Emerging & Established Artist Exchange (EEE)

Learn from working artists in Chicago through Homeroom’s
Emerging and Established Artist Exchange

The Emerging and Established Artists’ Exchange gives students who are serious about a specific field of the arts a realistic experience of what it is like working in Chicago. Each accepted student is paired with an active artist working in his or her field of interest (the artists are profiled below). They will work one-on-one to create a project of their own design. The established artist and student will meet regularly over the course of several months to work on a project that will culminate in a final presentation, exhibition or piece. The program is free to any high school or undergrad artist under the age of 25 who completes the application and is accepted for the program.

Students should expect to spend at least 5 hours per month with their collaborator and 10 hours a month on individual work towards the final project.

For more information, email aaron@homeroomchicago.org

Applications are accepted through Friday, October 19, 2012. Students can apply to work with one of the following artists:

Music Recording, Production and Presentation with Matt Baron
About Matt:
Matt Baron founded the Chicago-based live music archive Coach House Sounds in 2008. Since then, he’s helped to produce live sessions by nearly 100 bands from Chicago and beyond. During that time, Matt has grown his own namesake rock band, Baron von Something. Since 2010, Matt has worked as a bilingual teacher for Chicago Public Schools while continuing his presence in Chicago’s music scene. In March 2011, Matt embarked on his most dynamic music project to date: Future Hits. Fusing elementary school curriculum and catchy pop rock music, Matt has developed over forty curriculum-based rock songs and assembled a band called Future Hits to record and perform the music.

What Matt says about the program:
You will initiate your own concept for a music-related program and utilize my experience and expertise from inception through completion. Whether it relates to audio-recording, presenting a show or series of live events, or assembling an online music and multimedia editorial project, I will assist you developing a plan and timeline and connecting you with all the necessary parties required for a successful program. If you’re interested in establishing something unique but are not sure where to start, I am happy to help you develop a sound concept that enhances your creative and professional development while making a positive impact on the community. This project will culminate in a recording compilation (presented physically or online), a curated concert, or both.

Printmaking and Design with Sonnenzimmer:
About Sonnenzimmer:
Sonnenzimmer is the Chicago-based studio of Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi. Merging backgrounds in typography, printmaking, graphic design and fine art, the pair create hand-crafted posters, books, and music packaging for a wide array of clients. During their seven year history, Sonnenzimmer have become one of the most respected brands in Chicago printmaking.

What Sonnenzimmer say about the program:
Our exchange will focus on a full range of issues concerning establishing and maintaining a commercial artistic practice. Starting in October, you will begin a two month immersion into our studio, participating in conceptualization and execution, finding jobs, project management, invoicing, and documentation. During this time, an introduction to the screen printing process will also be given. Throughout December and January, once acclimated to our studio environment and working pace, we will begin a collaborative project, designing and screen printing a poster for an actual event. Here you will gain experience working in a collaborative team setting, with a clear vision for the outcome both creatively and economically. Finally, throughout the remaining three months, you will be responsible for executing your own commercial poster project. While we will provide the job and it’s parameters, you will be responsible for designing and printing the poster, as well as documenting the project, delivering the goods, promoting the poster and networking at the event.

Photography with Sean Dorgan:
About Sean:
Sean Dorgan has worked as staff photographer for Threadless.com for the past five years. He has contributed to various local and music magazines throughout the years, and enjoys shooting travel photography in other countries in his spare time.

What Sean says about the program:
In our exchange we will explore photography together via a series of meetings and activities including: discussion of area of interest within photography, shooting together, critiques, and a “follow day” at my job as staff photographer for Threadless.com. This will all culminate in a final project that will consist of: An art opening containing the student’s photographic work that was shot during the period of our mentorship. The theme of the show will either be a small documentary project, or a fine art photography project with a theme. The work will be printed and shown at Threadless headquarters gallery.

Contact us with questions at aaron@homeroomchicago.org
Download the application on the right.