Call to Artists: Collage & Illustration – The Awakening

A four-week, virtual/online residency with Kolaj Institute in October 2022
Deadline to apply: Sunday, August 28, 2022

During this project-driven residency, artists will collectively produce a series of collages that illustrate Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel, The Awakening. As a group, artists will analyze the story, discuss themes, uncover symbols, ask questions, and visually interpret the text for a 21st century audience. 

The Awakening focuses on Edna Pontellier, an upper-class New Orleans woman, torn between expectations and desires. In the beginning of the novel Edna appears to live in a semi-conscious state, trapped in the mundane aspects of her life. As the story evolves, she encounters new people and experiences that create an awakening shift within her. Edna begins to view her world differently, and through this lens new relationships emerge while others become strained. In the end, Edna realizes that even if she has her own desires she is still trapped by her societal role.

The Awakening touches on 19th century feminist, identity, and societal themes that are still relevant today, such as;  What does it mean to be a woman? What are the expectations that society puts upon women? Are we bound to what we are born into? What does it mean to transform? What does patriarchy look like in 2022? 

Nancy Bernardo will lead the residency, facilitating the discussion of Chopin’s book. and speak about collage as illustration and how collage artists can engage with the marketplace for illustration. Christopher Kurts will serve as art director for this project and facilitate the collaboration. Heather Ryan Kelley will speak about “The Midden Heap Project” in which she made a collage response to each page of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. Wylie Garcia will lead a discussion on the symbology and foreshadowing present in the book. 

Working digitally will be integral to the collaborative process but will not be a prerequisite for acceptance into the residency. We will speak about strategies for adapting your analog process to working digitally as well as what free and available resources exist. We also ask that artists who are already capable of using digital tools for collage support the artists who are learning new skills during the residency. For artists who plan to work with a hybrid analog/digital process, access to a scanner is invaluable.

RESIDENCY LOGISTICS

Dates: October 1 – November 2, 2022

SESSION DATES
Sunday, October 2nd, 1-2PM EST
Wednesday, October 5th, 4-6PM EST 
Wednesday, October 12th, 4-6PM EST
Wednesday, October 19th, 4-6PM EST
Wednesday, October 26th, 4-6PM EST

The residency will begin with an invitation to join the Slack workspace on Saturday, October 1st, followed by a one hour, online Meet & Greet on Sunday, October 2nd, 1-2PM EST. 

The Introduction and Orientation session will take place on Wednesday, October 5th, 4-6PM EST. 

Two sessions with guest speakers are scheduled for Wednesday, October 12th, and Wednesday, October 19th from 4-6PM EST. 

The final session will take place on Wednesday, October 26th, 4-6PM EST. The final deadline to complete the illustrations will be Wednesday, November 2nd. 

Artists are expected to attend all scheduled sessions and complete assignments. The group will individually and collectively produce a series of collage illustrations. By participation in the residency, artists grant Kolaj Institute, Kolaj Magazine, and Maison Kasini permission to publish the images in book form and in the promotion of the project and book. Any original work made during the residency remains the property of the individual artists with all rights retained.