Jun 4

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Fee: FREE!!!

The final workshop will take place on Sunday, June 4 at 4 pm with Sarah Schmerler, arts writing specialist and art critic. She will lead an active workshop, “Writing an Effective Artist Statement,” that will teach artists to translate visual thoughts into words and write about their work with empowerment.

Workshops are made possible by a grant from the Rowayton Civic Association. Preregistration is required (max attendance is 50 for each in person session).
Click here to register for workshops!

Grant and exhibition proposals, artists’ statements, press releases: As close as you are to your own artwork, you’d think it would be easy to write about it. Not so! Many artists get tangled up in knots, trying to find a way to express what it is they’re already saying with their visual art. This session untangles those knots in an enjoyable and methodical manner. Today we will talk about the shifting terrain of artist statements in today’s info-saturated climate (Web? Print? Work Statement?  “Rainbow” Statement?), and do hands-on exercises to loosen us up and teach us to translate visual thoughts into words. Participants will leave with the ability to write about their own work in future without empowerment, as well as with the makings of an artist statement of which they can be proud. 

Sarah Schmerler is a writing specialist and art critic who has been teaching artists how to write for more than 25 years. She developed her own art-writing methodology at The New School, and has lectured at Yale, Parsons, Pace University, Pratt Institute, The Lower East Side Print Shop, Montclair State University, Chashama, The Brooklyn Arts Council, Pierogi Gallery, and numerous other venues. As a private consultant, she has written artist statements, mission statements, applications for graduate schools, residency and grant proposals, cover letters, book proposals, press releases, bios (short and narrative), and even entire websites for artists—who have gone on to great success.

She enjoys helping visual people find words that serve their work.