Business
Local Press About Alice
Much thanks to the Buzz Magazine for the wonderful article. Thank you Jodan Maziner Steinfeld.
Speaker Seeks Additional Venues in California July 2016- 3D Technology and Fine Art.
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon has been on a curious adventure. She has a new book about 3D Technology in Fine art. The book has been a number one new release on Amazon. She also has and a new commission of a monumental Sculpture of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party where she is using many of the processes she writes about in her book.
She is coming to California for a book signing at SIGGRAPH, a computer graphics conference and is seeking a few other venues to share her fascinating topic and book titled “3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning Sculpting, and Milling.”
Ms. Mongeon’s introduces attendees to the wonders of technology in fine art:
* 3D Scanning for digital preservation of art.
* See the work of some of the 80 different artists around the world that Mongeon shares in her book, and hear about their processes.
* Learn about advances in digital technology as it pertains to such things as medicine, engineering, and art.
* Watch how Mongeon creates the monumental scene of the Mad Hatter tea party using 3D scanning, sculpting, milling, and 3D . Learn about some of the inventive ways she is hiding 150 messages in the scene.
This lecture is perfect for
* Fine artists interested in learning more about digital processes
* Makers using 3D printing, scanning and milling
* Educators wanting to know more about STEAM education- using Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
Mongeon will be at SIGGRAPH in the Anaheim California area July 24 and 27. She is seeking speaking/ book signing opportunities for the week of the 24th while in the area.
If you are interested, please contact the artist through her website.
Recent Speaking Engagements
National Sculpture Society
3D Printing World Expo
Penn State
Crucible
Young Women in Math and Science
Recent World Wide press on Mongeon’s work
*Bridgette has been listed as on of the 25 influential women in 3D printing.
*She receives national attention for her work with 3D and fine art.
*Her recent work of the Mad Hatter Tea Party continues to gain momentum and attention.
* Houston PBS created a segment about the Bridgette Mongeon as artist.
* Street Stories CW 39 came in and did a segment on the Mad Hatter Project.
* KHOU Houston gave Alice her debut. Several segments aired live and then later on in the day.
Alice in Wonderland and Technology in Kenmore West High School
Last week I returned to my hometown in Western New York, searching for familiarities of crunchy colored leaves, chestnuts, and savoring tastes of Concord grapes. Amid the streets and on the deep porches I hear voices of childhood that fill my heart.
I feel sorry for those who can’t “go home” and experience this. One can return home many times, but returning to your high school as a featured presenter gave me that curious feeling that Alice must have had as she jumped down the rabbit hole.
Someone commented on a picture that I snapped and posted of the halls of Kenmore West High School, “Looks like a scene from Alice in Wonderland.” This comment seems very fitting as at this point in my career as an artist, for my reputation is growing with Alice.
I have been commissioned to create a monumental sculpture of Alice In Wonderlands Mad Hatter Tea Party. It has been a milestone few months as articles are coming out of Italy about my project, and I’m receiving emails from Prague and China, and last week an article was printed in French. If jumping down that rabbit hole was not exciting enough, my first solo book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
I use much of the same technology that I wrote about in the book to creating Alice and her friends. In fact, I’m pushing the use of those technologies to new heights as I plan on making this Alice project my next book project.
I didn’t want just to visit Kenmore West. My hopes were to inspire the students. My career and life are typically interdisciplinary. I am a sculptor but, as I describe in my book, the technology that I use, is used also by many different areas such as science, architecture, engineering, industrial design and more. It is interesting, I would not consider myself a “math” person, but indirectly I work with math every day in the underlying geometry of my work. I knew my lecture would be cross-disciplinary. 3d Technology does that. Also, the sculpture is the art component and with Alice, the lecture even includes a twist of literature. I desire to promote these interdisciplinary studies in education. I was glad to see that Superintendent is Dawn Mirand could see these possibilities.
