The Grapevine

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship/Assistant ProfessorArt and Visual Culture of the African Diaspora @ Occidental

Occidental College invites applicants for a one-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship followed by a tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment in the newly established Department of Black Studies. This search is part of Occidental’s new multi-year Mellon Faculty Diversity Initiative (MDFI), which is synergized with the College’s renewed commitment to equity & justice and an intensified effort to hire faculty whose work focuses on issues of race and/or social justice and whose background, expertise, and experiences will contribute to diversifying Occidental’s faculty. The successful candidate will join the first of three MFDI cohorts with a total of nine postdoctoral positions in the Arts and Humanities. As part of the MFDI program, the members of the cohorts will be provided enhanced mentoring, professional development, and a greatly reduced teaching load. The initiative will help to actively support the study of the life, culture, and history of the African diaspora and to support campus-wide efforts on behalf of equity and justice. The position will begin in August 2022. 

We are seeking a specialist in the art and visual culture of the African diaspora. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Africana Studies, African American Studies, American Studies, Art History, Literature, Media Studies, or a related discipline. Candidates with expertise in regions outside the continental United States or whose scholarship engages gender, transgender, and sexuality studies are especially encouraged to apply. We are especially interested in candidates with a demonstrated commitment to and potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching; a strong record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate to the level of appointment; experience working collaboratively with colleagues; a demonstrated ability to work effectively with students from minoritized and marginalized social groups; a demonstrated potential for effective integration of technology into instruction; and an ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service. 

The teaching load during the first year of the postdoctoral fellowship will be 1/1. After one year, the position will convert to a tenure-track assistant professor position with a teaching load of 2/2 in Year 2 of the appointment, and a load of 3/2 thereafter. The successful candidate will teach a mix of first-year, intermediate, and advanced interdisciplinary courses on Black art and visual culture. In addition to teaching interdisciplinary Black Studies courses, the new faculty member will develop and teach up to two courses per year that are cross-listed with the Art and Art History department. They will also have the opportunity to design community-based learning initiatives that deepen the connection between Occidental College and the cultural institutions and diverse residents of the dynamic city of Los Angeles. 

Please submit a (1) cover letter detailing your interest in teaching Black Studies in a liberal arts college environment; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) a research statement that includes a discussion of your current scholarship, plans for future research, and a discussion of how you have successfully balanced scholarly and creative activities with teaching and service; (4) a statement of teaching philosophy that includes a discussion of your demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring, especially for underrepresented students and students from marginalized social groups; (5) samples of scholarly work; (6) sample syllabus for one specialty course in Black visual culture studies; and (7) arrange for three references letters to be sent to: blackstudiesvisual@oxy.edu.  The application deadline is December 8, 2021.

For a description of Occidental’s Black Studies Department and its course offerings, please visit our website at: https://www.oxy.edu/academics/areas-study/black-studies

Occidental is a small liberal arts college in the city of Los Angeles, and it is among the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the United States. The normal teaching schedule is the equivalent of five courses per year. Occidental College policies for early career leaves for untenured faculty and sabbaticals for tenured faculty are very generous. The mission of Occidental College is to provide a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality–one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent, and pluralistic world. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who will further Occidental’s mission of excellence and equity in their teaching, scholarship, and service.

Occidental College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal Law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is available that includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://www.oxy.edu/offices-services/human-resources/benefits-information.  

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 

Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu). 

Two Fellowship Opportunities at the Menil Drawing Institute

The Menil Drawing Institute is accepting applications for two of its fellowships for the 2022-23 academic year: the Menil Drawing Institute Pre-Doctoral Fellowship and the Morgan-Menil Research Fellowship.

The Menil Drawing Institute Pre-Doctoral Fellowship is open to American and international students whose doctoral research focuses on modern and/or contemporary drawing. The Pre-Doctoral Fellowship is 9 months in length, lasting from September to June each year.

The Morgan-Menil Research Fellowship is awarded jointly by the Menil Collection and the Morgan Library & Museum. This fellowship is 3 to 9 months in length. It is meant to support independent projects on some aspect of the history, theory, interpretation, or cultural meaning of drawing throughout the history of art. It is open to candidates at the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral or mid-career level.

For more details about these opportunities, please use the following link:

https://www.menil.org/drawing-institute/scholars

Opportunity: Deputy Director of Programming–Brandywine Workshop and Archives. Applications due by Nov. 1, 2021

Brandywine Workshop and Archives 

Located on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Job Title: Deputy Director of Programming 

The Board of Directors of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives seek a Deputy  Director of Programming. This is a unique opportunity to grow an organization with a  strong reputation and deep commitment to artist development and the printmaking  process. 

