I am an experienced arts administrator, educator and studio artist bringing passion and a collaborative philosophy to art, history and community programs. I develop, implement and generate funding for innovative art projects that build partnerships, connect artists with audiences and create buzz. My projects empower artists, cultural organizations and communities to address collective challenges with creative energy. Classes teach visual literacy and studio technique with an emphasis on students finding a personal visual language and path of inquiry.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Program Manager
January 2015- October 2016
Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Responsible for $1.5M program budget, advertising, faculty schedules, student recruiting, housing for 60 faculty and 80 students, planning an 8-week, intensive residency schedule, faculty appointment letters and student financial aid. Hired and supervised 15 summer program staff, coordinated Thesis Exhibition installation, catering, program documentation and website/blog updates. Collaborative innovations include expanding admissions events for prospective students to include student/alumni led gatherings across the globe increasing student/faculty diversity by 20%; inaugurated a party to celebrate the Thesis Exhibition, thank faculty, draw alumni back to the campus and raise scholarship funds; studio visits with Bard graduate students in the MFA and Center for Curatorial Studies programs; create residency opportunities for alumni at Olana State Park, Anderson Ranch in Colorado and a series of six-month hotel residencies at a new site in New York City, opening in 2018. Ended 2 fiscal years in the black.
Consultant
January 2014 to January 2015
Catskill, NY
Creative placemaking, curatorial and educational projects, grant and proposal writing, project development, community relationship building, arts administration. Curated Zadock Pratt Museum’s Anti-Rent Wars exhibition and provided feedback on historic exhibit design and contemporary art programs at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Developed a grant strategy and proposals to support a new orientation film and related programs for The Friends of Clermont State. Other clients include ArtsWAVE, Ellenville, NY, Bridge Street Theater, Catskill, NY and Chatham Area Arts.
Residency Manager
February 2014 to January 2015
Catwalk Institute, Catskill, NY
Coordinated year-round residency calendar for 30+ artists annually in 5 live/work locations. Developed inaugural installation tours. Maintained relationships with governing committee. and 4 core institutional partners (Columbia University, New York University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Vassar College). Recruited residency candidates and advised marketing/ outreach team.
Encaustic Technique Workshop Leader
Penland Center for Crafts, Penland, NC.
2013, 2008
Peters Valley Crafts Center, Layton, NJ.
2012, 2010, 2009
Center for Photography/R&F Handmade Paints, Woodstock and Kingston, NY
2006 to 2015
Beginner technique and advanced project assistance, emphasizing a vocabulary of visual language and individual path of exploration.
Director
Masters on Main Street
January 2010 to January 2015
Catskill Arts Initiative
Greene County Council on the Arts
Catskill, NY.
Coordinated guest curators, collaborating institutions, funding and artists in a year-round series of provocative storefront exhibitions, workshops, lectures, performances and an annual film/video festival, attracting new creative community and Main Street investment. Maintained program budget, participant data bases and project timeline. Launched PR campaigns including press releases, website updates, social media, advertising and joint marketing initiatives with grant partners and the Greene County Tourism, Planning and Economic Development office gaining regional and global coverage.
Director
Visual Arts Program
September 2009 to January 2013
Greene County Council on the Arts
Catskill, NY
Curated and promoted 12 exhibitions annually, working with board, committee and volunteers to expand outreach to artists and audiences. Wrote, reviewed, recommended and presented exhibition RFP’s for committee review and Board approval. Trained volunteer docents to connect visitors to the exhibitions’ art and ideas. Successfully developed new partnerships and funding to support programs and services as a cultural chamber of commerce to artists and visitors increasing participation and membership.
Adjunct Professor
Photography Department
September 1994 to April 2014
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
Led a 6-hour discussion based seminar for 3rd year Photography majors. Moderated critical dialogue on student work, contemporary art issues, professional development, ethics, cross-genre, cross-market and cross-media applications in the field of photography and digital arts. Prepared students for final year Thesis projects. Served as MFA advisor for junior, senior and masters level students in portfolio development.
