer 500 Euros, exhibition participation, publication in a catalog, and promotion opportunities. This year’s prize also includes three additional awarding categories and has an entry fee of 25 Euros.
Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Call for Artists (Wisconsin)
Artists and curators living in Wisconsin are encouraged to submit proposals for an exhibition at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison. There is a $5 application fee.
Deadline: 5 p.m. CST on March 1, 2023.

World of WearableArt 2023 Competition (International)
Entries are open for the World of WearableArt Awards Competition, which brings the work of international designers to life each year in a large-scale theatrical spectacle held in Wellington, New Zealand. As well as a total prize pool of over $185,000 (NZD), the competition offers the chance to access exclusive residencies and internships with global creative companies.
Deadline: March 2, 2023.

 

Grants

Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grant (International)
This grant is open to painters, sculptors, and printmakers working for at least 20 years with current financial needs.
Deadline: January 18, 2023.

Barnard Library Research Awards (International)
Two artists, scholars, writers, and other researchers will gain access to the Barnard Archives and Zine Library for a project that support access, equity, inclusion, and social justice. The award comes with $3,000 to support research.
Deadline: February 1, 2023.

National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects (U.S.)
Applications are open for the NEA’s largest granting program, which offers $10,000 to $100,000 awards to projects from visual arts organizations.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on February 9, 2023.

Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund (Ukraine or refugee)
Adobe’s Creative Residency Community Fund commissions visual artists to create company projects on a rolling basis. Awardees will receive between $500 and $5,000.
Deadline: Rolling.

 

Residencies & Fellowships

OSUN Center for Human Rights & the Arts Fellowships (International)
Scholars and artists with teaching experience and a research project are eligible to apply for this one-year fellowship in human rights and the arts at Bard College. Two fellows will receive a $65,000 salary, health benefits, and a research budget.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 5, 2023.

AnkhLave Garden Project Fellowship (New York City)
Five BIPOC artists will be commissioned to create site-specific works in a public space and a traditional gallery. Artists receive a $1,000 honorarium and can be reimbursed up to $1,000 for other expenses. One artist will also be granted $10,000 to create an original treehouse.
Deadline: January 6, 2023.

*This Is Not A Drill* Community Fellowship  (New York City)
*This Is Not A Drill* is seeking socially-engaged artists, scholars, and arts workers who are interested in the intersection of art, technology, equity, and the climate emergency. Chosen applicants will receive access to NYU facilities, resources, and support, a $3,000 stipend, and a fall exhibition.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 19, 2023.

Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (International)
Open across disciplines, this residency offers a $1,000 stipend and space to work for a seven-week residency. There is a $45 application fee.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. MST on January 10, 2023.

Good Hart Artist Residency (International)
This residency offers 10 to 21-day stays to visual artists, writers, and composers at any stage of their careers. Each artist receives lodging, a $500 stipend, and food.
Deadline: January 11, 2023.

Hayama Artist Residency (International)
The residency offers two visual artists roundtrip flights to Japan, shared accommodations, and a weekly $200 stipend for meals and transportation. There is a $95 application fee.
Deadline: January 15, 2023.

Anderson Center Residency Program (International)
The Anderson Center offers multiple residency opportunities, for all early-career and emerging artists living in Minnesota or New York City. Most include stipends and lodging.
Deadline: Noon CST on January 16, 2023.

Solitary Artist Retreat in the Desert  (International)
This two-week solitary retreat in the Nevada desert is for artists focused on environmental awareness. There is a $20 application fee, but there is no cost for this program. Artists must cover travel and living expenses.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 22, 2023.

Künstlerhaus Büchsenhausen Fellowship Program for Art and Theory (International)
Visual and media artists, art critics, theorists, and curators are eligible for this five-month fellowship. One chosen fellow will receive 4,000 Euros, a studio for working and living, a production budget, and money to invite experts to Büchsenhausen for professional exchange.
Deadline: January 29, 2023.

Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program (U.S.)
This program awards rent-free non-living studio space to 17 visual artists for year-long residencies in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2023.

Residency Unlimited’s Artist Residency Program (New York City)
Open to artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color, this program focuses on research-based practices that explore gaps in historical knowledge. The residency will run from April 3 to June 30, 2023, and comes with a $3,300 stipend and $500 for production support.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2023.

Fine Arts Work Center Visual Artist Fellowship (International)
This seven-month residency offers 10 artists an apartment, a studio, a $1,250 monthly stipend, and $1,000 for relocation at the end of the program. There is a $65 application fee.
Deadline: February 1, 2023.

StudioWorks Artist Residency (International)
Visual artists and crafters are eligible for this four-week residency that offers a $2,000 stipend and workspace.
Deadline: February 1, 2023.

Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Artist-in-Residence (International)
Applications are open to artists working in multiple disciplines for this two-week residency. Studio space and lodging are provided, and there’s a $35 application fee.
Deadline: February 2, 2023.

MacDowell Fellowship (International)
MacDowell grants about 300 fellowships with studio space, meals, and lodgings across disciplines. The application fee is $30.
Deadline: February 10, 2023.

Ucross Foundation Residencies and Fellowships (International)
Ucross has two programs open across disciplines: a general studio residency and Ford Family Foundation Fellowships open to Oregon artists only. Chosen applicants receive studio space, living accommodations, and a $1,000 stipend. There is a $40 application fee.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. MST on March 1, 2023.

