US Department of State
US Department of State’s Art in Embassies Cultural Exchange
This article was written by the US Department of State’s Art in Embassies program. See it at their website HERE.
Sheila Dunn with US Ambassador Randy Berry and Colorado Governor Jared Polis
“Hearing the stories from the Nepali women artists about their creative journeys was not just inspiring; it changed me as a person and artist. After returning home to the United States, I hoped that I had imparted a fraction of the inspiration that I myself had gained during the AIE exchange.” – Sheila Dunn
That afternoon, Dunn gave a presentation about her work at the Department of Art in Design within the School of Arts at Kathmandu University. The topic of her presentation was Living Creatively: How to be a professional artist and she spoke to the students about her experience making her living as an artist in America and just what it takes to support yourself in a creative field.
Sheila Dunn - Kathmandu, Nepal
American artist Sheila Dunn traveled to Kathmandu to engage in an Artist Exchange program, facilitated by the United States Embassy in Nepal. Her painting, Sangre de Cristo, is part of the Art in Embassies exhibition at Ambassador Berry’s residence; the work depicts a mountain range in Colorado, the home state of both the artist and Ambassador. During the exchange, Dunn visited studios, met with artists, spoke to students, and worked with creative professionals.
DAY ONE
On the first day, Dunn visited Gallery Mcube, an interactive visual arts center. She met with on-site artists and discussed the gallery’s efforts to bring visual and performance art into its surrounding neighborhood in Kathmandu.
That afternoon, she traveled to the Patan Museum, which displays the cultural history and traditional crafts of Nepal. The day concluded with a visit to LASANAA, a non-profit established for the promotion of contemporary Nepali art. Dunn met with founder Ashmina Ranjit and other local artists.
Early in her artist exchange in Kathmandu, Nepal, America artist Sheila Dunn visited Studio Petal, the gallery home of contemporary Nepali artist and illustrator Neera Joshi, pictured here. Here, the two artists hold prints of each other’s work.
Later that day, Dunn went to Sattya Media Arts Collective, a resource center for artists, filmmaker, photographers, activists and other creative types in Nepal, where she met the artists currently in residence. Sattya provides a space and an open community for DIY culture, inspiration, activism and learning for emerging artists of all kinds.
After the presentation, several student attendees stopped to talk with Dunn and posed for a photo outside.
DAY TWO
The next day, Dunn visited Studio Petal, the gallery of Neera Joshi, a contemporary botanical artist and illustrator. The two artists discussed their work and exchanged prints. Dunn then traveled to the Sattya Media Arts Collective, a community resource center that cultivates a DIY culture.
Later, Dunn led a discussion at the Kathmandu University Department of Art and Design that focused on “the nuts and bolts of how to turn painting and creating into a profession.” Afterward, she continued the conversation with the students on site and in subsequent emails.
The following day, Dunn visited Nepal Communitere, a co-working creative space for organizations and individuals to collaborate on innovative social impact projects for Nepal. Pictured are several of the community members with whom she met there
DAY THREE
On the third day, she toured the National Museum in Kathmandu, the largest museum in the country. Then she visited the Nepal Communitere, a co-working space for local creatives, where she interacted with alumni from the American Art Incubator program.
She also met with Bachelor of Fine Arts students at Sirjana College, Tribhuvan University’s art school, and talked about maintaining a professional arts practice. Dunn visited the Siddhartha Art Gallery and then spoke with the academic council of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts. She also toured the Nepal Arts Council.
That afternoon, Sheila Dunn traveled to the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts where she met with Chancellor K. K. Karmacharya and other academic council members. NAFA organizers art professionals from across Nepal and facilities exhibitions and art creation, and the Academic Council works to execute the policies established by the institution.
Here, Ambassador Randy Berry speaks to attendees at the Art in Embassies reception at his residence. To his right stands Governor Jared Polie of Colorado, the home state of both the Ambassador and visiting artist.
DAY FOUR AND BEYOND
A highlight of the exchange occurred on the fourth day, when Dunn attended the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival and participated in a roundtable discussion with twelve female creatives, including musicians, photographers, and directors. “We discussed what it is like to be an artist in our cultures, and specifically, our experiences as women artists,” Dunn recalls. The exchange concluded that evening with a reception at Ambassador Berry’s residence.
Since returning to the United States, Dunn has been in contact with the artists she met during the exchange. “I look forward to seeing what follow-up experiences may happen in the future,” she says. “I will be working with a group of high school students in 2020, and I can’t wait to share with them what I learned from the Nepali youth I met.”
Pictured here are students at Sirjana College of Fine Arts, an affiliate of Tribhuvan University that offers both a traditional arts education and courses in the practical application of that knowledge. Dunn gave another presentation on Living Creatively to these students, followed by a question and answer session.
Pictured at the Art in Embassies reception at Ambassador Berry’s residence, Sheila Dunn stands with another attendee showing off the publication and her painting within.
On the final day of the exchage, Dunn went to the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival where she participated in a round table discussion with other female artists. Participants included partners, actors, musicians, photographers, writers, ang other creative professionals discussing the sustainability of life as a female artist.