I also had ulterior motives in my return to Ken West. I have had such great milestones in my life. There have been terrific accomplishments, from sculpting entertainers like B. B. King to being commissioned to create a sculpture of Neil Armstrong for Russia. I graduated with one of the first MFA degrees that incorporated digital technology in Fine art. I have been contributing author on several books, the co-author on Digital Sculpting with Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists
and now flying solo with 3D Technology In Fine Art and Craft, and have four new books including a novel the works. I have spoken at large prestigious conferences in technology and education, but the one life accomplishment I cannot claim is that I never graduated from Kenmore West. One day I will use the details of that part of my life in a young adult novel. But for reasons beyond my control, I left Ken West in 10th grade, a high school drop out, and cannot “officially” call it “my home.” Though, as of this trip, I am adopting it as my own. I shared a smidgen of that story with the kids, including how the adults at Ken West were stellar in their help in that very difficult part of my life. I figure students are talked at enough in school, I hope that my story can somehow give them courage and fortitude in their difficulties. I wish I could have focused more on options, and opportunities- in my lecture instead of just talking about technology but that is a different lecture entirely.
In my life as a professional, I embrace helping others to follow their passion and look for ways to help. A motivational speaker for those in the arts, taking on interns and apprentices and recently creating a long distance mentoring program for students are a few of the ways I satisfy that desire to help. It seemed only fitting that I create a special opportunity for some of the students of Kenmore West. This is how Dave Rigolski, my host and the art and technology teacher at Kenmore West and I accomplished that.
In the scene of the Hatter’s tea party, I will need tea cups. I had planned on 3d scanning my grandmother’s tea ups, 3D printing them, enhancing the cups if necessary and using them in the scene. Mr. Rigolski’s class is working with 3D sculpting and 3D printing. I sent him a digital file of a teacup with the challenge to the students to help me recreate the cup to put in the bronze sculpture. Three students seem to have taken on the challenge. I’m happy to say they are all young women. I’m very passionate and supportive of tech girls!
I was thrilled that the maker space Buffalo Lab in The Foundry sent Rob Peters to assist the school with the 3D files. This entire project is a true collaboration.
I’ll be talking more about the students progress in up and coming posts and on also on the finding Alice’s sculpture Facebook page where I am documenting the project. .
If my visit was not exciting enough, another important element for me in this engagement was the book dedication.
My book dedication states:
I would like to dedicate this book to those many pioneers who have gone before me and encouraged individuals to merge traditional and digital technologies to create incredible fine artwork.I’d also like to dedicate this book to Mike de la Flor, who said,
“Maybe you should look at digital sculpting.”To Debbie Lloyd, who is one of my favorite art teachers. And to all of
the art teachers who spend countless hours sharing their passion and being advocates for learners, especially those who break new ground with new tools and techniques.
Debbie Lloyd was my art teacher at Kenmore West, she went on to be one of my closest friends, and we still see each other upon my returns to Buffalo. She was also one of those stellar individuals that helped me through that difficult time. I was so proud to present her with the book at the lecture. She had no idea. I only cried one tear or two maybe, but I held it together.
I also donated a book to the library of Kenmore West, I also donated a book to the Kenmore Library as well as the North Tonawanda Library. To my delight, the Albright-Knox where I first was exposed to art as a child also received my book in their collection.
After the lecture, some of the students examined the 3D prints that I brought to show. I visited them in their computer lab and saw their excitement over learning Mudbox.
It was a delightful and incredible experience with Ken West. I do hope there are other opportunities to help in the future.
From my lecture at Penn State to my visit with Kenmore West and Buffalo Lab it was an exciting and rewarding journey to the North. I can’t wait to see the final tea cup from a Kenmore west student and place it in the scene.
My hope is that one day one of my bronzes will be in my home town, until that time, I hope my books and visit inspire others, and I’ll be looking for other ways to share.
Thanks also to:
Kenmore West Art Teachers Amy Veltri, Patti Wallace and Darryl Swanson for introducing themselves and their students. Keep up the good work! The book is also dedicated to you.
____
A recent article from the Ken Ton Bee
If you want to see what the Alice project is all about, check out this video.
