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Posts Tagged ‘artists’
Our Sponsors
10/1/2008 8:51 PM By Catherine TMost large-scale events receive a good deal of help from sponsors, and we can say with the utmost confidence that ours are helping to make this celebration spectacular!
Four amazing companies have stepped up and signed on for the ride, and have helped Artisan make this evening possible. So, who are these organizations? Let's have a quick look:
- Creativity. This unique publication covers the best of creative culture with information and features on a wide variety of people, companies and ideas.
- River East Art Center. This wonderful Chicago venue is the location of the November 6th event.
- ABS Graphics. Another local company in the creative field who have signed on to support the "Match that Gives Back" award.
- Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois has given us access to the talents of one of the nation's finest Master Mixologists, Bridget Albert.
Each of these sponsors has joined in to help us celebrate 20 years of business in the industry. They have also been enthusiastic about supporting the "Match that Gives Back" creative competition. We at Artisan have always been big believers in teamwork, and as you can see, this event is no exception. We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to those who have helped to make this event possible.
The Talent: Top Ten Finalists
10/1/2008 8:45 PM By Catherine TClients aren't the only thing that gets attention at Artisan; talent does as well. Part of the reason behind Artisan's success in matching clients with just the right talent is that founder, Bejan Douraghy, has always made them both a priority. Artisan's based on the idea that both are worthy of attention. This attitude has helped us become one of the most successful organizations of its kind today.
Because of this unique approach, Artisan has consistently attracted people from the top tier of creative talent in the industry. Take a look at the finalists for this competition here: http://www.artisantalent.com/match-that-gives-back/
All ten of them are amazing in their own right. A mixture of art directors, designers, copywriters and more, the finalists represent the best talent around!
When you take a look at the "Match That Gives Back" event, it is really centered around the central idea of how Artisan operates as a company. Linking together the best organizations with the perfect match for them in terms of talent. Although the evening will certainly be doing things on a grand scale, it is really just another example of what goes on at Artisan every day.
Drinks Anyone? Meet Master Mixologist Bridget Albert
10/1/2008 8:39 PM By Catherine THave you ever heard of a "Pink Squirrel" or a "Raspberry Rickey?" These colorful names are code for delicious – and unique – cocktails. Of course, these particular drinks are also a bit outdated, but you can tell by their names that they are not the regular, average fare when it comes to beverages.
You may wonder why information about unusual drinks is appearing on Artisan's site when we are supposed to be filling you in on our competition and upcoming event…
Well, the big news is that Master Mixologist Bridget Albert is creating a special cocktail–just for our November 6th celebration! Bridget has recently worked with the Art Institute, creating a cocktail program for its restaurant and catering business. Employed by Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois, Bridget is a nationally known mixologist with many impressive credits to her name. She recently co-authored a book titled Market Fresh Mixology, and has been garnering a lot of buzz for her unique cocktail creations. It should be interesting to see what she puts together for Artisan! You can read more about Bridget here: http://www.talesofthecocktail.com/2008/view_person.php?person=6
Not many events can boast their own cocktail, much less one that is made by a well-respected mixologist. We've covered every detail of this evening, so that it reflects the care and attention we are known for when it comes to representing both our clients and our talent.
Top Three Finalist: Snow City Arts
10/1/2008 8:26 PM By Catherine TSnow City Arts is a Chicago-based non-profit organization that helps teach hospitalized children a variety of arts during the time that they are not in school. Various workshops are given seven days a week in things such as:
- Creative writing
- Music
- Film making
- Painting
Photography
This top-three finalist for the "Match that Gives Back" Award was founded in 1998, and brings programs to over 1,500 hospitalized children each year. Pairing learning with healing, Snow City Arts helps to fill the gap in education that is created when children miss school due to a hospital stay. There is also an after care program that encourages children to continue growing and honing the skills they have developed through the on-site program.
The core programs provided by Snow City Arts include creative writing and music as well as a host of visual arts. Art history, digital photography, drawing and computer-aided art are all examples of visual arts that are offered through the organization. Snow City Arts has partnered with many local facilities, including Rush Children's Hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital and Columbia College Chicago; to name just a few.
Congratulations to Snow City Arts on being named a finalist for the "Match That Gives Back" award!
Top Three Finalist: Free Arts NYC
10/1/2008 8:23 PM By Catherine TFree Arts NYC is another non-profit that has made the top three finalists for the “Match that Gives Back” award. Based in New York, the organization has dedicated themselves to providing educational arts programs and mentoring to under-served families and children. Here's a quick look at their four core programs:
- Free Arts Days. These day-long "festivals" of art pair children with volunteers for the opportunity to explore a variety of arts. Subjects are based upon changing themes.
