Call for Participants: "Mosaic" Multi-Cultural Youth Art Workshop

Mosaic is an artist-led socially-engaged project working with Multicultural Youth. It is a partnership between artist John Gascot (Lead), co-lead artists and youth participants ages 11-14.
In June of 2017 Mr. Gascot will lead alongside co-lead art instructor Noelle Stillman a group of approximately 10 Multicultural Youths on a 4-day expressive arts program. There is no cost to participants. The workshop will take place at Allendale UMC. Allendale UMC has made a large classroom available to the project at no cost. The workshop is in no way faith-based. During the 4-day period Gascot and Stillman and will provide instruction and guidance as the students create stylized culturally expressive self-portraits celebrating their heritage and ancestry. Each portrait will be composed of 4 panels which will later be separated and mixed with the portraits of others to create various “mosaic” cross-cultural portraits. All final creative decisions will be made by the students. Once works are completed, an exhibit and opening reception celebrating the youth participants and their works will be held (dates and details will be announced soon). This event will be free and open to the public. The goal of this project is to bring youth from varying cultural backgrounds together in a safe and professional setting for cross-learning and cross-cultural creative teamwork. Through a shared art-making process they will learn about one another, what makes them culturally unique and how those differences might have enriched their creative experience.

-10 student participants, ages 11-14, from at least 3-5 cultural backgrounds

-Two teaching artists

-One 2hr session per day

Workshop Dates:
Monday, June 26, 10am-noon
Tuesday, June 27, 10am-noon
Wednesday, June 28, 10am-noon
Thursday, June 29, 10am-noon

Project contact:
John Gascot, jgascot@gascot.com
This project is possible through a grant from the Saint Petersburg Arts Alliance.

Partnership with NOMAD for LGBTQ (+ Ally) Youth

I am honored to partner up with NOMAD Art Bus for this upcoming project.

In the Spring of 2017 I will lead alongside co-lead NOMAD instructor artist Sara Norine James a group of approximately 10 LGBTQ Youths on a 5-week expressive arts program. The workshop will take place at Studios at 5663. For the first 4 weeks Sara and I will provide instruction and guidance as the students create stylized self-portraits. All creative decisions will be made by the students.
On the fifth week an exhibit and opening reception celebrating the youth participants and their works will be held at COVE, where artist Derek Donnelly and Public Art Project will graciously provide gallery space. This will be the first (of hopefully many) artist-led programs directly impacting and benefiting immediate and neighboring youth and community held at the Pinellas Arts Village.

-10 student participants, ages 12-18 per session (approximately)

-Two teaching artists

-One 2hr session per week

-Five week session (1-4 instruction/creative and week 5 exhibit/reception)

Workshop Schedule:
Instruction/Creative
Thursday March 23, 6-8pm
Thursday March 30, 6-8pm
Thursday April 6, 6-8pm
Thursday April 13, 6-8pm

Gallery Exhibit/Opening Reception
Saturday April 22, 3-6pm 

There is no cost to participants. All materials, instruction and guidance as well as artist reception will be provided. This project aims at facilitating free expression, confidence and self-esteem. The workshops provide a safe environment for creative social interaction and sharing.

Project contacts:
John Gascot, jgascot@gascot.com
Sara Norine James, saranorine@gmail.com

Call for Art- Equality FL Gala Held at St. Pete

2017 Equality FL Gala held at St. Pete Juried Auction
The Equality FL Gala held at St. Pete auction committee is seeking artists to participate in its annual Juried Silent Art Auction Exhibit as part of Equality FL St. Pete’s annual fundraising gala. The Silent Auction shines a spotlight on Florida’s diverse and talented LGBTQ and Ally visual arts community at this important event. The Equality FL Gala held at St. Pete is our largest fundraiser of the year. By bringing artists, their works and buyers together for a spirited evening of bidding and showcasing fine art, this event aims to benefit both Equality FL’s mission and donors.
All 2-D, 3-D, and fine craft artists, 18 years or older are eligible to submit. Deadline for submissions is February 15, 2017. 2D works should be singular (1 hung panel). Limit of three high-resolution image submissions per entrant.
Visual artists working in all styles and media are invited to apply, including painters, sculptors, ceramicists, fiber artists, jewelers, and photographers. Works will be selected by a jury panel of art professionals who may also invite artists who are eligible to participate.
This year’s 20 Year Anniversary Celebration will be held at the magnificent Mahaffey Theatre on Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 7pm. The Silent Auction exhibit will be presented in the Grand Ballroom of the Mahaffey Theatre. As in previous years, sold-out attendance is expected. Artists donating juried works valued at $250 or greater may choose to be compensated with 2 Gala tickets ($250 value) or receive up to 30% back on the final price paid.