Headed to My Home Town To Speak- I’m So Excited
As my recent posts have said, I’m headed up north to speak. I’m especially excited that I will be speaking at my high school- Kenmore West, in Kenmore, New York. I have even found a way for the art students of that high school to get involved with the new monumental bronze sculpture of the Mad Hatter tea party. I am working on this in Texas, it is receiving world wide attention. It will be great to have the students of Kenmore West involved.
They will be creating one of the tea cups on the table. Actually they will be helping me to bring to life my grandmother’s antique tea cup that I scanned using the Next Engine Laser Scanner. More on that later.
I’ll also be speaking at Penn State September 28th at 7:00 and then my last gig in Buffalo is at the Buffalo Lab on the first of October to speak and have a book signing. October 1st. 7:00. Here is the press release that is coming out of The Foundry, Buffalo Lab and Ken Ton School district. They did a great job on collaborating. Penn State- Behrend has also done a great job. Thanks to you all.
PRESS RELEASE
Artist/Author Behind Highly Anticipated “Alice in Wonderland” Sculpture to Provide Engaging Educational Experience at Kenmore West High School and Buffalo Lab
The world is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and a nationally known artist, sculptor and author is bringing local students and artists into the celebration with her work on a one-of-a-kind monumental bronze sculpture capturing the iconic Mad Hatter’s tea party.
Bridgette Mongeon, a native of the Ken-Ton area, has been commissioned by the Rubenstein Foundation in Texas to create a monumental sculpture that will include an eight-foot-tall Mad Hatter, Alice, and March Hare in attendance. There will also be plenty of space for children and adults to join the characters at the table for a picnic and the most curious of dining experiences.
On Sept. 30, during a visit to Western New York, Mongeon will engage art students at Kenmore West High School in a cross-curricular educational experience that combines art, literature, technology, engineering, math and science. She has also been invited as a guest lecturer for adults interested in learning and jumping down the rabbit hole of art and technology during a visit to the Buffalo Lab, a community workshop space at The Foundry, located at 298 Northampton St., Buffalo, NY 14208, beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Mongeon combines both traditional sculpting processes with cutting edge computer and printing technology. A key part of her work is 3D modeling and 3D printing, an important subject for today’s art students at Kenmore West High School who benefit from the school’s advanced art programs and imaging technology.
Students in art teacher David Rogalski’s classes at Kenmore West will also have the chance to contribute toward the highly anticipated sculpture. Students will use 3D scans of antique teacups and tackle the extremely challenging task of enhancing the intricate decorative floral designs in a 3D environment using a software program called Mudbox. The sculptures will then be 3D printed and added to the scene before Mongeon sends the sculpture to Shidoni Foundry in New Mexico for bronze casting.
Mongeon is known for her bronze sculptures of children, as well as entertainers such as B. B. King, Willie Nelson and Bill Monroe. She has been commissioned to create school mascots such as the larger-than-life Prairie View Panther for Texas’ Prairie View A&M University and a 15-foot tiger for Grambling State University in Grambling, La. She will also soon be creating a sculpture of Neil Armstrong commissioned by Kindness Without Limits Education as a gift to Russia.
Mongeon’s work on the tea party sculpture coincides with the release of her new book, “3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting, and Milling.” In the book, she describes the digital and traditional processes that she and other artists all over the world are using in their art. She will incorporate these same processes in her sculpture of the Mad Hatter scene, using tools such as the Next Engine 3D Laser Scanner and digital sculpting programs such as Mudbox and ZBrush.
“You could say that Alice no longer needs mushrooms, cakes or elixirs to grow,” Mongeon said. “These tools help me generate a digital model that can then be crafted using computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines. Alice and her friends grow to eight feet tall with technology. I then carve on the large foam pieces, adding a fine layer of clay and more detail before making molds that will be shipped to Shidoni Foundry.”
