The Connect International Residency
It all begins with an idea. Apply. Attend. Create.
Founded by Hollie Davis
Cohort 3
Cohort 3 had artists from Chicago and all over the country. Our guest speakers included curators, gallery owners, journalists. The opening was at The Beverly Arts Center in July of 2023.
We back! Meet the second class of the highly competitive Connect Residency!
Opening reception was 11/4/2o22 at Hairpin Arts Center 2810 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Exhibiting Artists
Emmanuel Eweje (Cohort 1 Nigeria)
Rachel Ahava Rosenfeld Dlatt (Connect Fellow)
Sunshine Soleda
DeJa Jovon
King Kiba Key
Ana Kim
Absurd9
Alesandra Caroline
Jackie Saepoff
Damilola Shobowale
Adam Polak
Monica Brown
Tori Stewart
Sequoya Hayes
The Pioneers.
Meet the first cohort!
The Connect Residency is an international program meeting virtually with exhibits at partner galleries.The opening receptions happen approximately twice a year The program invited the participants to create a new project or innovate an existing project.
It entailes 4 virtual meetings between all International and local Residents under moderation by founder Hollie Davis.
What is the time commitment? two hours once a week for four weeks.
In this way, the Resident can develop their project, expose it, share their concerns, and thus receive returns that they can use to promote and direct their creations. There will also be guest speakers to expand the artists’ networks in Chicago and beyond. Speakers included;
Gary Higgins Artist, Associate Curator Industrious Studios 215 Park Ave. S. NYC NY. 10003, Interior Designer, Stylist USA IG @artistgaryhiggins
Gerald Griffin founder and owner Bordeau- Griffin Design Center 2233 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608 USA Gerald Griffin (geraldgriffingallery.com)
Daren Todd Artist and curator The Downstairs Gallery 124 SW Yamhill St. Portland Oregon 96204 USA
Home | The Downstairs (thedownstairspdx.com)
Sheilah Wilson Professor/Chair Studio Art and Photographer Denison University Sheilah (Wilson) ReStack | Faculty & Staff | Denison University
Raymond Thomas emmy award winning filmmaker, nationally renown artist, community activist and youth leader.
Mama Nike owner of the largest collection of art in Africa
Mechi Purreydon founder Mango Residencia Argentina
At the end of the residency artists will display artwork created during the residency at a gallery in Chicago or another city.
Eligibility
Artists working in 2D media
Fluency in written and spoken english
Artists from either be from the Chicagoland area or outside the U.S. Artists responsible for having work ready to hang and/or directions for installation Artists responsible for shipping or dropping off artwork to agreed upon address
CONNECT Residency FAQ
Who can apply to this program?
Visual artists of all nationalities who wish to use this program as their creation / research space over the age of 18. Half the artists will be from the Chicagoland area and the other from any country outside the U.S.Bear in mind that the language that we will use in the meetings is English.
Creative, dynamic, personable, hardworking
Meet The first cohort of the Connect Residency
Braimah Lawal
Braimah Lawal is an artist based in Chicago of Nigerian and Ghanain descent. His work is gestural but specific in location. Lawal richly captures the everyday life native to his heritage.
Rachel Ahava Rosenfeld
Rachel Ahava Rosenfeld is an artist living in Chicago. Rosenfeld earned her Master’s of Fine Arts from Washington University and her work focuses on memory and the idea of the sharing of memories. She paints in acrylic create collage like elements with photos from the past.
Jimmy Redmond Jimmy Redmond is a sculptor based in Chicago. He focuses on metal work sculpture that is inspired by anime and action entertainment. He is looking to create a universe with these innovative sculptures and drawings.
Tom White
Tom White is an artist from Omaha, NE, working and living in Chicago. Coming out of pen and ink line drawings, he uses color to create interesting surrealist digital illustrations of his surroundings.
Gamze Konca
Gamze Konca works in Architecture and design in Istanbul, Turkey. As an artist she is skilled in multiple media including photography, video art, and painting. She focuses on creating her own universe. Her minimal shapes make dramatic shapes and silhouettes.
Gabriel Porto Loew
Gabriel Porto Loew is based in Sao Paulo Brazil and studied art there. He creates emotion-charged paintings. His haunting color palettes and subtle uses of value create powerful portraits.
Emmanuel Eweje
Emmanuel Eweje is based in Lagos, Nigeria. He combines sewing and painting to create portraits that commemorate and elevate his subjects. His use of color often conveys mood and feeling. Fiber arts have a rich history in Nigeria. It is exciting to have his mix-media work in the states at a time where fiber arts are trending in the American art world.
—HE COMBINES THREAD AND PAINT
Amelia Paige is an American studying photography in Paris. She specializes in still life film photography. Her work captures the presence of people without them physically being present. Through their possessions she captures a representation of her subjects through their belongings.
FAQ
CONNECT Residency FAQ
Who can apply to this program?
Visual artists of all nationalities who wish to use this program as their creation / research space over the age of 18. Half the artists will be from the Chicagoland area and the other from any country outside the U.S. (this will change for future cohorts) Bear in mind that the language that we will use in the meetings is English.
On what date will the next Online Cultural Exchange Residency take place? 1st session: March 7th., 2022 Google meet 1200-200 Central Standard Time 2nd session:March 13th., 2022 Google meet 1200-200 Central Standard Time 3rd (final) session: March 27th., 2022 Google meet 1200-200 Central Standard Time