In its inaugural year, the Alexa Rose Foundation received 100 applications totaling almost $300,000 in requests. Artistic mediums represented included painting, photography, digital art, video, mixed media, printmaking, metalwork, sculpture and glass. The majority of the applications were from emerging and mid-career artists. Approximately half of the applications sought grant funding for a learning opportunity (tuition, workshop, etc.), while the other half were for equipment and supplies.

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The Foundation had $67,000 to fund artists this year, so the competition was significant. In the end, 35 local artists were awarded grants.

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At least one award went to every artistic medium represented in the applications, with almost half going to painters. While not the original intent, we were delighted to see so many talented painters receiving awards, as this was Alexa Rose Howell’s favorite medium as an artist herself. Over half of the awards went to proposals for learning opportunities. The remaining awards were granted for artists seeking equipment, supplies, and production expenses. Awards were primarily split between emerging and mid-career artists, although several established artists also received awards. All artists live in Ada and Canyon County.

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Following is a list of artists who received grants and a short description of what their grant award will support.

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Grant amounts varied from $330 – $5,000.

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Reham Aarti, mosaic artist: Participation in a national Society of American Mosaic Artists conference

 

Heather Bauer, encaustic painter: Participation in an advanced encaustic art workshop in New York City

 

Katie Biedebach, drawing/glass art: Participation in a glass blowing workshop

 

Melissa Chambers, painter: Art materials for an exhibition of new work

 

Kelley Cooper, oil pastel artist: Supplies for a Robert Moore workshop in Burley, ID

 

Allison Corona, photographer: Attendance at the Santa Fe Photographic Marketing workshop

 

Catina Crum, painter: Tuition to complete her BFA at Boise State University

 

Nate Field, painter: Attendance and supplies for art classes at Fort Boise Art Center

 

Rick Friesen, painter: Completion of his mural behind McU Sports

 

Kirsten Furlong, painter/printmaker: Travel and other expenses related to her Artist in Residency at the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey, Michigan

 

Casey Gurr, painter: Participation in the Airbrush Action Workshop in Las Vegas, NV

 

Aryssa Hutchins, painter: Attendance at a painting workshop with Bill Lewis in Atlanta, ID

 

Stephanie Inman, mixed media: Purchase of casting and mold-making materials to fabricate her own installation work

 

Tara Kennedy, painter: Paint and studio storage to complete a large project

 

​Sue Latta, mixed media sculptor: Expenses related to her Residency at the Visual Studies Workshop in New York and travel for photographic research

 

Karl LeClair, printmaker: Supplies and display materials for the completion of a solo exhibition at Boise State University

 

Susan Madasci, metalwork: Attendance at a Deep Relief Dry Plaster Casting workshop to learn to integrate cast glass with metal work

 

Bruce Maurey, painter: Materials to create 25 large-scale Dia de los Muertos images for an exhibition

 

Saratops McDonald, sculptor: Materials for a solo exhibition at the Visual Arts Collective

 

Kelsey Meeker, photographer: Participation in a Digital Media class at the College of Idaho

 

Marlee Merrill, painter: Tuition for art classes at Fort Boise Art Center and the City of Eagle

 

Glenn Oakley, photographer: Collaboration with a film composer for a film on the Boise Front Range as well as production of prints from the film

 

Melissa Osgood, metalwork: Attendance at a wax carving workshop in New Mexico

Nancy Panganiban, painter: Participation in an assemblage workshop in Chiapas, Mexico

 

Kathleen Probst, fiber artist: Attendance at a fabric dyeing workshop, mentoring sessions with a selected artist and purchase of equipment

 

Evangelina Ramos, painter: Workstation and art supplies for a new body of work

 

Aaron Rodriguez, photographer: Purchase of a scanner to scan his own work for professional printing

 

Lisa Flowers Ross, fiber artist: Attendance at a five day workshop on fiber dyeing on Whidbey Island

 

Mike Shipman, photographer: Equipment and supplies for a body of work entitled Scotland: Senses and Perception

 

Anika Smulovitz, metalwork: Travel expenses and materials to create a new body of work of wearable objects

 

Willow Socia, puppet fabricator: Participation in the New England Puppet Workshop

 

Ron Torres, filmmaker: Production of 52 “day in the life” films in a new series entitled NAME

 

Sue Vanasouk, painter: Participation in art classes at the University of Washington

 

Zach Voss, filmmaker: Production of a series of short films adapted from Story Story Night

 

Chi E Shenam Westin, painter: Attendance at a mentoring program in Taos, NM

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