The installation and unveiling of this sculpture in Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire, Texas, a suburb of Houston, is scheduled for late 2016. Guests can try to find more than 150 hidden elements, including characters such as Humpty Dumpty and the White Queen, which will be carefully and covertly positioned throughout the scene. Many of these smaller items the artist will create using these digital tools. The highly anticipated sculpture is expected to make the park a tourism destination for visitors of Houston and lovers of the works of Lewis Carroll.
Just as in the story, the sculpture titled “Move One Place On” beckons visitors to change places upon their visit. Mongeon hopes visitors will develop a tradition of shouting the proclamation and change places at the bronze table as they visit the sculpture.
The sculpture has additional connections to Western New York. The likeness of the artist’s mother, the late Barbara Ingersoll, was used for the hidden White Queen. For much of her life, Ingersoll was involved with a ministry that helped hurting women in Western New York and Canada. Also, the inspiration for the Hatter comes from another family member, the late Jack Rzadkiewicz, a postal worker and Buffalo native. Finally, the likeness of the artist’s adult daughter, Christina Sizemore, who lives in Houston but works for Western New York’s Feel Rite Fresh Markets, was used for Alice.
“I love to have this personal and intimate family connection in the piece,” Mongeon said.
###
IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE
__________
MEDIA ADVISORY:
Nationally known sculptor, artist, And author will be guest lecturer at ken-west/Buffalo Lab, Providing an engaging educational experience tied to highly anticipated Monumental “alice in wonderland” tea party sculpture
When & Where: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 in the Kenmore West High School Auditorium, 33 Highland Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14223, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at Buffalo Lab in The Foundry, 298 Northampton St., Buffalo, NY 14208.
Who: Bridgette Mongeon, a Western New York area native and nationally known sculptor, artist and author. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” the Rubenstein Foundation of Texas has commissioned Mongeon to create a monumental sculpture of the Mad Hatter’s tea party for Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire, Texas. The sculpture will include an eight-foot Mad Hatter, Alice, and March Hare, and provide seating for children and adults to join the characters at the table. The highly anticipated sculpture is expected to make the park a destination for tourist and lovers of the endearing works of Lewis Carroll. Mongeon sculpts traditionally and incorporates cutting-edge digital technology that she wrote about in her recently released book “3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting, and Milling.”
What: Mongeon will engage Ken-West art students in a cross-curricular educational experience that ties directly into their work on topics such as digital modeling and 3D printing. Students will have the chance to contribute by assisting with the decorative 3D floral patterns on a tea cup that will be a part of the bronze table setting at the Hatter’s tea party Mongeon will also speak and engage artists at Buffalo Lab at The Foundry the following day.
Why: Mongeon and her sculpture have many ties to the area. The inspiration for some of the characters come from family members who have lived their entire lives in Buffalo. She is returning to educate and inspire. She will enhance the educational experience of students in Ken-Ton’s advanced art programs and provide examples of how topics such as 3D digital modeling are used in the profession. In addition to talking about traditional sculpting techniques, she will also give students the chance to play a role in a one-of-a-kind, internationally known sculpture that is poised to become a tourist destination.
Speaking in Erie PA and Western New York
I’m headed up to the north next week. Won’t you join me?
SPEAKING SCHEDULE
Monday Sept 28. 7:00 p.m. I’m scheduled to speak at PennState Behrend, and I am delighted to share my new book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
Wed Sept 30. 8:00 a.m. I’ll be headed to my home town of Buffalo New York and not only speaking to my high school, but the kids are helping me with one of the tea cups that will be made into a bronze and placed on the table of the monumental sculpture of the Mad Hatter Tea Party that I am creating. They will be using 3D technology and 3D printing to achieve this. I’m delighted to have this participation and make this art into a learning experience. Here is a press release for the Buffalo Trip.
Thursday Sept 31. 7:00 p.m. I wanted to have a place in Buffalo to present to the grown ups. On Thursday I’ll be at the maker space called Buffalo Lab 7-9 298 Northampton St, Buffalo NY 14208 inside The Foundry. How fun to have a book signing and a special lecture in my home town.