About the Organization 

Founded in 1972 by Allan Edmunds, the Brandywine Workshop and Archives (BWA)  has grown from a group of successful artists, art professors and teachers supporting the  production of limited edition original fine art prints, training and mentoring young artists,  to an internationally known organization dedicated to professional development of  artists and connecting communities across the world through the artistic practice and  creative outcomes of printmaking. 

Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1974, BWA has a long history of artist residencies,  exhibitions, and educational programming. A diversity-driven cultural organization that  produces and shares art to connect and inspire, BWA builds bridges among global  communities. Today, BWA has expanded its efforts to include not only original fine art  prints, but artist documentaries, 16 satellite collections, and the creation of Artura.org – a  free virtual database of culturally diverse art and artists. BWA is recognized for its  education programs and for its work with both mainstream and under-represented  communities. 

About the Position 

Reporting to the Executive Director, The Deputy Director of Programming is a new  position that will be responsible for oversight of all curatorial and educational activities  and serve as a primary point of contact for full-time, part-time, and contract staff. The  Deputy Director of Programming will operate as senior management, acting as a key  partner to the Executive Director in shaping BWA’s artistic vision and helping to develop  the organizational structure to support it. 

The Deputy Director of Programming will have a track record of organizational  management as well as experience and passion for working with artists and arts  educators. They will be responsible for maintaining current artistic and educational  partnerships, while also developing new opportunities for collaboration locally,  nationally, and internationally.

As part of its succession planning, BWA has identified this position as a developmental  opportunity. The ideal candidate will have the opportunity for swift advancement into the  Executive Director role – should the candidate be a good fit for the organization. 

Essential Functions & Responsibilities 

● Curate exhibitions, artist commissions, and related projects and publications, with  a specific focus on amplifying current and historically marginalized voices ● Coordinate and manage the Artist Residency program (a support staff of  coordinator and cohort of master printers does the actual work) 

● Manage and expand the Satellite Collections program through communications  with partners. All proposed new collections involving donated artworks must be  approved prior by the Board of Directors through recommendation of its Collections  Committee 

● Work with education and program staff to develop thoughtful and innovative  exhibition and collections programming 

● Manage all full-time and part- time staff, consultants and contracted employees,  and interns 

● Oversee management of the Brandywine Permanent Collection ● Work with Executive Director to develop annual departmental goals and budgets ● Work with Executive Director on fundraising and donor stewardship ● Identify and manage strategic institutional partnerships to extend BWA’s audience  and reach 

Qualifications 

● Bachelor’s degree in art history, fine art, arts management, museum management,  business management, or a related field – or equivalent experience ● At least 5 years of progressively responsible arts management experience  ● Demonstrated organizational management skills 

● Strong written and interpersonal skills 

● Ability to successfully develop and manage departmental and project budgets ● Collaborative and open management style with success in managing teams and  partnerships 

● A track record of producing exhibitions and/or successful event planning ● Entry-level experience in fundraising and donor stewardship 

Preferred Qualifications 

● Background and/or interest in printmaking 

● Master’s/PhD in art history, fine art, arts management, museum management, or a  related field

● Proven experience providing strategic leadership and the implementation of a vision  with organizational priorities 

● Demonstrated strong supervisory and team-building skills, including the ability to  recruit, empower, develop, and retain a strong staff. Recognized as providing and  setting clear priorities, as well as building a collaborative, trusting, and transparent  work culture 

Salary 

Starting annual salary is $70,000. 

Application Instructions 

Please submit a one-page cover letter and resume. Please direct any questions to  Carolyn Lowe, Chair, Search Committee at search@brandywineworkshop.com. 

Hiring Statement 

BWA has a longstanding tradition of centering the experiences of marginalized people—including people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+  people. BWA leadership is committed to continuing that work. Therefore, we strongly  encourage applications from people with these identities. 

Deadline to Apply: Monday, November 1, 2021 

Start Date: Monday, January 3, 2022 (preferred)

JOB: Asst Prof, Production/Film History @ Boston College

The Art, Art History, and Film Department at Boston College seeks candidates with a robust film production agenda and a demonstrated record of experience in filmmaking (feature/ documentary/digital/video), who can teach and mentor undergraduate students in narrative and technical skills in film. Applicants should have at least three years of experience teaching film production. Besides teaching three filmmaking courses annually, candidates should have expertise in film history and be prepared to teach two film history courses (open specialization). Of particular interest are candidates whose work focuses on social justice issues and who can teach courses in one or more of the following areas: gender studies, critical race theory, post-colonial studies, and African-American or black diasporic cinemas. An MFA or a PhD with a production background is required by the time of appointment.
The Film Studies Program, situated in the Art, Art History and Film Department, includes in its curriculum film history, production, screenwriting, web design, cinematography, sound design and criticism. With its liberal arts basis as well as hands-on production experience, the program focuses on preparing students for graduate programs in film and/or careers in the media.
As a Jesuit, Catholic university Boston College strives to integrate research excellence with a foundational commitment to formative liberal arts education. The University further encourages applications from candidates committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community.
Qualifications
An MFA or a PhD with a production background is required by the time of appointment.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy, course syllabi, research/filmmaking statement, sample of recent film production and/or scholarship, and names of potential references by October 15, 2021. In the research/filmmaking and teaching statements, applicants should address previous efforts and future plans to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in their research, filmmaking, and teaching activities. Candidates who are selected for the first-round interviews will be asked to submit reference letters within two weeks of notification. For questions about the position, please contact Professor John J. Michalczyk, Film Studies Director, john.michalczyk@bc.edu. All materials must be submitted to Interfolio.

