Big Apple beckons Yarraville artist
Painter and drawer Erika Gofton, winner of the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery's 2012 Artist Travel Award, will be undertaking a month-long residency at Point B Worklodge in Williamsburg, New York's hip artist heartland.
"It's a loft studio facility in New York for international artists. You live and work on site throughout the residency," says Gofton, who will also take part in mentoring sessions with renowned figurative painter Alyssa Monks and join in the New York Studio School's 'drawing marathon'.
"The marathon is intense; it's about challenging how you approach drawing, coming from a physical and intellectual practice.
"It will push me outside what I'm used to, which is what I'm looking for."
Gofton teaches drawing at the Victorian College of the Arts, and is involved with programs at Newport's Substation.
"I'm predominantly a painter but drawing is a strong part of my practice. I also run the Art Room in the Cotton Mills in Footscray, so it's about me developing my own work but also bringing something back to people as well."
Toyota public affairs manager Katarina Persic said Gofton was a worthy winner.
She will wrap up her trip visiting galleries in New York and London, collecting inspiration for new works for an exhibition later this year. She will hit the ground running when she returns, holding a drawing intensive at the Substation.
Read the story here from the Maribyrnong & Hobsons Weekly
Toyota Australia congratulates Erika Gofton, recipient of the $10,000 Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award 2012
Erika is congratulated by Toyota Australia President, Max Yasuda
Erika plans to partake in a residency at Point B Worklodge in New York City along with research and development of new works for exhibition in 2014 including visits to galleries in New York and London. She will also attend mentoring sessions with artist Alyssa Monks and participate in the Drawing Marathon at The New York Studio School which will form the basis of future drawing workshops at The Substation in Hobson’s Bay in 2013.
Finalists Annnounced for the 2012 Toyota Artist Travel Award
Artists selected as finalists for this years award are: Santina Amato, Mimi Dennett, Erika Gofton, Melanie Irwin and Sabina Maselli.
The award invites artists to conceive a project involving travel either interstate or overseas that they believe has the potential to significantly enhance the development of their artistic career. A $2000 Highly Commended Award will also be presented to one of the finalists.
The winner will be announced at the opening of the 2012 Annual indoor outdoor sculpture exhibition on 27th November. For more details about the announcement Download invitation here
The following projects are proposed:
Santina Amato
My proposed travel project is to spend a month in New York completing a work I began during my recent time as artist in residence at NARS Foundation, followed by a week in Venice, Italy visiting the 55th Venice Biennale. My project will end undertaking a three week residency program at the Hungarian Multicultural Center in Budapest, Hungary, working in collaboration with Hungarian artist Anna Tihanyi.
Mimi Dennett
To spend two months in England to undertake a sculpture workshop at St Martins College London, England. To take up opportunities offered by curators at a recent exhibition in Bath, England 2012. To visit Galleries and Museums to research British artists who have inspired my work. These activities will develop and consolidate my art practice forming a basis for my next body of work.
Erika Gofton
A residency at Point B Worklodge in New York City. Research and develop new works for exhibition in 2014. Visit Galleries in New York and London. Mentoring sessions with artist Alyssa Monks and participation in Drawing Marathon at The New
York Studio School that will form the basis of future drawing workshops at The Substation in Hobson’s Bay in 2013.
Melanie Irwin
Picture Berlin: A 5 week residency in Berlin in July-August 2013, including mentoring from internationally practicing artists and freelance curators, lectures, group critiques, studio visits, German language lessons and two group exhibitions. The residency is a direct-access introduction for participants into the Berlin art scene and would provide me the opportunity to launch my career.
Sabina Maselli
To develop a series of moving image works investigating the projection of images onto natural elements, employing materials found in a particular environment, through residencies in Indonesia, Iceland and Germany. This 12-week project would allow me to explore unique and contrasting landscapes, create international networks and exposure, and develop a significant body of work for exhibiting in Australia
2012 Applications have now closed
We are pleased to advise that applications for the $10,000 Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award for 2012 are now open. The Award is open to all previous exhibitors in the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery program.
The Travel Award winning artist will receive $10,000 to assist in funding their proposed travel project. A $2000 Encouragement Award will also be made to one of the short-listed artists. You may propose any type of travel project that you believe has strong potential to significantly enhance you career development.
Applications close 28 September 2012.
You must download both the Travel Award Information for Applicants and the Travel Award Application document.
Travel Award Information for Applicants (pdf 209KB)
Travel Award Application (word 276KB)
If you have any problems downloading these, please contact us
