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WAHPETON ARTIST FINALIST FOR FELLOWSHIP GRANT
by Erin C. Hevern
Wahpeton Daily News
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/articles/200 8/03/27/news/news04.txt
March 27 2008
ND
>From nearly 500 applicants and 34 finalists, Wahpeton artist Norik
Astvatsaturov was chosen as a finalist for a Bush Foundation Artist
Fellowship. The $50,000 fellowship is the largest artist grant in the
Upper Midwest and one of three open-application artist fellowships of
its size in the United States. Winners of the Bush Foundation Artist
Fellowship will be announced in June.
Astvatsaturov fled with his family to the U.S. in 1992 as a refugee
from Azerbaijan, which sits on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Since
fleeing to the U.S., Astvatsaturov has continued to create the
traditional metal art work, also know as repousse, used in the Armenian
refugee communities in North Dakota as well as throughout the country
for wedding, anniversary and other important ceremonies.
Astvatsaturov works with a variety of metals including silver, gold,
bronze and copper.He said his first pieces that he made when coming
to the U.S. were copper metal portraits of Jesus and a mother and her
baby. Astvatsaturov added that he is currently working on the bottom
portion of a German silver jewelry box for his daughter.
In 2005 Astvatsaturov received an individual artist fellowship for
his accomplishments and five traditional arts apprenticeships from the
North Dakota Council for the Arts. Just as a finalist, Astvatsaturov
will receive $1,000 in recognition for all his unique artistry.
Astvatsaturov is humble, however, and said that just because he is
a finalist that doesn't mean he will win.
"I have hopes to win, everyone has to have hope," Astvatsaturov said.
"The Bush Artist Fellows Program provides artists who exhibit strong
vision, creative energy, commitment to excellence and evidence of
perseverance with $48,000 in unrestricted funds," reads a March 24
press release from the foundation. "In addition, fellows receive
assistance in developing individualized communication plans, along
with $2,000 to implement the plan, for a total of $50,000."
Astvatsaturov said that money would be helpful to continue his work
while also allowing him to travel to his home country that he hasn't
visited in 16 years. He wants to once again become familiar with
the land and other artists in Azerbaijan. Astvatsaturov said it's
important for artists to stay connected with other artists.
"You have to know, you have to compare what you are doing," he said.
2008 Fellowships focus on three categories including traditional and
functional craft arts, which Astvatsaturov's metal art work falls into,
visual arts and media arts.
The Bush Artist Program is one of three fellowship programs within
the Bush Foundation, a private grant making organization. They made
approximately $40 million available in grants in 2007 to support
programs and efforts to sustain communities in Minnesota, North Dakota
and South Dakota.
by Erin C. Hevern
Wahpeton Daily News
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/articles/200 8/03/27/news/news04.txt
March 27 2008
ND
>From nearly 500 applicants and 34 finalists, Wahpeton artist Norik
Astvatsaturov was chosen as a finalist for a Bush Foundation Artist
Fellowship. The $50,000 fellowship is the largest artist grant in the
Upper Midwest and one of three open-application artist fellowships of
its size in the United States. Winners of the Bush Foundation Artist
Fellowship will be announced in June.
Astvatsaturov fled with his family to the U.S. in 1992 as a refugee
from Azerbaijan, which sits on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Since
fleeing to the U.S., Astvatsaturov has continued to create the
traditional metal art work, also know as repousse, used in the Armenian
refugee communities in North Dakota as well as throughout the country
for wedding, anniversary and other important ceremonies.
Astvatsaturov works with a variety of metals including silver, gold,
bronze and copper.He said his first pieces that he made when coming
to the U.S. were copper metal portraits of Jesus and a mother and her
baby. Astvatsaturov added that he is currently working on the bottom
portion of a German silver jewelry box for his daughter.
In 2005 Astvatsaturov received an individual artist fellowship for
his accomplishments and five traditional arts apprenticeships from the
North Dakota Council for the Arts. Just as a finalist, Astvatsaturov
will receive $1,000 in recognition for all his unique artistry.
Astvatsaturov is humble, however, and said that just because he is
a finalist that doesn't mean he will win.
"I have hopes to win, everyone has to have hope," Astvatsaturov said.
"The Bush Artist Fellows Program provides artists who exhibit strong
vision, creative energy, commitment to excellence and evidence of
perseverance with $48,000 in unrestricted funds," reads a March 24
press release from the foundation. "In addition, fellows receive
assistance in developing individualized communication plans, along
with $2,000 to implement the plan, for a total of $50,000."
Astvatsaturov said that money would be helpful to continue his work
while also allowing him to travel to his home country that he hasn't
visited in 16 years. He wants to once again become familiar with
the land and other artists in Azerbaijan. Astvatsaturov said it's
important for artists to stay connected with other artists.
"You have to know, you have to compare what you are doing," he said.
2008 Fellowships focus on three categories including traditional and
functional craft arts, which Astvatsaturov's metal art work falls into,
visual arts and media arts.
The Bush Artist Program is one of three fellowship programs within
the Bush Foundation, a private grant making organization. They made
approximately $40 million available in grants in 2007 to support
programs and efforts to sustain communities in Minnesota, North Dakota
and South Dakota.