USC Cinema and Media Studies 2021 Graduate Student Conference [Oct. 21-22, 28-29]–

First Forum will be held virtually and the program schedule has panels and events spread out over two weeks on October 21, 22, 28, and 29. We have an exciting and dynamic set of speakers including our keynote speaker Dr. Bo Ruberg, an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine. Additionally, we will have a roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Erin Y. Huang, Dr. Camilla Fojas, and Dr. Ayesha Omer. You can find a full conference schedule on our website and through the QR code on the attached flyer. We look forward to seeing you there!

CFP: “In Situ” for Art Institute Review–deadline Mon., Oct. 11, 2021

CALL FOR PAPERS

Issue 3: In Situ (September 2022)

Deadline for proposals: Monday, October 11, 2021

This issue of the Art Institute Review addresses the concept of in situ—a natural, original, or existing position or place. The notion relates to basic questions art historians, conservators, curators, and other cultural heritage professionals ask about all works of art: Where were they installed or exhibited? How were they experienced in their original time and location? To what extent did these initial contexts orient and shape artistic intent? Location and place may change over time. What happens when the physical context of a work of art is interrupted or upended? What are the stakes surrounding its placement and/or displacement? Research and analysis are themselves informed by position and place. How are art historical, conservation, and material science methods shaped in situ? How must they change when addressing a work of art that has been removed from its original context(s)?

Such questions regarding the past, present, and future of artworks have always been important in art history and related disciplines, but they have taken on even greater weight in our particular moment. What does it mean to recontextualize works in new spaces? What happens when we privilege one point in an artwork’s history over another—or when we deprioritize or disregard that history? How can digital tools and technologies help us better understand, question, and critique the “place” of art?

The third issue of the Art Institute Review invites you to consider, interrogate, and visualize the concept of in situ, understood broadly. We welcome topics from an expansive geographical, temporal, and theoretical range that could include: archaeological investigation and research, theoretical and practical projects of restitution and decolonization; community-based conservation; site-specific artworks and interventions, Gesamtkunstwerk, and land art projects; digital and material re-creations of artistic sites and architectural settings; and more. We especially welcome proposals focused on historically underrepresented objects or narratives, proposals from emerging scholars, and proposals that optimize the digital platform. Not only is the digital realm itself a place ripe for critical exploration through the theme, but it also supports innovative technological experiments and creative realizations of historic, contemporary, and imagined spaces.

This issue is co-edited by Elizabeth McGoey, Associate Curator of Arts of the Americas, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Jeanne Marie Teutonico, Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives and Publications at the Getty Conservation Institute.

Submit proposals here.

For more information on what we’re looking for, visit the journal website, here.

We aim to review proposals and notify the authors of accepted proposals within approximately one month of receipt. Full manuscript is due about two months after notification.

Amalia Amaki at the Photography Network Virtual Symposium [October 7-9, 2021]

Artist and scholar Amalia Amaki will be our Keynote for “The Material and the Virtual in Photographic Histories” (October 7-9, 2021). The First Symposium of the Photography Network will be held virtually, jointly hosted by the Photography Network and Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen. We are looking forward to our conversation with her on Thursday, October 7 at 4:00-4:45 pm UTC (12:00–12:45 pm EST) about her impressive art range and her ability to stretch the limits of photography’s materiality. The three-day symposium will pair previously recorded presentations (now available to registered attendees) with live roundtable discussions and Q&A sessions on October 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Registration is open and the presentation videos are live for the First Symposium of the Photography Network (October 7–9, 2021), a virtual event. Register now! Registration for this free event is now open. Symposium attendees are required to be current Photography Network members in good standing. Annual membership is $20 (student/unaffiliated), $40 (Affiliated), or $100 (Sustaining Member). Please visit the Photography Network’s website for more information on how to join. Once a member, link to the live sessions under the Account feature by clicking “Symposium_live (affiliated).”

