Artists Needed for Software Jobs

Most artists aren't going into the field for the money. In fact, if you are, I don't know where you're getting your information, but get out, NOW! In all seriousness, though, there may be some hope in the artist job market. While artists are often forced to give up their artistic passions in order to eat, pay bills, etc., venture capitalist Mike Dodd has said that the companies he invests in need artists who can design an intuitive user interface, or UI as its called in the trade.

In the growing world of software and technology, artists act as the bridge between the tech-minded programmers (who write the software code) and the customer, who uses it. A partner at Austin Ventures, Dodd spoke at a venture capital panel held by the San Diego Venture Group last week, and stated that the user interface design for business and consumer software is just as important as the underlying software itself.

He spoke about the difficulties that software companies are facing in finding artists who are gifted at "explanation through design." Dodd said his company (and others like it) spend a lot of time looking for people right out of art school to place in UI-design positions.

So if you're an artist who thinks you could be good at designing software interfaces, you're in luck. Read more about Dodd's promising words of wisdom HERE.

"Art as Currency" : One Hospital's Unique Approach to Helping Artists Afford Medical Visits

While some nations (like France and Japan) sponsor programs that support "starving artists," the US isn't know for helping artists obtain affordable health care, and as the national health care crisis continues, "starving artists" (and "starving anyone" for that matter) are forced to live without insurance - and thus, without proper medical care.

But one hospital is taking health care assistance into its own hands. Brooklyn's Woodhull Medical Center has developed a unique way to help artists through its Artist Access Program. The hospital's program allows artists to use their own creativity as currency for medical services at Woodhull.

Program coordinator, Amy Duquette, recently discussed the program, stating,

"The artists provide a wide range of imaginative services. One artist, trained in yoga breathing and self-soothing, helps breast-cancer patients remain calm and centered while they are waiting to be seen. Others might read to pediatric patients in that waiting room. An actor might put on role-playing sessions for staff, helping them rehearse how to break bad news to ppatients and loved ones."

Uninsured patients at the Brooklyn public hospital pay a flat fee for doctor's visits (which include most lab work and x-rays). Artists earn 40 credits / hour of participation in the Artist Access Program, and just one hour of participation pays for two medical visits. By the end of 2008, over 400 artists had earned credit through the successful program - benefiting both the hospital and the artist patients.

The project coordinator also announced a new program that will include photographers taking pictures of newborns which will be given to the mother as a thank-you for choosing Woodhull Hospital.

It seems art and medicine are leading to some interesting and mutually beneficial collaborations at this Brooklyn hospital... hopefully other institutions will see the success of these programs and follow their lead!

Free Art Events around Manhattan

While NYC is arguably one of the world's most expensive cities to live in, there are always free events going on.

According to New York Magazine, here are the critics' picks for the free events happening in the next 7 days:

Anselm Reyle @ Gagosian Gallery (through Oct. 24)
Check out Reyle's flashy and ultra-shiny sculptures and wall works (image, left)

Candida Höfer @ Sonnabend (through April 17th)
The exhibition displays the artist's extensively detailed and voluptuously colored pictures that depict interiors, libraries and museums throughout Naples and Florence.

Eva Hesse @ Hauser and Wirth (through April 24th)
Fourteen of Hesse's gauzy sculptural fragments are currently on display (image below).


Fiona Rae @ PaceWildenstein (through May 1st)
The show includes Rae's whimsical large-scale oil and acrylic works (image below).

Milton Glaser @ James Cummins Bookseller (through April 24th)
On display are 40 original drawings, watercolors and giclee prints that represent the 50 + years of Glaser's contributions to the development of American design and illustration.

Tom Greenwood @ CUE Arts Foundation (through May 12th)
Go see Greenwood's first NYC solo gallery show, which exhibits the "fecund, hallucinogenic, magpie multimedia" artist's intricately drawn abstract and boldly colored CD covers (image, left).

Click here to check out the full list

A Dancer Dodges the "Starving Artist" Cliche

There is no doubt that artists of all types have a strong passion for their craft. After all, most artists do not hit it big or become rich and famous - but are so dedicated and devoted to the arts, that they choose to pursue their artistic passion regardless (hence the cliche term "starving artist").

The other day I read an interesting article - a blog post from a recent college grad - who received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in 2008. I really think this woman should become a life coach (not that she needs to add anymore onto her already piled-high plate), but her advice and story are impressive, and this 23/24 year-old artist definitely has her life together (even more than many non-artist adults I know)!


When graduating from college, finding a job (and adjusting to post-college "real life") is a scary experience, but for an artist, the combination of that stress, along with the current economy causing a huge lack of job opportunities and the knowledge that your skills / degree / passion as an artist will not exactly allow you to rack in the big bucks are even more overwhelming. How, then can a modern day artist balance paying the bills with remaining sane, and focusing on their art?