Please help me pass the word by posting this to your Facebook and other social media accounts
Visual Arts Alliance Invites All To Come on a “Curious Adventure”
Speaker at the Houston
Visual Arts Alliance meeting.
The Visual Arts Alliance– Houston Invites all to Come on a “Curious Adventure”
It will be a curious lecture at the Visual Arts Alliance on Saturday August first. Houston, Texas sculptor Bridgette Mongeon is the featured speaker, and she will be bringing a few of her friends from Alice In Wonderland.
Bridgette is the author of a new book coming out this September —a “#1 New Release” on Amazon. The book titled 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
Though Bridgette is a traditional sculptor, she will be talking about how she uses digital tools in creating some of her sculptures. She will display how technology is changing the traditional process of bronze casting. Attendees will see art that artists can now create that, up until this point in technology, could never be create before. She will also share her progress on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
You will be sworn to secrecy as she divulges some of the secrets about some of the 150 elements that she is hiding in the Mad Hatter Tea Party scene created in honor of the 150th anniversary of the beloved story of Alice in Wonderland.
She’s delighted to exhibit the work of artists from all over the world who she features in her book and that are pushing the limits of the technology. It is an inspiring lecture that is bound to leave artists scratching their heads while wondering about the possibilities and saying,
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ( White Queen reminds Alice in the story “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.)
So if you are a curious artist, a lover of Alice In Wonderland stories, or interested in entering a new world of all sorts of possibilities join Bridgette and the Visual Arts Alliance as they jump down the rabbit hole, Saturday, August 1 at 9:45 at the Print Museum 1324 Clay St. in Montrose.
For more information about the Artist
visit her website at http://www.creativesculpture.com
To be a part of the Alice in Wonderland Sculpture
visit the Finding Alice Page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FindingAliceSculpture
And to find out more about the book and listen to online podcasts from the artists, visit the book’s website at http://www.digitalsculpting.net
If you would like a “teaser” about the Alice project, checkout this YouTube video.
National Sculpture Society – “Hand Versus Computer”
I’m delighted that the National Sculpture Society invited me to participate in education at the National Sculpture Society Conference June 26-28, 2015.
In 2007/2008 I wrote an article about combining traditional and digital technology called Exploring Digital Technologies as Applied to Traditional Sculpture and a sidebar on Shan Gray’s sculpture The American . The magazine that I wrote this for is Sculpture Review – a publication of the National Sculpture Society. All those years ago I was working on a degree combining 3D technology in fine art. This type of degree was not even heard of and would not have been possible without the support of Goddard College Master of Fine Art in Interdisciplinary Arts degree. Eight years later, my book titled 3D Technology In Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling by Focal Press is being published, and I’m headed to the National Sculpture Society Conference to discuss these topics.
I’ll be participating in the conference in Philadelphia on a panel- “Hand versus Computer.” I’m accompanied by some incredible artists.
The panel consists of Sabine Howard, George Nista, Simon Indrele, Sandis Kondrats, Jim Licaretz, and me Bridgette Mongeon. Once again, I’m the only female on a panel talking about technology. Tuck Langland will be moderating the panel.
Though the Society Conference has me listed for the book signing, my book won’t be ready. It is coming out in Sept, but is available for pre-order on Amazon. So, technically I won’t be able to participate in the book signing. However, when I’m not on the panel, I’ll be in the vendor area. I’ll be talking about the process of creating the Grambling State Tiger featured in the book, the many different technologies and the artists that I featured in the book. Of course, I’ll also be talking about my new book and art project of Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party. This new project is pushing the combination of art and technology to the max. Check out the video below or on YouTube. My time in the vendor area will be like my interactions at 3D Printer World Expo 2015, 2014.
Thank you Focal Press for believing it is time for this type of book.It took a long time to convince a publisher to publish a book on the topic of art and technology. I also want to thank them for supplying me with a sample of the book prior to the release date so that I can have it for this conference. The book is available on Amazon but, the actual release of the book is September 2015.