JOB: Curator, Folk and Self-Taught Art @ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

At a transformational moment for our Art of the Americas program, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, seeks a creative, energetic and dynamic curator and scholar to become the inaugural Linde Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art. Reporting to the Chair of the Art of the Americas, the Linde Curator will partner with the Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, and with colleagues in the Department of Learning and Community Engagement to lead the MFA’s newly launched folk art initiative, an ambitious new program designed to reimagine and reanimate the folk art collections for 21st-century audiences. The Linde Curator will have the opportunity to build a dynamic and experimental suite of exhibitions, installations, programs and displays that will reshape the institution’s commitment to folk and self-taught material, and align the display and interpretation of this material with the MFA’s larger strategic vision. A true thought leader, the ideal candidate will galvanize colleagues across the department and around the museum in thinking anew about the categories of folk and self-taught art, and in envisioning new ways to make this material accessible, relevant and important to the lives of our visitors today.

The Museum of Fine Arts has an impressive collection of American folk art, broadly defined, with notable strength in works made in the northeastern United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. Highlights include important paintings by Erastus Salisbury Field, William Matthew Prior, and Rufus Porter, nearly 350 works on paper from the Karolik collection, a significant collection of American quilts, and select examples of painted furniture and sculptural forms. Opportunities for growth include historical American art that enhances and complements the Karolik collection with a focus on artists of diverse ethnic, racial, socio-economic, and geographical background, as well as 20th and 21st century art by self-taught, Outsider and Visionary artists.

Candidate Profile:

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

  • A Master’s or PhD in Art History, history or related field with a proven focus on Folk, Self-taught and Visionary material.
  • Three to five years of experience in a museum or comparable institution.
  • Demonstrated curatorial ability through culturally-meaningful exhibitions, gallery displays, programs or other activities.
  • Demonstrated experience and a strong interest in working in a museum setting.

Ideal Candidate Profile: 

  • Committed to researching, caring for and interpreting Folk and Self Taught art for diverse audiences, and to thinking about this material in new ways.
  • Demonstrated experience contributing to/leading exhibitions, programs and projects developed in collaboration with artists, visitors, community leaders, and other scholars and experts.
  • A breadth of knowledge and experience, as well as a willingness to gain expertise in new areas. An interest in and commitment to exploring the changing nature of art museums and their relationship to the public.
  • A national perspective but experienced in becoming personally and professionally committed to the city of Boston, its people and artistic community.
  • Experience working closely and building relationships with colleagues in a museum setting.
  • Experience working in partnership and engaging with donors, collectors, scholars, external communities and other partners.
  • Strong planning and project management skills with the ability to manage various projects simultaneously and to collaborate with colleagues across the institution to achieve the best outcome.
  • Strong sense of accountability for achieving stated objectives.
  • Team-oriented and collaborative.
  • Superb presentation and interpretation skills with ability to attract and engage audiences of all demographics.
  • Superior ability to present and defend ideas and projects that earn the respect of colleagues and Museum’s leadership and builds credibility for the department and institution. 

Personal Qualities and Attributes: 

  • Intellectually rigorous 
  • Inspirational, passionate, curious 
  • Generous of spirit, a team player 
  • Superior judgment, tact and diplomacy, with good organizational skills 

Salary Range:

Full-Time Salary, 35 hours per week

Starting salary: $73,000 – $78,000 

The MFA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from diverse candidates.

Link to apply: https://bit.ly/3zYMORb?

Competition for the 2022 ALAA/LASA-VCS Afro Latin American/Afro-Latinx Scholarship Prize

The Association for Latin American Art, an affiliate of the College Art Association, and the Visual Culture Section of the Latin American Studies Association, are pleased to sponsor the ALAA Annual Afro Latin American/Afro-Latinx Essay Prize. We will consider scholarly essays published in a peer reviewed journal, edited volume, or exhibition catalogue during the previous year, on any aspect of Afro Latin American art, architecture, or visual culture in Latin America and the United States, covering any period from the colonial era to the present. The award consists of a $500 honorarium and will be presented at the ALAA business meeting at the annual meeting of the College Art Association in February as well as the LASA business meeting at the annual conference in April. The name of the recipient will appear in the newsletters of both ALAA and LASA.

For the February 2022 Award, we will evaluate articles that meet the following criteria:
• Publication date between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.
• Essays may be written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Essays will be evaluated by a three-person committee of accomplished scholars in the field, each with expertise in a wide geographical and temporal range. For consideration, authors should send their submission as a pdf to the Chair of the award committee no later than November 15, 2021. Peer nominations will also be accepted.

Afro Latin American/Afro-Latinx Scholarship Prize Committee
Paul Niell, pniell@fsu.edu
Mey-Yen Moriuchi, moriuchi@lasalle.edu
Tamara Walker, tamara.walker@utoronto.ca

Assistant Professor/Associate Professor, Tenure-track in Department of Architecture, University of Buffalo (State University of New York). Applications due by Sept. 30, 2021

Info here.