Tales of the Beginning: A Reception for Julia Blaukopf
On December 17th, First Person Arts will host a members’ reception for 2007 Artist-in-Residence Julia Blaukopf. Please, become a member and join us for this intimate gathering in the CFEVA offices to celebrate the launch of her new show. Here are some of Julia’s reflections on her journey since coming to First Person Arts, the struggles of being an artist, and working in Ghana:
October 2006
The smell of smoke spreads across the thick, musty air. Just outside of the airport lies Times Square, Ghana style. Bright billboards, loud bars, and restaurants featuring food from Chinese to Lebanese fare spread across several blocks. Mandy offers me a plastic bag filled with filtered water. I bite the corner off and suck the warm water out from the end.
Almost two and a half years have passed since I sat in the First Person Arts offices, making frantic attempts to raise money for the trip to Cape Coast, Ghana. Just out of college, I had received the opportunity to do what I had envisioned when I opted for art school, an unforeseeable route at the time. Women in Progress, an organization that empowers women through a sustainable business of clothing and accessory production called Global Mamas, invited me to live in Ghana and work with them as photographer.
I was elated. My goal was and has always been to create artistic work that promotes social and political efforts. I wanted to make images that would embody the mission of Women in Progress and help raise awareness for the women artisans crafting businesses through batiking, sewing, and bead making. There was just one problem — I needed money.
Housing and opportunity were two pivotal necessities, but I also needed nourishment, transportation, and film. The budget was low, but at 23 with no experience in development, proposal writing, or, well, anything outside of the arts, the meager amount seemed impossible.
With the in-kind and moral support of First Person, I made it to Ghana where I worked for four months with Global Mamas. In the short amount of time I gained experience designing a wholesale catalog; created a body of photographic work that has since exhibited throughout the US; and scribed my experiences into a series of journals that I am now translating into a book of text and imagery. From the time that I was in Ghana, I have also received acceptance from programs, including the Center for Emerging Artist fellowship here in Philadelphia. This two-year program has been instrumental in teaching me the business of art, challenging my artistic abilities, providing me with opportunities, and inspiring me to continue producing new works of art.
The images of workers, mothers, children, artisans, and city scenes first exhibited at the 2007 First Person Arts Festival in a show entitled The Ghana Tales. Now, a year later, toward the end of my CFEVA fellowship, tales of the beginning presents images from Ghana printed on fabric scrims. New works of installation and collage show in conjunction with the photographic pieces that Baltimore based artist Elizabeth Crisman produces, depicting the human skeletal structure.
Please contact me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you there!
julia@juliablaukopf.com
www.juliablaukopf.com