We can all relax, as the 2008 BFA Modern Dance graduate has a few simple strategies to share with us. She refers to "pay-the-bills jobs" as PBJ and discusses her day-to-day life of pursuing her dancing passion with several dancing gigs in NYC, while also working at her PBJ - oh, not to mention that she's also started her own company.

The multi-tasking dancer works at her hum-drum secretarial PBJ three times a week, several hours a day and takes on freelance jobs, which allow her to remain flexible and run her company outside of work as well as dance in the various companies she's part of and still pay the bills.
While the dancer is attempting to transition into a PBJ that may provide her with skills that could be useful to her art or the running of her company, she understands the importance of remaining realistic and reveals some impressive - yet practical tips for how artists can balance their lives.

The dancer advises:

1. Take care of business: Get a job so that you can pursue your artistic career. If you do not, you will find yourself in a sticky situation.

2. Don't let your PBJ dictate your life, but don't be so picky that no one will hire you because you don't work such-and-such hours

3. Be patient, things will come with time and diligence

4. Just because you have a PBJ, doesn't mean that you are not a "real artist," it's just one of the many hats you wear throughout the day

5. Make time for yourself

6. Make time for your art

Nava Lubelski's Guide to Creating Cheap Art

Visual artist Nava Lubelski is the author of The Starving Artist’s Way, a how-to guide to creating easy artistic projects on a tight-budget. Lubelski grew up in Soho as the child of Starving Artists and now lives in artist / hipster haven, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Lubelski’s book is unique in that it not only teaches how to craft a variety of artistic projects (see below), but also because it’s intended for artists AND non-artists of all ages – and offers interesting alternatives to typical arts and crafts projects.

Furthermore, art-enthusiasts will enjoy the added plus of Lubelski’s side notes on art movements and other aspects of art history (this is also a good way for parents to subtly educate their children on culture and art).

The Starving Artist’s Way is divided into five sections, with instructions on dozens of projects per category. Read some highlights below:

Recipes – Learn to make Coffee Granita from leftover breakfast coffee, plus giant lemon gummy bears, at-home absinthe and instant Japanese Soup. YUM!

Clothing / Wearables – These eclectic crafts include old sweater slippers (cozy), fashionable double braided belts, duct tape wallets and a “found object charm bracelet.”

Furniture – Travel back to the 1960s and create a Pop Art Tomato Table that Andy Warhol would be proud of (see image, left)

Special Events – Forget about spending money on a party planner, florist or caterer. Make your next event a DIY fiesta by baking a Paul Klee Edible Mosaic Cake and crafting rows of duck candles and deco paper flowers that guests will enjoy (see image, below)

Houseware – Some interesting activities include how-to make a “Seven Years Bad Luck” mirror, Dada photo frame and detergent bottle wall sconce (see image, below)

I’m inspired already (and kind of craving that instant Japanese Soup on this chilly February day)…

There's lots to do in Williamsburg, click here to see what's going on.

New Hampshire's "Starving Artist" Collective

"The Starving Artist" is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving artists and art-lovers through performances, lectures, workshops and a gallery. Founded by writer / director / filmmaker, Aaron Wiederspahn along with his wife, Keri and Laina Barakat, the collective is based in Keene, New Hampshire.

The gallery changes its exhibition each month, with self-taught Russian immigrant, Lee Filmanov's work on display through January (to recognize and celebrate the life of the recently deceased artist). This month's events include a dance workshop, knitting circle, figure drawing model swap and a writers workshop (among others). The events are cheap (this month's are $5 and under) and seem to offer something for everyone.


Membership to "The Starving Artist" ranges from a pretty thrifty $30 / year (for students) to $75 / year (for couples and families), and benefits include a "starving artist" mug, 10% discount on regular classes, free admission to members only events and parties, automatic electronic updates and a schedule of events and classes, the opportunity to display personal art links and network on the Starving Artist Website, priority registration to all special events, classes, workshops and priority ticketing to limited seating events.

Click here for a guide to New Hampshire's art galleries

Click here to check out various the various non-profit art venues around the US

From Starving Artist to Successful Entrepreneur

A Chicago-based program called the Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship will seek to eliminate the "starving artist" stereotype by teaching artists how to become successful entrepreneurs. The program, which is set to launch in September 2010, contains a two-year curriculum combining experimental learning, mentorship and a personalized classroom environment. Another feature, which seems to be especially useful, is the curriculum's inclusion of vital one-on-one time with faculty (who are successful artist-entrepreneurs).

Lisa Canning, a 25-year business veteran and artistic entrepreneur, founded the Institute and states,

"There is simply no reason whatsoever that artists cannot be relevant and earn a living. And now, more than ever, society is not only willing but must innovate ... The arts hold many key ingredients that can help fuel economic growth. The time has come for artists to financially benefit from what the world now most needs--their creativity."

To read the entire article associated with this post, click here.

For more information about the school, click here.

For a free "Starving Artist" button, click here.