Jurors:
Cory Allen- Gallerist and public relations for fine art and entertainment. www.cacanet.com
John Gascot- Auction coordinator, curator, painter and workshop leader. www.gascot.com
Sara Norine- Fiber artist, photographer and workshop leader. www.saranorine.com

Display:
All artworks must be securely mounted and ready for display as follows:
-Three-dimensional artworks must be stable or securely mounted to a free-standing base.
-Artworks on paper must be framed under glass or Plexiglas.
-All wall-hung pieces must be ready to hang with secured, closed eyehooks and wiring.

Application Deadline: February 19, 2017

Acceptance Notifications: February 25, 2017

Delivery/Collection: by April 10, 2017. Artists outside the Tampa Bay region are responsible for shipping to the Equality FL St. Pete offices Attn: John Gascot, Auction Coordinator via signature required delivery confirmation method. Shipped works must arrive in a substantial, reusable container and a prepaid return shipping label. The Auction Committee will not be responsible for damage to artwork due to insufficient packing material or container if returning artwork as it was originally shipped. Artists will be notified immediately of work that arrives damaged. While all reasonable efforts will be made to protect consigned works from accidental damage or breakage, Artist agrees to consign work at their own risk. Artist may insure their work at their own discretion.

Annual Gala and Auction Date: April 15, 2017, Mahaffey Theatre
Submission: Submit up to 3 high-resolution (at least 500x500 and no larger than 1000x1000 pixels) images of proposed artworks to jgascot@gascot.com

Support My LGBTQ Youth Expressive Art Program

I am an artist.

I am also a gay man. An OUT gay man. A married-to-another-guy out gay man.  A very FORTUNATE and GRATEFUL man.

As a kid I never dreamed I might be able to say those words. While we've come a long way in matters of LGBTQ awareness, tolerance and equality the sad reality is that we've not come nearly far enough. There are kids today who still cannot imagine saying those words. LGBTQ youth is still subject to ridicule, bullying and descrimination. 
As an artist and adult human member of the LGBTQ community I feel it is my responsibility to reach out and give back in the best way I know how...through art. Art saved and shaped my life and I believe it can do the same for others. It facilitates expression, confidence and self-esteem. The workshops provide a safe environment for creative social interaction and sharing.

I am volunteering my time to create an ongoing LGBTQ Youth Expressive Art Program (at NO COST to participants). I offer creative workshop sessions via a variety of venues which are easily accessible to participants. The program launches with my first workshop on 11/14/2016. In this early stage I am not only volunteering time but taking on the expense of art and creative materials as well. That is where you come in. 
I am just one guy doing his best to do his community and the world-at-large a solid. I too have pressing bills and other matters which demand my time, but believe passionately that investing in our youth sets into motion a whirlwind of positive change.

Your support will help provide materials like canvas, papers, paints, brushes and more. These are the tools which will empower the participants in my program. These are the tools with which they will grow, express...and conquer. 

Here I spell this wish out with utmost gratitude and set it out into the world with the great hope that it will raise the funds that will allow me to run this Expressive Arts program for its first year (now through the 2017 calendar year). 

Click the button below to donate.

Creativity and Kindness,
John Gascot

Recapture Your Childhood

Remember the good ole days when every game wasn't played on a smart phone or iPad? Toys that were full of personality filled our afternoons with simpler joys.
These two collaborative paintings by MG Stout and John Gascot are available from Studio 4, Old Town. Give yourself (or someone you love) the gift of a childhood memory this holiday season!

These paintings are available directly from Studio 4, Old Town or can be purchased online. 

Mr. Telephone Man, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

BAM!, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"