Etant Donnés Curatorial Fellowship (U.S.)
Open to U.S.-based curators interested in researching the French art scene, these fellowships offer research opportunities and a $3,000 stipend.
Deadline: Rolling.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article January 2023 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists appeared first on Colossal.

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Mila Textiles Reimagines the Balaclava in Vibrant Beadwork and Embroidered Visages

All images © Mila Textiles, shared with permission

Masks have long been associated with myriad cultural functions from ceremonial rites and dramatic performances to defense and protection from disease or inclement weather. For London-based designer Kamila, who works under the name Mila Textiles, ski masks—also known as balaclavas—provide a fitting canvas for elaborately embroidered, wearable compositions.

A 19th century military staple, balaclavas saw a sartorial rise in 2021. The practical knitwear item takes its name from the Ukrainian port town of Balaclava, a key battle site during the Crimean War of 1854, and in the 20th century, the garment became a trope in movies and television depicting burglaries and heists. Kamila’s colorful reinterpretation of the mask relaxes these associations. “I want my work to make my audience feel happy, forget about their stresses for a bit, and chill,” she tells Colossal.

Kamila draws inspiration from her local environment, sharing that “living in London means I am constantly surrounded by events, museums, and galleries where I can take pictures of anything that gives me creative ideas.” The vibrant hues and textures of coral and marine life are another influence, especially in the context of cartoons. “I try to include creatures in my designs because this brings comfort to me, almost as cartoons would,” she says. Bright colors are paired with beads and layers of thread to produce playful patterns around the wearer’s eyes.

In addition to balaclavas, Mila Textiles produces meticulously embellished bags and pouches featuring faux fur and patterned fabrics. New items are listed in the shop on her website, and you can follow more of her work on Instagram.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Mila Textiles Reimagines the Balaclava in Vibrant Beadwork and Embroidered Visages appeared first on Colossal.

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Boldly Contrasted Maps by Spencer Schien Visualize Population Density Data

All images © Spencer Shien, shared with permission

It’s one thing to know that Chicago is the third largest city in the United States or that the fastest growing metropolitan areas are in the West and the South, but how can we see it? Data technologist Spencer Schien answers that question with an ongoing series of population density maps of states, rivers, and coastlines. In his work with nonprofits and NGOs, he uses R programming language to generate data visualizations that help organizations target where their services are most needed.

To compile the maps, Schien digs into the Kontur Population dataset, a publicly accessible project that layers global population numbers derived from sources like the Global Human Settlement Layer—a tool for assessing the presence of people on the planet—along with Microsoft’s Building Footprints and Facebook. He then translates statistical information about specific regions into highly contrasted maps utilizing Rayshader. The more densely populated an area is, the higher the bars rise. Atlanta, for example, is more than 137 square miles with around 4,200 people per square mile, and the map illustrates this as a mass of red amidst surroundings of more rural areas in green.

Currently based in Milwaukee where he works as the Manager of Data and Impact for City Forward Collective, Schien focuses on building the maps and other statistical visualizations using open-source tools that help to alleviate financial barriers to information. You can find more of his work on his website.

 

  

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A Series of Meticulously Carved Panels Combine Layers of Color to Make Tugboat Printshop’s ‘River’ Woodcut

All images © Tugboat Printshop

Woodland creatures peek out from behind tree trunks, and a stream of water rushes through a dense, forested landscape in Valerie Luath’s latest woodcut for Tugboat Printshop (previously). “River” uses four intricately carved panels layered into a composition of overlapping, vivid color. Currently a work in progress and nearing completion, the detailed scene features intricate foliage and a smattering of stars throughout the sky and landscape.

To create the nocturnal setting, Luath began by meticulously carving the surface of a “key block” using knives and gouging tools to create an overview of the entire composition. She then transferred the full scene to three additional panels in gray ink and filled in sections with marker to delineate which areas should be carved and where different pigments would be applied. Printed in succession, each block will provide a puzzle-like piece of the final print.

“River” is available for pre-order on the Tugboat Printshop website, and you can follow more updates on Instagram.

 

 

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‘aBiogenesis’ Reimagines the Primordial Soup Theory in a Mesmerizing Animation by Markos Kay

In an ethereal animation by London-based CGI artist Markos Kay, a mysterious world is in the process of forming. “aBiogenesis” reimagines the origin of life in a mesmerizing rendering of the lipid world hypothesis—a theory suggesting that the first self-replicating, cell-like objects were composed of a kind of fatty acid that could not dissolve in water. The hypothesis postulates that lipids may have formed into generative bilayers in the oceans. “These bilayers would have acted like tiny bubbles or bags, enclosing and protecting the chemical reactions that would eventually give rise to life,” he says.

Kay has focused on the intersection of art and science in his practice, utilizing digital tools to visualize biological or primordial phenomena. “aBiogenesis” focuses a microscopic lens on imagined protocells, vesicles, and primordial foam that twists and oscillates in various forms.

The artist has prints available for sale in his shop, and you can find more work on his website and Behance.

 

All images © Markos Kay

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article ‘aBiogenesis’ Reimagines the Primordial Soup Theory in a Mesmerizing Animation by Markos Kay appeared first on Colossal.

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