Critical Mass for the Visual Arts is a nonprofit, self-formed visual arts collaborative dedicated to promoting, enhancing and initiating contemporary visual art in the St. Louis region.
Latest:
5 Questions on the Road (Memphis, TN) – Mary Jo Karimnia and Crosstown Arts
Join 5 Questions on the Road in Memphis, TN as we interview artist and administrator Mary Jo Karimnia of Crosstown Arts. We’re using this On the Road episode of 5 Questions to see how arts communities flourish and build in other cities, not too dissimilar from our own. The idea here is to see if we can glean some good ideas and best practices for our own use, and to give local artists an idea of what’s happening in residencies and programs outside of the St. Louis area. Mary Jo is a Memphis-based artist and arts administrator working in varied media and disciplines including seed beads, printmaking, photography, origami, embroidery and installation. Her work often addresses a communal self, built from individualistic units. Her contemplative practice is steeped in high craft and the feminine, and results in work that is subversive, mysterious and thoughtful. She shows regularly in Memphis, Dallas, and Bolivia. Karimnia is the Residency Coordinator for Crosstown Arts. She has worked with Crosstown Arts in various capacities through the redevelopment of the Crosstown Concourse building (formerly a Sears warehouse and distribution center), which opened in January of 2017. Crosstown Arts hosts up to 16 multi-disciplinary residents at a time for 20 day, 3 month, and 10 month stays. The residency offers live space, private studio space, meals five days per week and free access to a shared art-making workspace.
Announcing the 2018 Creative Stimulus Awardees- Edo Rosenblith, Yvonne Osei, and Steph Zimmerman
Critical Mass for the Visual Arts is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th annual Creative Stimulus Award. This year’s selected artists are Edo Rosenblith, Yvonne Osei and Steph Zimmerman! Creative Stimulus awards unrestricted funding to support artists to pursue special projects, experiment with new techniques, and deepen their understanding of their working processes. Each artist will receive an award of $1,500 for their use as creative operating capital along with the opportunity to present their work in an exhibition in 2019. The artists were selected by a jury from over 25 St. Louis-area visual artists who applied for this award, which recognizes artists for their outstanding work and commitment to developing their careers.
