“I am still amazed by all I was able to do as an Art in Embassies exchange artist, in Kyiv… in a single week. Every time someone asks about my experience I remember another wonderful detail. I am anxious to see how the people I met, the topics we discussed, and the landmarks, galleries, museums, and schools I visited, will combine and manifest themselves in my next body of work.”
“In general my research revealed the vital importance in the link between the cultural practices of indigenous artisan weavers and wood carvers [whose] work expresses the wonders of nature and the natural world to those actively working to preserve it. Clean waters, flora, fauna and marine life will be represented and pictured in my work of art.”
“On Friday March 24th, after a long, grueling day of completing the installation, and even though I had to be at the airport at 5:15 am the next morning, filled with the hope of watching giant leatherback sea turtles lay eggs, I took a late-night excursion to one of the Surinamese shores and had the privilege to bear witness to this magical and ritualized yet skillful process. It is not (well) known how leatherback turtles continue to survive their long journeys between where they feed and where they lay their eggs. The life of the artist is also about navigation. It is not clear how or why we choose to do what we do over the course of a lifetime, but we, as the leatherback turtles, make the journey over and over again. It is the travel, metaphorical speaking, that keeps us afloat.”
In September of 2016, artist Courtney Leonard traveled to Switzerland, to conduct a two day exchange program in coordination with the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, where Ambassador Keith M. Harper was serving as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“I came to Zimbabwe to research the languages of Zimbabwe and learn about the culture and African philosophy.”
“Hopefully, through my art and sharing my process and the ideas that I contemplate when making my work about understanding materials and concepts of sustainability, I connected with some kindred spirits and inspired others to begin to take these concepts into consideration in their own art making processes. Sustainability and caring for our environment and the world and planet on which we live extend beyond all borders and our future care of the earth will determine our ability to survive on the planet.”
“Art has no walls.. by traveling to Benin, and meeting with local artists.. sharing our art and art making- processes we were able to transcend language, find common ground and discover that our lives and goals were not so different.”
“As a full time working faculty member at Denison University and a full time gallery artist…the hours I have in a week to myself are extremely limited. I feel like the days spent in Prague and Pilsen were worth the time spent away from my daily schedule. To see and understand the Czech artists and burgeoning art scene have left an impression, and hopefully will create opportunities for my students in the future.”
In March of 2016, artist Catherine Opie and Philip Taaffe traveled to Madrid to speak to and engage with Spanish art students and art professionals about their work, and their artistic connection to Spain.
In March of 2016, artist Catherine Opie and Philip Taaffe traveled to Madrid to speak to and engage with Spanish art students and art professionals about their work, and their artistic connection to Spain.
“Facts, pedagogy, mythologies, policies can be readily found and shared over the internet, but the unexpected occurs when people come face to face. I went to Riga with much curiosity. I left Riga wanting to return and further engage with people there.”
“In May of 2016 I was lucky to find myself in Paramaribo, Suriname, following an invitation by the U.S. State Department, to come – see – meet – learn and explore. The sheer vastness of the Suriname Rain Forest with its thousands of tree and plant species including important medicinal herbs and plants, 674 species of birds, 130 species of reptiles, and 200 species of mammals, has the greatest percentage of remaining forest cover than any country in this hemisphere, contributing to a unique, indigenous and multi-cultural amalgamation of peoples and religions. These discoveries informed and became the inspiration for my series of Rain Paintings captured with Surinamese rain…”
“I found it fascinating to see up close how positive the role of the American Embassy can be and found that it was all I could have hoped for.”
“First of all it was an honor to be asked by the U.S. Ambassador to have one of my sculptures. I am truly appreciative of that. Second it has opened my eyes and broadened my horizons for making positive contributions and interaction with other artists around the planet. The more we exchange ideas, the closer we can rely on and trust each other. To realize this first hand is a gift.”
Washington’s THEARC (Town Hall Education, Arts Recreation Campus) hosted its 7th Annual Community Open House with special guest, renowned visual artist and dancer, Nick Cave, Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 5:30 – 7:30pm. In partnership with Art in Embassies (AIE), U.S. Department of State, celebrating its 50th anniversary, this event featured a special Artist Exchange […]
Sackler Gallery and Arts in Embassies Presented Artist Cai Guo-Qiang’s “Explosion Event” Nov. 30, 2012 Chinese-born artist Cai Guo-Qiang staged one of his remarkable “explosion events,” a thrilling combination of pyrotechnics, artistry and optical illusion in four dimensions Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. The event was presented by the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Art […]
“The first step in understanding a diverse culture is taken through language. When we meet people from other cultures their new language is like music. We may not understand the meaning but we can hear the rhythm of speech. Rather than focus on our lack of understanding we should revel in the rhythmic poetry of the other. The moment we encounter a new language can be transformed by the wonder of a diverse culture. This is a discovery and exploration of diverse cultures through the rhythm of language. Knowing cultural diversity begins first with language.”
Today I went to meet the curators of the zoological collection at Anton de Kom University. Great visit with yet another set of absolutely delightful, charming and kind people. And generous with their time to allow me to take photos of bugs and spiders and butterflies, when I know they have much else that needs doing.
“Seeding friendships and future opportunities to share my work and collaborate on exhibitions and talks in the future. The overall experience affirmed my purpose as an artist.”
