The start of the new school year will soon bring a wave of enthusiastic students and academic professionals to the artisan village of Altos de Chavón. What has felt considerably quiet throughout the days of the past few months will indeed turn into a bustling center of creativity, courage, and dedication as the returning classes and incoming students embark on another year of study. New to the course catalog this fall will be the certificate program EPIC: Study for Contemporary Investigation.
Defined as an art retreat with a focus on the contemporary and business aspects of the art world, EPIC will follow the established artist-in-residence program, and will allow students to reinforce their skills gained in previous experiences or academic studies. The program centers on three modules: Classic Pillars of Art, Contemporary Mediums, and The Business of Art, wherein each area students are able to choose their own activities corresponding to that module.
Classic Pillars of Art: Drawing, painting, and sculpture are strengthened by means of workshops and professional meetings in which the foundations of art throughout history are connected with concepts, theory, and practice.
Contemporary Mediums: The term contemporary being understood as what is happening at the current moment, this module will be centered on mediums of expression such as sound, light, video, digital mediums, and their various applications in art projects.
The Business of Art: This module gives participants the tools they need to succeed in the art market: pricing, portfolios, curation, working with galleries, funding, grants, biennials, competitions, public relations, and promotion.
A conceptualization of the project the student endeavors to undertake throughout the development of the program is made in the first module in an artist’s statement. It is carried out in the other focuses with the assistance of professional workshops. Guest speakers and special guidance meetings with gallerists, critics, artists’ representatives, and other professionals allow students to network and gain valuable insight. Upon completion of the certificate program, a committee will evaluate the projects and facilitate their presentation in galleries or cultural centers interested in displaying them.
Stephen Kaplan, Rector of Chavón School of Design, points to the beauty of Altos de Chavón as a key component of inspiration, which will no doubt set the stage and success for EPIC:
“Nature can be a muse. A setting can stimulate the creative process. For Pizarro, inspiration was the Caribbean island of St. Thomas; Gauguin found it in Tahiti, and Thoreau had Walden Pond. There is no doubt that the beauty of nature was a catalyst for their creations.
For almost 40 years, Altos de Chavón has welcomed artists and students of art and design, who have found in this place elements that have inspired their creation and artistic production. This wonderful site, with the mist above the Chavón River in the morning and the illuminating blush of sunset, is inspiring and relaxing. The facilities for student use—the computer lab, library, and housing—are buildings of rough-hewn stone. It’s a fantasy world where architecture and nature make a sanctuary for the artist.”
With an open admissions policy, any and all are allowed to apply, and acceptance decisions will conclude this month for the upcoming semester. Applications may be submitted all year though, so contact the school for the certificate program admissions requirements. We excitedly look forward to the talent this new program will bring to Altos de Chavón, flourishing the traditional forms of fine art with contemporary expression.
Mariela Sabino who brought us her insider’s look into Davidoff’s Artist in Residence Diego Cirulli’s latest exhibition “Hollow” in Berlin, delves into the pursuit of a career in fashion design following the storyline of Chavonera Ambra Fiorenza. Read more here.
In an expansive and ultra modern facility, the Altos de Chavón School of Design inaugurated its new campus in Santo Domingo on Thursday April 21st. After three decades in its premier location in Casa de Campo, several programs make their way to the capital this Fall to integrate students into the country’s fast-moving and ever growing art scene. Read more here.
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