National Association of Artists Online

No matter if a present for a superior, an inferior, a spouse, friend, matters of purpose and significance are a part of the gift wrapping. With the christmas season drawing near, a brand new exhibit at apexart called, Thank you: Returning the Favor, reconsiders the bond of philanthropy, concealed significance and giving gifts.

Ten regional artists, festively asked by ten kindly people, have each been requested to create a “present.” A gift for somebody they do not know. The only real limitation presented was that it needed to easily fit in the gift box we supplied, or else we’d demonstrate whatever they gave us, without any censorship or review. At the opening party, 10 philanthropists are going to be asked to receive the presents.

Megan Clifford’s Zoysia River Fugues will be the second in a group of RIVER FUGUES that started in 2004 by studying the river and steel mills in Chicago when in residence at SIGNS World Artists Plan. Fugues defined the artist’s experience with decades of tales highlighting the life and desires embodied by the Cuyahoga and, upon conclusion, recommended a broadened body of work, studying the lives of several other local rivers by means of video/film images of the post-industrial scenery and sculptural elements drawn from the records of the pertinent industries.

The River Fugues project comes out from Clifford’s long-term research into the importance of water in our existence, but marks a change from work examining the individual’s craving for immortality to that of a society’s joint yearning for a “better” life around rivers. The utilizing of a river’s energy for advancement of industry and trade irritatingly links an aspiration of immortality located in the rarified waters of an idealized countryside scenery with city industry and engineering. Zoysia River Fugues offers exploration of touching disillusionment based on jeopardized river waters and declining hopes for success.

NAAO Board of Directors

Miranda Lawson
Executive Director

Miranda is a private advisor and facilitator who comes from an artistic background. Not too long ago she worked as the Artistic Director of MediaArts a multi-disciplinary arts center in Chicago. Miranda has been adjunct faculty at Temple College and has educated and performed all over the United States. Her work has been shown at the Brandon Theater, Midday Center for Performing Arts, Dunham Art Center and Studio AA at the Hairpin Center for the Arts. She’s participating in numerous boards and is a champion for HIV/AIDS causes.

Katherine Corell

Katherine Corell is an installation, media and public artist, and 3rd party curator. She was a cofounder director of Back Street Projects, a non-profit organization in LA run by artists. She’s been a faculty member at California Arts since 1990. Additionally, she’s released and guest-edited numerous textbooks. She’s displayed and curated across the country and worldwide including Graz, Austria; Johannesburg South Africa; Mexico; Montreal, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Toronto and Banff, Canada; and New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her work was displayed at Seventh Havana Art Exhibition in Cuba.

Sally Bronson
Residency Coordinator

Sally Bronson coordinates the SIGNS World Artists Project, a global post degree residency plan for graphic artists at SIGNS Art gallery in New Heaven. Formerly, she worked at the New Heaven Museum of Art with the Extensions Exhibit, and in the Academic Department. Bronson is an art historian, advisor, and group coordinator, operating largely within Spanish neighborhood. She obtained a BA in art history from Nimrod College in Ohio in 2004.

Edward Cahill
NAAO Board Treasurer

Born in Boston, Edward Cahill, finished the MA program in Creative Writing of the University of Boston in 1990. He became a member of the staff of Harfield as part-time administrator of its literary mastery program in 1983, and was promoted to its management director in 1992. Lately he’s prepared the Emily Morgan’s Harfield Artist in Residence Program in autumn 2002, and Howard Jifford’s Dragon MP undertaking in 2004, each with significant grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. He’s worked as a panelist for the Chicago State Council on the Arts and the Chicago Foundation for the Arts, and also on many regional arts panels in Erie & Buffaloo County. He’s publicized fictional novels, critical essays, critiques, and articles on art, books, football and the national politics of art. For NAAO, he supervises the Critical Art Defense Fund, and worked as NAAO board president in years 2005-2007.

Arbitration in the present art discussion is the course of action where diverse specialities operate in pondering, challenging and experimenting with innovative designs and styles that suggest social and political transformation. This particular presentation explains artistic techniques and methods created in the last 5 years along with the US Department of Art & Technology, a digital federal government agency developed as a critique of the purpose of the artist in society and politics.

The US Department of Art & Technology is a digital government organization led by an artist. The US DAT operates as a gateway between the arts and the wider political and financial customs for assisting the artist’s desire to expand visual inquiry into the community world in which concepts grow to be actual actions. The Department suggests and supports the idealized concept of the purpose of the artist in modern society as one whose insights, thoughts, visuals, sensibilities, and talents may have substantial and transformative social effect on the global stage.

Thomas Winston, the author of this presentation, is acknowledged worldwide as a revolutionary artist, musician, teacher, and scholar in the area of media. His work has been displayed at galleries and museums around the world including Asia, Europe, and North America. He’s Assistant Professor of Media at American University in New York. His publications and associated web site have been implemented internationally as major academic texts in the field. He’s focused on the aesthetic, philosophical, and socio-cultural influence of new media in an progressively more scientific community.

We will also organize a performance of fellow artists describing a brief history of artists and artist-driven groups for the past century in the United States. Spoken word, music and songs, performance and much more. Will take place at the Redhat Theater in downtown LA.

NAAO will also give three awards to artists that have made a direct impact on the artist-driven industry. Although this won’t involve every person we know to deserves it, it’s a starting point. Will take place after the performance at Redhat.

The National Association of Artists Online [also known as NAAO] is a non-profit organization committed to assisting and improving artist-driven communities and groups. NAAO deals with the field’s continuing battle with problems concerning artists’ legal rights, business security, performing issues, as well as professional seclusion throughout all backgrounds and groups.

Come along for the 1012 annual NAAO convention of artist-friendly institutions and individual artists as we show, meet and discuss about 3 aspects, each connected with medical challenges: the individual artist, arts institutions and groups. This particular convention will provide nuts and bolts for artist success, pre-set panels on medical care for people, sustainability and succession for arts institutions as well as the wellness of our numerous groups throughout the United States.

Suitable for the promising and mid-career artist and arts or community change institution. Shows by regional artists, marketing possibilities and spreading of innovative ideas all in one spot!
Spring 2012 National Conference. April 26 – 29, in Los Angeles, California

NAAO is coordinating a nationwide convention for associates of artists’ institutions (workers and boards), arts funders, as well as related individual artists in Los Angeles, CA. The convention is meant to tackle the inner and outer problems we experience and to create and muster group feedback to these problems by supplying convening, contact, presence, and voice.

Taking the pulse of things at NAAO, we would state that we are well and still kickin’. More than simply reinvigorated by the fresh strength and vitality on the Board of Directors, we are energized by the forthcoming NAAO CONFERENCE to be held in Los Angeles, CA, April 27, 28, 29th, 2012! We will be discussing primarily health related issues! We are talkin’ nuts and bolts for artists, individual medical care endeavours, sustainable and healthy groups as well as healthy organizations. We’re going to meet at the Japanese Community Center with special attractions throughout Los Angeles. The name of the convention is VITALITY FOR ART.

All artists’ institutions (legally involved or otherwise) as well as other structured groups of artists (ensembles, businesses, collaboratives, cooperatives, web networks, etc.) are welcome to sign up for NAAO. All member groups will be added onto our list, and will have their groups’ internet sites linked from NAAO.NET.