Wednesday Lemonade

July 15, 2020
Welcome back to Wednesday Lemonade, a community newsletter focused on keeping VCCA Fellows, staff, and supporters connected.

Over the course of the relentless COVID-19 pandemic, this newsletter has been just one of many initiatives VCCA has undertaken to stay engaged with you while our residency programs are paused. We've recently gathered all those virtual projects into one place on our website for quick reference and easy access . More on that below.

Thanks to those who have watched last week's VCCA Fireplace Series event featuring readings by Donna Hemans and Sharon Charde . In our next Fireplace event, Washington Post columnist, Fellow, and VCCA Board member Steven Petrow will return to host poet Barbara Crooker and co mposer Greg Mertl. Mark your calendar to join us live on Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Today's Fellow messages come from visual artist Amy Cheng and writer Harry Kollatz Jr. We also begin highlighting member posts from Virtual VCCA / Mighty Networks, starting with updates you may have missed from visual artists Amie Oliver and Janet Fredericks.

In today's resource section, we pass along an invitation for Fellows to take part in a research survey on creators' relationships to society and government. We also share info about a new relief fund to support central Appalachian creatives.

Since we sent word out into the world two weeks ago that VCCA is now the proud owner of our home at Mt. San Angelo , we've continued to be delighted by the ripples of congratulations and excitement as new waves of our community catch on to the good news. Thank you, all, again and always, for being a part of VCCA.
all things virtual
All in One Place
As a read er of this newsletter, you well know: “Virtual VCCA” has come to mean many things over the past months. In the name of online connectivity, we have launched a live video series, established an online community platform, found new ways to highlight Fellows’ work, and more.

Look to this new page of the VCCA website for an updated list of ways to stay virtually engaged with our creative community during our temporary closure.
fellow messages
Fellows, please fill out this form to submit a message . This is a way to tell the VCCA community about how you're navigating these times as an artist and human and to spread the word about work affected by or created during the pandemic.
Amy Cheng
July 8, 2020

" Hello Friends. The big news is that I have retired from teaching at SUNY New Paltz. I feel lucky and privileged to have taught painting and drawing at the college level for three decades. It was a job that allowed (and, sometimes, forced) me to learn and grow. I feel I owe a great debt of gratitude to all the students I encountered. Taking early(ish) retirement will allow me to concentrate on studio work and public art commissions, which is what I am doing these days. I also expect to have time to maintain a blog. I am officially launching the new blog, which you can find at this link . "
Nature Provides is the most recent mural, installed February 2020 at the Patient Services Center at Western State Hospital in Tacoma, WA. Fabricated by Miotto Mosaics in Carmel, NY, it measures 8'x18' and consists of mosaic tessera, various sized glass blobs, and brass flower shapes.
Harry Kollatz Jr.
July 11, 2020

"In these crazy days, seems the way to remain focused is to maintain a creative project/s/ ahead of you. So I've been attempting to promote the novel Carlisle Montgomery , and working on a short novella addendum to that piece, along with a couple of others: an historical speculative fiction in which World War I as we know it didn't happen, among others. The uncertainty of whether anybody will see the present work seems doubly precarious considering the times."

Work Affected by COVID-19

"I had scheduled several appearances and readings from my novel Carlisle Montgomery during the spring, all cancelled. I've conducted virtual readings and presentations. Published by a small house, Primer Books in Sydney, Australia, promotion has largely been left up to me. She's been in the world a year."
highlights from virtual vcca
These updates come from members posting in Virtual VCCA , our online community platform powered by Mighty Networks.
All Together
Amie Oliver shared a link to “All Together,” a group exhibition of work created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently on view at Reynolds Gallery in Richmond, Virginia, the exhibition includes work by several VCCA Fellows, including Amie Oliver, Sally Bowring and Tanja Softic.
Water, Sacred Water
Janet Fredericks shared photos from “Water, Sacred Water,” an exhibit of drawings made in water, at GreenTARA Space in North Hero, Vermont. Janet says, " I'm happy to be showing this older work after all other exhibits were cancelled for the summer."
resources
Survey on Creators, Society, and Government
The University of Cambridge is conducting research on creators (artists, podcasters, filmmakers) and their relationship to society and government. They are looking for artists to fill out a short survey . It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous and will not collect any personal details from respondents.
New Fund for Creatives in Central Appalachia
The new Appalshop Creators Fund offers stipends of $3,000 to individual creatives located in central Appalachia. The fund aims to support people working in a variety of artistic mediums. While all central Appalachian creators are eligible to apply, Appalshop is particularly looking to support applicants who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, caregivers, and immune-compromised. Applications are due this Friday, July 17.
standing invitations
Listen: Composer Playlist
Our July 2020 playlist features:

  1. Joelle Wallach | String Quartet #2
  2. Joshua Marquez | Toward
  3. Beth Wiemann | Opera from Scratch
  4. Suzanne Sorkin | Swept
  5. James Primrosch | Carthage
  6. Hayes Biggs | O Sapintia/Steal Away
Shop: VCCA Swag
We hope you'll consider supporting VCCA by bringing a bit of swag into your life. Browse our online listing of current inventory , and contact Bea Booker to place an order.
Read: New Books
Support  new work by VCCA Fellows  whose book launches, readings, signings, tours, and other events have been canceled or postponed due to the pandemic.  Submit this form to request your book be added .

Recently added:
Apply or Share: Wachtmeister Award
We are  now accepting applications  for the  2021 Wachtmeister Award . Please share this opportunity widely with prominent visual artists who you think would benefit from uninterrupted time and space at VCCA.
🧡 Stay safe, and be well.
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