The University of Chicago’s Arts and Public Life initiative, in partnership with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture, has selected three artists for its 2013–14 artist-in-residence program. A distinguished jury of academics, community members, artists, and arts professionals have chosen poet and visual artist Krista Franklin (MFA 2013) as one of the three, along with musician and composer David Boykin, and artist, designer, and educator Andres Hernandez.

The residency was established in 2011 as a partnership between Arts and Public Life and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (CSRPC). The program also receives support from 3Arts, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Chicago’s women artists, artists of color and artists with disabilities who work in the performing, teaching and visual arts.

Krista Franklin, Afropicyan
cyanotype on handmade paper, 2012.
(Image courtesy of the artist.)

Boykin, Franklin, and Hernandez were selected from among the 160 applicants to the program this year, and initiative open to Chicago-based artists and collaboratives whose work explores issues of race, politics, and culture. It aims to advance the ambitions of and opportunities available to artists who are underrepresented in the Chicago and national arts scenes.

“The arts are a key part of the intellectual life of the University of Chicago, and we believe they can play an equally important role in communities,” said Deputy Provost for the Arts Larry Zbikowski. “David Boykin, Krista Franklin, and Andres Hernandez are remarkably accomplished artists who embody our highest hopes for this program, and we are eager to watch their practice grow in the months to come.”

During the 10-month residency, the artists will have access to UChicago’s world-class academic and research resources, as well as studio space, a woodshop, and program and exhibition space at the University’s Arts Incubator in Washington Park. The residents also can utilize the performance and practice spaces at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Each artist also receives a stipend and additional funds for materials and programming support.

“David, Krista and Andres are artists who have made the city of Chicago a truly integral part of their practice. Their work will both shape and be shaped by the Arts Incubator, the wider University and the communities that surround them,” said Theaster Gates, director of Arts and Public Life.