Curator
September 2001 to December 2006
Catskill Mountain Foundation, Hunter, NY
Launched the exhibition program from a bookstore venue to a professionally appointed gallery with exhibitions reflecting the Hudson Valley’s most accomplished artists, and intriguing private collections. Established the gallery as an important cultural anchor in the organization’s plans as an arts campus, performance venue, agricultural site and creative conference center.
Director
Workshop & Lecture Program
May 1989-August 2004
Center for Photography at Woodstock
Woodstock, NY
Shaped the education program by growing a series of master classes and lectures to include talent from around the world, travel workshops and guest artists working in all photo genres using antique photo media, traditional lens/darkroom and innovative digital platforms. Managed, trained and worked with a three person intern crew, in addition to organization staff and board members, presenting up to 25 intensive workshops and lectures per season.
Adjunct Professor
MFA Program, Vermont College of Norwich University
Montpelier, VT
1997-1999
MFA Program, Boston Art Institute
Boston, MA
2004, 2005, 2007
Mentored candidates completing a body of work in a low residency, studio arts program. Provided support and resources for students’ technical media exploration, studio discipline, conceptual understanding, creative risk taking, project and time management.
EDUCATION
Bachelor in Fine Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1985
COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS
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Greene County’s representative on the Upstate Creative Economies Steering Committee
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Founding member Greene County Chapter League of Women’s Voters
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Member Catskill Action Team
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Member WGXC 90.7-FM Hands on Radio
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Volunteer firefighter Kiskatom Fire Department 1988-1998
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Board Member Catskill Community Center 2006-2008
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Current Board Member Prattsville Art Center.
BIOGRAPHY
FAWN POTASH is a Hudson Valley-based arts administrator, educator and studio artist bringing passion and a collaborative philosophy to exhibitions, educational programs and community projects, focused on high artistic quality, relevance to local audiences and the potential to spark social and economic growth. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, Provincetown, MA, upstate New York and in her hometown of St. Louis, MO, with representation in collections worldwide, including Sony, Dow Jones, Standard and Poors Asia, the Bibiliotech National and Sheraton Hotels, Montreal. Potash’s work has received grant support from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Puffin Foundation, the Bell Atlantic Foundation, Fuji and Ilford Inc. she has recently completed two commissions, for the Ulster County Area Transit and the Woodstock Land Conservancy.
Arts education roles range from pre-school to undergraduate, MFA and post-graduate students.
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20 years at the School of Visual Arts in NYC, leading a criticism seminar for photography majors.
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Encaustic technique workshops at R&F Pain, The Center for Photography, Penland and Peters Valley Craft Centers for beginners and artists working on advanced projects.
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Community Center after-school art classes for 6-18 year-olds teaching camera, darkroom skills, visual literacy, awareness of self, place and community.
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Summer workshops for preschoolers and elementary school students using cyanotype photograms for Arts Council and farm market programs.
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Faculty mentor for 5 students at Vermont College of Norwich University and the Boston Art Institute.
Positions in arts administration, advocacy and community building have connected the arts and culture with government, business and education. Her commitment continues with pipeline projects bringing arts tourism to towns with for-profit partners benefiting artists, municipalities and local economies.
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Potash shaped the educational programming at the renowned Center for Photography at Woodstock and launched the Catskill Mountain Foundation gallery.
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Curator of over 50 exhibits at the Greene County Council on the Arts.
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Founding Director of the Greene County Council on the Arts’ Masters on Main Street program, a successful five-year program providing grad school art students and other artists with exhibition experience, simultaneously boosting the economy in the village of Catskill, NY. Programs included pop-up exhibits, film festival, workshops and performances in vacant Main Street spaces.
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Founding member of Mainly Greene, a partnership of 4 arts/culture groups working with the I LOVE NY campaign and county tourism on regional program planning, shared marketing and funding strategies.
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Panel member for the Center for Photography's annual fellowship award, New York Foundation for the Arts Special Opportunity Stipend and Olana State Park Artist Residencies. .
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Representative for Greene County on the Capital District Creative Economy Steering Committee.