Lecture Notes: Guest Speaker Karen Atkinson

Introduction

• Speaker: Karen Atkinson
• Host: Ashley Taylor, Instructor at University of Central Florida
• Key Roles: Artist, Curator, Non-profit Founder, Business Owner
• Notable Projects: Side Street Projects, Getting Your Shit Together (GYST)

Presentation Overview

• Focus on helping artists manage their careers
• Discussion on "Getting Your Shit Together" for artists
• Emphasis on unconventional career paths
• Includes Q&A session

Key Points from Karen Atkinson

The Philosophy of GYST

• GYST: An artist project, not just a business
• Artists running businesses as an art practice
• Importance of self-validation outside traditional art world gatekeepers

Project Longevity

• Side Street Projects sustained for over 25 years
• Importance of generational transition in art projects

Current Challenges for Artists

• Artists are sequestered due to current events
• Opportunity to rethink artistic conventions
• Encouragement to thwart conventional artistry

10 Steps to "Get Your Shit Together" as an Artist

1. Planning Ahead

• Envision your artist fantasy and lifetime goals
• Write your own obituary to focus on lifetime accomplishments

2. Flexibility and Adaptation

• Be ready to change plans quickly
• Current situation disrupts planned events
• Use the time to define personal goals

3. Organizational Tips

• Weekly art-making routine
• Regular staff meetings with yourself to assess progress
• Keep organized digital records of artworks and artist statements

4. Engaging with the Art World

• Know more than your dealers/curators
• Avoid making art purely to please galleries
• Send quarterly newsletters to maintain connections

5. Networking and Collaboration

• Network and propose new ideas
• Use unconventional methods for studio visits and critiques
• Engage with supportive and like-minded individuals

6. Documentation and Presentation

• Document work thoroughly and professionally
• Develop a robust CV and online presence
• Organize files to easily find necessary documents

7. Rejections and Applications

• Embrace rejections as a sign of effort
• Reapply to opportunities; persistence is key
• Seek feedback on application failures

Insights on Funding for Artists

Grants vs. Fellowships

• Fellowships: Typically associated with organizations, flexible in research scope
• Grants: Specific criteria and outcomes, require detailed budgets

Alternative Spaces and Exhibitions

• Use non-traditional spaces for exhibitions (e.g., homes, public spaces)
• Examples include parking meters projects and site-specific installations

Avoiding Scams

• Be cautious of pay-to-play or vanity galleries
• Invest time with people and organizations that genuinely support artists

Encouragement for Emerging Artists

• Stay informed and proactive in skills development
• Utilize available resources and networks to build an art career

Importance of Artist Statements

• Crucial for applications and conveying artistic intent
• Must accurately reflect the artist's work and vision

Audience Q&A Highlights

• Ways to change audience by connecting with like-minded individuals
• Importance of finding a personal art style or "signature"
• Impact of artist statements in the professional art world
• Encouragement to have fun and be creative during challenges

Conclusion

• Karen Atkinson stresses the importance of creativity, organization, and proactive career management
• Final advice to artists: create culture, challenge norms, and kick ass in the art world