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Who
is Gloria Carr?
Gloria Carr is originally from California.
Skopelos reminded her of areas on the Pacific Coast Highway, but it was the local
culture which really drew her in. For many years she lived and worked in Washington,
DC. Prior to opening the Foundation, she worked as Article's Editor for the Smithsonian
Magazine. Gloria obtained her MFA at the Pratt Institute in printmaking and videography
in New York in 1996. She is a printmaker but she now devotes all of her time to
the Foundation. She assists people in printmaking while they are here at the Foundation.
Her main focus now is to make the studio one of the top facilities in the world.
Her joy is to see artists be profoundly affected by the surroundings in Skopelos.
Gloria is a unique individual who doesn't have limits on her dreams.
There are no circumstances which will hold her back. She came to Skopelos in 1996
on vacation after early retirement from The Smithsonian Magazine and to quote
her, "Skopelos chose me." She knew she wanted to create a facility for
artists but didn't know where. Once she visited the island, she knew this was
the right place. The center was completed in 1999.
Why Skopelos, as opposed to some other charming place?
Skopelos is the greenest island in Greece. The contrast of the colors, light,
people, and overall feeling that you get being here is the ideal place to enhance
a person's creativity. Artists are also attracted to this island because of a
something that can't be put in to words that affects people so profoundly that
it changes the way they work. You feel that anything is possible here and it allows
a person to expand their mind to create from within.
How
is it financed?
Originally the Foundation was financed with Gloria
Carr's own money. Now the income comes from workshops, university programs and
residencies. We are currently seeking outside funding so that we can support artists
who would like to work here and can't afford it. Scholarships will be offered
in the future. We will also have a minimum of one yearly fundraising event, the
first one being next October in Chicago.
What
kind of people come to Skopelos to work?
We have people come from
all walks of life and cultures. We have had students and artists from America,
Greece, an intern from Bulgaria, artists from Russia and Australia. We stress
that the people who work with the Foundation must be flexible. If people try to
fit their own cultures in to this one, they are very miserable. Things don't get
done quickly here, the biggest saying is "siga, siga" which means, "slowly,
slowly". That is why you don't find the stress levels here that you do in
the States or other supposedly more "advanced" countries.
Is it all work and no play?
Absolutely
NOT! The charm of the island is mixing with the locals and getting a taste of
the culture. The nightlife includes discos, bars, and live Greek music called
Bouzouki. We have beautiful beaches, 360 churches (a lot owned by individuals),
monasteries and charming towns where people can shop and eat. We host our own
parties and exhibitions that the locals attend. All of our programs are geared
towards people getting out and experiencing the island. This only adds to one's
creativity and appreciation of the culture.
How
many artists participate, and what times of the year do they come?
We limit our printmaking programs to a maximum of 20 people. It would be a disservice
to the students to have any more than that. We are offering a combined printmaking/painting
program this year with the Corcoran School of Art. We can feasibly have four programs
a year in the months of June through August. September through May is reserved
for individual residents.
How are the master printers chosen for the courses?
The Skopelos Foundation of Arts is run by a Board of Directors that consists of
20 people that are in the United States. These people are professors, business
people and artists from Chicago, New York and Washington, DC. The Board of Directors
approves all of the programs and participants with Gloria Carr having the final
approval.
What does Skopelos aspire to this
year?
We have three workshops in 2003 with the University of Florida,
the Corcoran School of Art and The Art Institute of Chicago. We want to give the
best service to our programs so that we can have an ongoing relationship with
them. We would also like to have a constant flow of residents during the months
of September through May. Our last and most important goal is to obtain funding
so that we can support artists from all over the world to come and work in the
studio.
And
in the future?
Again, yearly workshops in the summer months and
residents in the off season. We are committed to the Greeks and the Greek culture
and would like to be able to support students and artists from Greece to work
with artists from other cultures.
How do you
promote it?
Our biggest form of PR has been through word of mouth.
We do advertise, have a website and mailing list but we have found that the people
that have come to Skopelos, go back and talk about what an extraordinary experience
they have had. Our Board of Directors also help because they are affiliated with
some of the top schools in the United States. We are building the Foundation slowly
so that we make sure that we exceed people's expectations.
Have
you had any well-known artists visit and work with you?
Yes, we
have had Mark Hadjipiteras (Greek-American sculptor/printmaker), Helen Frederick
(Pyramid Atlantic/American printmaker), Despina Meimeroglou (Greek printmaker),
Alexander Brodsky (Russian sculptor/printmaker), Dennis O'Neil (Handprint Workshop/American
screen-printer/printmaker) and Diane Fogwell (Australian master printer).
| | You
have just read the official Skopelos presentation. Would you like to hear the
version of a printmaker who just returned from there? Click here to read Barbara
Milman's report. | |
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