- Weekly Mentor Program. This program provides support and guidance for at risk youth from 6 to 18 years of age. Volunteer mentors work with youth to create and discuss art projects in an effort to build self-esteem and develop positive relationships.
- Cultural Enrichment. This program exposes children and families to a wide range of cultural experiences, including things such as a Martha Graham dance performance, a violin concert at Merkin Hall and The International Film Festival at the Brooklyn Museum.
- Parents and Children Together with Art Program (PACT). This eight-week, theme-based program allows families to work together on a variety of art projects.
- Free Arts NYC has served over 22,000 children and families through these and other programs.
We congratulate them on their inclusion as a top three finalist for the Artisan’s “Match that Gives Back” award!
Have you Heard of the River East Art Center?
10/1/2008 8:12 PM By Catherine TAre you familiar with the River East Arts Center? The Arts Center is a cultural gem located right downtown.
Artisan's “Match That Gives Back” will be held at the River East Art Center; a completely unique space that is well-suited for such a special evening. The award-winning backdrop for the night features fantastic scenery that includes water views and two story ceilings. But it doesn't stop there. Located at 435 E. Illinois Street, between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, River East Art Center is truly a sight to behold. It's classy, interesting and artistic, all at the same time. This impressive space includes a 60-foot indoor waterfall and fabulous mother-of-pearl inlay terrazzo floors. We needed just the right setting for our event, and since this space has such an artistic design, we knew it would be just perfect.
River East Art Center was named "Best of 2007" by Illinois Meetings and Events Magazine, and it is easy to see why. There many wonderful spaces in the Chicago area, but the contemporary, sophisticated design of the Center reflects the type of atmosphere we felt would mesh perfectly with our event. After all, we are celebrating 20 years and playing "matchmaker" with some amazing people and organizations.
Artisan’s “Match That Gives Back” Competition
10/1/2008 8:05 PM By Catherine T Everyone loves a good competition. This idea is part of the inspiration behind the "Match that Gives Back" award. People gather around the television to root for their favorite person on a bunch of television shows; why not in real life too? They rally behind who they feel is the most deserving on "Design Star" and totally love the fierce competition on "Project Runway". It's exciting!
When we were thinking of the best way to honor the people who have supported Artisan throughout our 20-year history, we wanted to do something fun that would also be rewarding. After all–there are enough "regular" events out there already, right?
The best thing about this competition is that you won't have to sit through a bunch of "bad singers" to get to the cream of the crop. Each and every competitor is an amazing one in their own right; there are no losers here. Deserving non-profits and talented artists are able to raise their profile in the community and beyond, and the winning team will receive funding to help insure they are able to keep doing what they do best.
If you enjoy a good competition, tune in and follow the happenings here at Artisan as we move toward finding that perfect match. November 6th is the day that the celebration and announcement will take place. In the meantime, keep checking in to find out more about the judges, the competitors and the event itself.
Do I Need a Portfolio?
9/21/2008 12:08 PM By Catherine TArtists and designers have been using portfolios to get jobs for years, but they're increasingly useful for people in other fields as well. A portfolio is nothing more than examples of your best work, arranged in a format suitable for a prospective employer to review quickly. First, gather up your best work. You may need to be creative with this — writing summary descriptions of projects you managed, for example, with information on the deadlines you met and budgets you controlled. (And naturally, with each new job you get, you'll want to save copies of your work and add them as appropriate to your portfolio.) Once you've got this information, how will you get it to your employers? Your safest bet is to compile several versions:
- An attractive version in hard copy (which goes with you to interviews, and may contain originals).
- An online portfolio (which is worth putting time and effort into, because it's likely to get the most attention).
- A mailable portfolio (this contains copies of your work on standard-size paper).
Know Your Platforms
8/18/2008 10:27 AM By ArtisanIf you're coming into production artist work from another corporate environment, it's possible that you've never used a Mac computer. If you're fresh from design school, you may be great with Macs but less than sharp with PCs.
Both platforms have done a great deal to move closer together in recent years, but design is one of the industries in which the Mac reigns supreme.
Both Macs and PCs are capable of performing high-end design work, so if you're setting up your own freelance shop, you should buy whichever one you're most comfortable using. As an in-house freelancer, though, you definitely have an advantage if you can handle both platforms with ease.
Top Skills for Art Directors
8/14/2008 10:20 AM By ArtisanHave your heart set on becoming an Art Director? Before you print our your business cards, make sure you master these skills:
- Strong people skills, including the ability to convey visual ideas to non-visually-oriented people
- Ability to connect visual ideas to business goals
- Thorough knowledge of technical processes for designated media (print, web, broadcast, events)
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Professional appearance and ability to interact positively with clients
- Ability to work well in teams
- Knowledge of key design software including Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Dreamweaver
- Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time
