For Immediate Release 19 June 2008
contact: ATLartgrant@gmail.com
Allison Rentz Receives New Artist Grant
Atlanta, GA—Idea Capital announced today that conceptual and performance artist Allison Rentz has won the group's inaugural Idea Capital Artist Grant. Idea Capital is a new grassroots initiative established to help jump start Atlanta-based, artist-initiated projects that might not otherwise be supported through mainstream arts institutions.
Ms. Rentz will receive the inaugural $500 prize to support a new work titled "Pool." The artist describes the work as a multi-media "immersive world" in which invited "art students, architects, artists, designers, musicians, and chefs" will engage in a total sensory installation that "lives in and out of the water." The work will also include a video projection and scripted audience participation.
Several Idea Capital organizers cited Rentz's unconventional, edgy performance work as the kind of art they had hoped to support with this grant. "Allison Rentz is a visual and performance artist who hurtles herself into any project that she undertakes, and who welcomes and embraces risk," said co-founder Louise Shaw. Another co-founder, Pam Rogers, cited the artist's "commitment and spirit" as characteristics consonant with Idea Capital's mission. "We are excited about Ms. Rentz's passion and feel the ideas she expressed in her submission will be enhanced with this grant," said Rogers.
Rentz also expressed her gratitude for the grant. "I'd like to say how thrilled I am to be the first recipient of the Idea Capital grant," Ms. Rentz said. "I am excited to receive support for my non-commercial idea that would have been difficult to produce without Idea Capital's support."
Idea Capital founders and organizers intend to grow the grant in the future and plan to continue supporting non-commercial art that might not otherwise find funding. "Our investment in Rentz's idea hopefully sets the stage for future artist support across the spectrum of art activity and innovative production in Atlanta," said Louise Shaw. The group hopes to change the climate of arts funding in the city, allowing more support for riskier work. "It was important to make a statement from the beginning," said co-founder Cinqué Hicks. "As the program grows, we want it to be known that experimental, investigative art is supported in Atlanta."
Allison Rentz is likewise excited about what the grant may mean for the future, seeing in her grant the beginning of a trend among Atlanta art patrons. "I foresee many other arts lovers getting energized about pooling their money to fund art projects," said the artist. More people in the community should 'Just Do It!'"
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About Idea Capital:
Idea Capital's founders are Susan Todd-Raque, Stuart Keeler, Pam Rogers, Louise Shaw, and Cinqué Hicks. The group was founded to encourage experimentation and investigation with funds designed to give artists permission to pursue new ideas. Idea Capital encourages new members to join the organization.
About Allison Rentz:
Allison Rentz is an Atlanta based performance and conceptual artist. A graduate of UGA, Rentz has exhibited work at Eyedrum, Spruill Gallery, Downtown Arts Center (Lexington, KY), Polvo Art Studio (Chicago), and at venues in Beziers, France; Lecce, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain. She is also the founder of her own country, "Artempeerealism."
Contact: art@allisonrentz.com, 404-583-0768, www.allisonrentz.com
About Idea Capital Founders:
Susan Todd-Raque is a former educator and current curator, collection consultant, and artist representative (for Sylvia Plachy, William Boling, John McWilliams, and Jerry Siegel). She is also a co-founder of Atlanta Celebrates Photography.
Stuart Keeler is an artist of public spaces with an interest in examining curatorial constructs in developing a stronger link to the production of art in the public realm. Recent projects include: Rauschenberg Foundation NYC; Service Works, Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, San Francisco; Interiority, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago; i.e. 1A-Hong Kong, Republic of China; and A (new) Genre Landscape, Atlanta, GA.
Pam Rogers is an Atlanta based artist, curator, and educator. Previously working as Curator for the Jewett Art Center of Wellesley College and teaching in the Boston area, Pam relocated to Atlanta 2 years ago and is currently focusing on her studio practice and curating local exhibitions.
Louise E. Shaw has been a cultural worker in Atlanta for over 30 years. She is currently the Curator of the Global Health Odyssey Museum at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cinqué Hicks is an artist, writer, and cultural code reader who relocated to Atlanta 2 years ago. He engages in independent curating projects and publications, and writes art criticism for Creative.
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