The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (or School of Art) is a nine week summer artists residency located in Skowhegan, Maine. It is not a traditional school, but rather was founded in 1947 by artists as a retreat for artists.

The school invites applicants to submit artworks as slides, which are then judged by a jury of school governors and artists. During the summer work period, artists are given studios and living accommodations. Sixty-five participants are accepted each year, and are supported by a staff of twenty. A fee of approximately $5000 is asked of the applicants, but scholarships and awards reduce the average paid significantly. More than half of the participants received full scholarships, and only a handful pay the full fee.

Six established artists are resident on the campus, giving studio visits and criticism to the participants. Additionally, six or seven more established artists will come for week-long visits, meeting with the students and giving more lectures. Lectures are the only part of the program open to the public.

The School is unique in that it is one of the few institutions in the United States that teaches the technique of fresco. In addition to teaching fresco, the school has a permanent collection of fresco work done by important contemporary artists. Since 1995, Daniel Bozhkov, artist and school governor, has been the fresco instructor.

Even though the school offers instruction in the traditional art of fresco, it is not focused on 'traditional' art forms. The participants are of a thoroughly contemporary bent; video art, computer art, sculpture, painting and everything in between can be found. The school has an up-to-date computer lab, photographic printing facilities, and a sculpture shop.

[edit] Recent Awards to Alumni

Artist's Lifetime Achievement Award, National Academy Museum– Alex Katz ('49, '50)

National Artist Award, Anderson Ranch Arts Center– Enrique Martinez Celaya ('94) Rema Hort Mann Foundation Grant– Jennie C. Jones ('96)

Adolph and Clara Obrig Prize, National Academy Museum– Robert Andrew Parker ('52) Susan Shatter ('64)

American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards– Brian Alfred ('99) Ellen Altfest ('02) Matt Blackwell ('80) Mark Ferguson ('94) Stephen Mueller ('68) Dana Schutz ('99) Gedi Sibony ('99) Arthur Simms ('85) Emna Zghal ('04)

Rome Prize, American Academy in Rome– Daniel Bozhkov ('90)

William H. Johnson Prize, William H. Johnson Foundation for the Arts– Edgar Arceneaux ('99)

Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship– Marie Watt ('95)

John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships– SoHyun Bae ('93) Chris Lan Hui Chou ('02) Judy Fox ('76) Kalup Linzy ('02) Karyn Olivier ('00)

MacArthur Fellowship– Whitfield Lovell ('85)

New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships– Danielle Abrams ('92) Patricia Cronin ('91) Peter Dudek ('78) Alessandra Exposito ('97) Wayne Hodge ('06) Shih Chieh Huang ('01) Yoko Inoue ('00) Jihyun Park ('02) Michael Rakowitz ('96) Peter Simensky ('03) Shinique Smith ('03) Steed Taylor ('97) Mary Temple ('99) Hank Willis Thomas ('05) Traci Tullius ('02) Nari Ward ('91) Saya Woolfalk ('04)

United States Artists Fellowship– Laylah Ali ('93) William Pope.L ('96)

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant– Cris Cristofaro ('70)

Art Matters Grants– Sanford Biggers ('98) Daniel Bozhkov ('90) Wayne Hodge ('06) Shaun Leonardo ('04) Charles McGill ('87) Kori Newkirk ('97) Clifford Owens ('04) Cauleen Smith ('07) Allison Wiese ('99) Saya Woolfalk ('04)

Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation Grant– Donna Conlon ('02)

Creative Capital Grants– Brody Condon ('01) Allison Wiese ('99)

Fulbright Senior Research Grant– Margaret Lanzetta ('81)

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant– Jon Cuyson ('06)

Joan Mitchell Foundation Grants– John Bisbee ('92) Lillian Garcia-Roig ('90) Rajkamal Kahlon ('98) William Villalongo ('02)

Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Grants– Astrid Bowlby ('02) Heesop Yoon ('05) Tamara Zahaykevich ('95)

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants– Marcus Bjernerup ('04) Beth Campbell ('97) Katie Grinnan ('92) Iva Gueorguiva ('05) Kirsten Hassenfeld ('97) Eric Hongisto ('98) Young-Min Kang ('04) Elanit Kayne ('07) Haegeen Kim ('06) Tracy Miller ('92) John O'Connor ('00) Jean Shin ('99) Hong Zhang ('03)

[edit] References

• Skowhegan School of Art website