There is still time to register for the conference. Also stay tuned. I’m trying to podcast with some of the participants from the conference for the art and technology podcasts. I’ll either do this before if we can fit it in or after. But, as always, keep checking the book’s website as I podcast monthly with those working with art and technology. You are also welcome to use the podcast episodes on your website or ezine.
If you are going to the conference and want to set up a fireside chat around some drinks or a meal, I’d love to organize one. Just let me know. We did this at 3D Printer World Expo and those participating found it helpful. And as usual you can share your own work on 3D tech and fine art projects and questions on both LinkedIn and Facebook. I’ll be glad to help!
See you in Philly!
A Challenge For Bill Geist of Sunday Morning
CBS Sunday Morning
Bill Geist,
I would like to invite you to come and hide something in my monumental bronze sculpture that I am making of the Mad Hatter Tea Party for a Texas Park. Yes, you will make your mark forever captured in bronze. If you prefer you can bring a grandchild to create something to hide. ( Please note this offer is not open to the general public. The only other people working on this sculpture is me and my interns. ) I’m hiding 150 elements of the story in the scene of the Mad Hatter Tea Party before it is turned into bronze. Come be creative and take part in helping me develop this treasure hunt.
You must be “curious.” Join me in creating this incredible piece of bronze art that will last long after we are gone. I’m looking forward to celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland with you.
Don’t worry, not all of the hidden elements are 3D printed and embedded into the clay before it goes to bronze. I can give you some clay to create something fun, I’ll even help you if you need it. Of course this celebrates the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland so you might want to brush up on the story a bit to find something to sculpt. I’ll even let you place your hidden object in the large Mad Hatter scene, but I ask that the camera’s not divulge the place we put it and you must not tell a soul, as it is, after all, a treasure hunt.
So Bill do you accept the challenge?
Please let me know.
Here is a link to a press release about the project
And… if you would like to see a video of the art the concept and the process that incorporates traditional sculpting and digital technology here is a video that explains how that is happening. ( Yes, We will be using 3D printing on a monumental bronze, no Bill, you won’t have to work on the computer to do this, unless you want to.)
Looking forward to your response.
Bridgette Mongeon
______
Option 2.
I will 3d scan your face using just photographs – Yes, it is all apart of some of the crazy technology and math combined with traditional sculpture that is involved with this project. I’ll use a program such as 123D catch which is free for anyones phone. I have done this with a friend which you can see the results here. He will be one of the 3 naves that paint the roses red. If you did not want to sculpt one of the 150 items and would prefer to do this, I would be happy to immortalize you in bronze.Pick a nave and an expression. You would actually be perfect for this. I could use the digital scan of your face and attach it to the sculpting that I do of these naves, and then 3D print the image and add it to the scene before it is turned into a bronze sculpture. Then just like that you are a part of the sculpture captured forever in bronze.
Complicated? Not really, but it is my challenge to introduce others not just to the story of Alice, literature, and fine art, but the wonders of incorporating digital technology in fine art as I featured in my last book. Check out the video to see how else I use digital technology in my traditional sculpting.
So, are you up for the challenge?
Being A Mentor-
I love to inspire other people in their creative endeavors. In all my own explorations of writing, art, podcasts, tutorials, blogging it is what excites me. By my sharing I might be able to help another person in their creative exploration.
I take on interns in the studio on a regular basis, but I wanted this mentorship program to be more one on one, more instructional and geared to advancing the knowledge of the individuals particular direction. I have looked for mentorship programs in the arts. I had the idea that I could mentor a young student or even college student either locally or abroad. In my research I have found their are mentor programs in just about everything else but… the arts. Last year, before our regular Upside Christmas Party and Art Show I put together a small poster of my desire to be a mentor and put it on my door. There was a young visitor at the studio who came with his parents. He saw the post and asked his parents if he could apply.
It took Austin 6 months, but this week I received his letter of intent. His parents said he rewrote it many times.
