Mentorship Program

About the Project

Where: Seattle / Tacoma / Portland
When: Fall 2018
Connect: artisttrust.org / allisonbishins.com / cowlitz.org

10 emerging artists were selected to participate in our training program to develop new work for the yəhaw̓ exhibition under the guidance of a mentor artist. Mentor artists developed their own curriculum and each worked intensively with a small cohort of mentees in Portland, Tacoma, and Seattle respectively. The program included group critiques and additional professional development activities.

As an extension of the mentorship cohorts, and in response to the desire for additional capacity building opportunities for our broader collective, we expanded the mentorship program to include a series of free workshops. Artist Trust provided professional development classes on Artist Statements and Biographies, Resumes and Budgets, Applying for Grants, and Work Samples Dos and Don'ts. Allison Bishins Consulting also taught a free class on Social Media Marketing. Cowlitz Tribal Health therapist Karen Lizzy (Ojibwe) provided a class on healthy strategies for dealing with rejection, through a cultural lens.

Seattle Cohort

Crystal Christopherson, Randi Purser, Jennifer Wood

Tacoma Cohort

Priscilla Dobler, Paige Pettibon, Lisa Fruichantie, Catherine Cross-Uehara

Portland Cohort

Asa Wright, Kanani Miyamoto, Stephanie Fogel

Case Study: RYAN! Feddersen’s Tacoma Cohort

The Tacoma Cohort’s Mentorship Program used peer-to-peer interactions to support critical exchange and provided learning opportunities that arose from conversation and demonstration. At the first session, artists were asked to prepare a presentation on their work, to consider as a group the story of yəhaw̓, and to discuss how to support its themes in a variety of capacities. In the second meeting, artists brought initial artwork concepts to present and discuss with the group. We talked about logistics, concepts, materials, themes, installation, and timelines for execution. At the third and final meeting, artists shared a meal while discussing their progress on their individual projects. Artists were asked to bring an artist statement for their proposed work. They received a basic template that asked the artists to describe the work, share inspirations and influences, and to convey the goals for the project. Each artist read their statement, and as a group, we workshopped the statements for clarity, flow, and grammar. We concluded with a discussion on arts funding and professional practice. Overall the mentorship sessions were an inspiring way to exchange knowledge and network. All artists attended each session and came ready to share information on their projects and constructive feedback with each other.

From the Artists

I think the best part about the mentorship for me, was being able to meet and build a friendship and connection with these other artists. That’s something that would have never happened on its own. I love how we can go to each other for support and learn together.

- Crystal Christopherson (Tlingit)

As an emerging artist, yəhaw̓’s Mentorship Program was beneficial for my artistic growth and allowed me the opportunity to engage with other women artists of my community. The dialogues during meetings provided excellent feedback and Ryan was very knowledgeable in helping revise artist statements and creating an environment for us to learn.

- Priscilla Dobler (Mayan)

Mentorship Program Artist Presentations

Saturday, August 3, 2019
King Street Station, Top Floor, Conference Room

As part of the yәhaw̓ closing weekend, members of the Mentorship Training Program gave public talks at King Street Station about their artistic practices and discussed experiences in their respective program cohorts in Seattle, Tacoma, or Portland, followed by Q and A. Presentations were given by Crystal Christopherson (Tlingit), Jennifer Angaiak Wood (Yup'ik), Catherine Cross Uehara (Uchinanchu / Hapa / Okinawan American), Paige Pettibon (Salish), Asa Wright (Klamath / Chickasaw), and Kanani Miyamoto (Hawaiian).

Videos Produced / Directed: Raven Two Feathers
Camera: Rey Betz
Additional Camera: Skala Leake
Audio: Jonny Cechony
Editing: Max Forrester