Warhol Foundation Initiative: The Idea Fund Meets 'Second Seating'

January 6, 2009 is a very good day. I'm back in my own house, my eyes did not open until nearly 10:00 a.m., body and soul are rested from hours and hours of sleep. And that is only the context for this very good day. At 10:15, I returned a call from Diverse Works and learned that I am one of ten Houston artists to receive The Idea Fund grant made possible by a Warhol Foundation Initiative. Happy new year!

I have to say that receiving this grant just gave my whole psyche a boost. A really big boost. There is something so important about having others believe in your idea and frankly, 'its worthiness'. And 'Second Seating' now has a terrific credential that will make it so much easier for me to gather additional funding from East End businesses and private underwriters.

Thank you, Diverse Works, Aurora Picture Show and Project Row Houses for selecting 'Second Seating.' It was one of over 100 applications and one of ten 'winners.' Thanks for 'seeing' that 'Second Seating' works on several different levels: as art, as community building and as promotion for an old urban neighborhood and its industries.

After hearing about the other winner's projects, I 'see' that each of theirs will also work on several levels. 'Second Seating' is in good company.

This week I am moving 'stuff' for 'Second Seating' into large studio space - meaning that it's just about the size of Irma's exhibition space - so that I can begin the real work of manifesting these tables and chandeliers and scrims/tablecloths. This studio space is another really big gift for this project. I knew when I asked and the answer was yes that 'Second Seating' was meant to be.

So, tomorrow morning I have an appointment with another potential funder. I'll have lots to talk about. The Warhol Foundation may just be the magic words that will make this a project with which they want to be involved, even with layoffs and economic tough times. That will certainly be the hope.

I'm off to Irma's for a late lunch and a look at the tables and chairs that she's collected to see if any can be used for 'Second Seating.' If so, I'll add them into the inventory at the studio on Harrisburg. Which, by the way, needs a name. No, not the actual name of the building or owner, but a 'Second Seating' name.


And later this month, Irma and I will drive to South Texas to talk about tin can chandeliers and table top ideas with Jose Solis and Teodora Estrada, two artists who'll be joining this project. Above is a tin can piece Jose made years ago that I bought for the Greater East End Management District. Call it it sun and an apt visual for the district's tag line, "The New Day Begins.'

It's also time to get back with Jesse Sifuentes, an East End muralist who'll be a part of 'Second Seating'. I believe The Idea Fund grant will make 'Second Seating' more real to these three artists and that we will now begin work in earnest.

Back to The Idea Fund. Here's what the Aurora Picture Show's website says about it:

"Through the Warhol Foundation Initiative, Aurora Picture Show, DiverseWorks and Project Row Houses have come together to support art at its source by providing direct grants to artists. The Idea Fund recognizes that Houston is home to a vibrant and energetic arts community, and that adventurous ideas deserve adventurous support.

The Idea Fund provides cash awards to Houston-based, artist-generated or artist-centered projects that exemplify the unconventional, interventionist, conceptual, entrepreneurial, participatory, or guerrilla artistic practices that occur outside of the traditional frameworks of support.

The Idea Fund provides cash awards to up to 10 artists, associations of artists and/or curators that create and showcase new work that involves the public via process, production, or presentation. The Idea Fund will accept proposals from artists/curators focusing on the visual arts, performance, film, video, new media, social practice, and interdisciplinary projects.

Projects may include an exhibition or exhibition series; a public art project; a one-time event or performance; the ongoing work of a collective, collaborative, or artist space; an online project or publication; an artist residency; a series of screenings; and more. The Idea Fund seeks to support new works with the resulting project activities accessible and presented to the public."

Happy new year 'Second Seating' !