Now to work out the structure of this Mentorship Program. If you want to follow along I’ll be tagging these posts with the category Mentorship Program. I also created a blog where Austin and I will be working. YOu can find it on The Creative Endeavor- Mentor page. Perhaps you want to follow along or know someone else who might want to follow along. Of course, unless they sign up with me they won’t get the one on one that I am giving Austin.
Yes, I know I am very, very busy. But this mentorship is very important to me. And as long as Austin puts in the work, I’ll be right behind him.
HOW WE STARTED
First off is the contract- I think it is important to hae a commitment between the individuals. I want to know that the student is serious and I am sure he wants to know I am serious.
I hope to structure this mentorship similar to the self guided progreessive education that I experienced at Vermont College or Goddard College.
Structure of contract.
MENTOR CONTRACT
Contract between Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon (Mentor)
and _________________________________________________________ (Student).
Age____________________Birthdate_____________________ Grade_____________
It is understand that student and mentor are entering into an agreement of inspirational and creative nature.
Bridgette agrees to assist _______________________________________
in exploring his/her creative potential through :
- One on one classes
- Instruction
- Conversations
- Field trips and work in the artist’s studio when possible.
It is understood that this is a summer contract and is more rigorous than a school year mentor program. This mentor program goes from The May 19th to August 24th.
The student agrees to a commitment of a minimum of four hours a week to this agreement. The commitment not only includes the above but the student also agrees to:
- Do the designated “homework” as instructed by mentor
- Document his creative endeavors as instructed by mentor
Every other week the student agrees to send a progress report to the mentor. This progress report is a simple letter that states what he/ she has done for the last two weeks, how they felt about it, talk about art they have started/finished, art shows they have attended and artists they have reviewed and books that they have read. (This can also be done, with the permission of the parents on a free blog created by the mentor and student at blogspot.com, and through phone conversations)
- The student commits to keeping a regular hardbound drawing book and filling one page a week.
- Student agrees to read a minimum of 2 art books from the designated list of reading. ( We will be reading one together)
- Student understands that this is a self-guided study with the overseeing of the mentor. Additional work and other artistic distractions are encouraged.
Student understands that should the mentorship program interfere with regular school studies the mentorship will be immediately dissolved. By signing this agreement, parents realize that there is sometimes danger when working with art tools and the mentor will not be held liable for any injury to their child. Should the child and parent wish the mentorship to continue after the designated period the student can apply for another mentorship. Mentor asks that parents send a letter to her after the completion of this program reviewing the program and the progress they see in the student.
Parents agree that they will help encourage and support the student in this creative endeavor.
Date____________________________________________
Mentors signature____________________________________________________
Student’s signature __________________________________________________
Parent’s signature___________________________________________________
Help Wanted-Personal Assistant With Public Relations And Marketing Background
I am a an author, sculptor and speaker and I am searching for a personal assistant with public relations and marketing background to assist me in my Houston, Texas art studio-part time, but may turn into full time. Hours are flexible.
Duties will include:
- Your duties will include helping me to promote the Alice in Wonderland Monumental Bronze Sculpture. This is a huge amount of work since the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland is July 4th, 2015. (There is a good chance that the park that is hosting this sculpture will also need publicity and more work will follow.)
- Also, I need help in promoting my new book that is coming out in Sept. I will be booking speaking engagements in various parts of the US.
You will also:
- Create, deliver, edit, and optimize PR materials.
- Ensure that messages are supportive of and consistent with marketing strategies.
- Supervise social media outreach.
- Deliver content via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, email, or direct mail.
- Coordinate and deliver email campaigns.
- Manage video content –
- Create and deliver press releases, media relations content, social media content, and speaking proposals.
- Creative Thinker
- Strong organizational, written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal skills. Excellent computer skills, including a working knowledge of the Internet.
- Degree in public relations, marketing or communications is preferred but may not be necessary if all other qualifications are met.
- Book and organize my speaking engagements.
A person with connections with national and international media is a plus.
If you are interested and would like to apply please use my contact form on my website with “Personal PR Assistant” as the main subject. Send me your resume and information about yourself with any appropriate links. Please also let me know your availability.