Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation
Encyclopedia
Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization with the stated goal of enabling the revitalization of the art of illumination
. Specifically, the organization hopes to enhance understanding of the art and history of illumination among artists and the public and to enable the creation of new work in this historic genre. The organization pursues this goal by varied means, the most notable being its utilization of a renaissance style atelier to produce its labor intensive art works. Under the tutelage of artist Ellen Frank
, the Atelier brings together students, artists, scholars, curators, and librarians from all over the world to work on its projects.
which left a marked impression. This transformation saw Frank rediscover the almost entirely unpracticed art of illumination
. The ancient art of illumination, which explicitly explores the nexus between the written word and the artistically rendered image, made an ideal artistic home for Frank given her erudition and passion for both the visual arts and also the written word.
Ellen Frank created her first large illumination project with the help of a paid assistant in 2000. This was a piece for original illuminated Hanukkah Illuminated: A Book of Days, which Frank created in collaboration with acclaimed scholar Everett Fox. Studied in Renaissance art, the thought of creating a modern day collaborative in the style of a Renaissance Atelier came naturally. A prototype of the current Atelier received a founding grant from the New York State Council on the Arts in 2000, prior to the legal formation of EFIAF. The Atelier held outreach demonstrations within the Long Island East End communities of New York and trained interns ranging in age from 18 to 65 years over a three-month period. The interns helped to produce two carpet pages--decorated illuminated pages without text, using elaborate designs evoking Eastern carpets--for the manuscript Hanukkah Illuminated: A Book of Days. The success of the collaborative work and the interns’ enthusiasm encouraged the formation of EFIAF to provide support for a more permanent and substantial illumination arts program.
The current Atelier has been functioning under EFIAF auspices since May, 2005 as a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit public benefit organization. It was in this year when the first group of summer interns from Carnegie Mellon University
arrived. Since then, more than 17 resident interns, and a number of “day” interns from the community assisted in the creation of six large, illuminated paintings in the series Cities of Peace
for a debut exhibition at the Laurie M. Tisch Gallery of JCC
Manhattan. Work on the research, design and execution of each provided a complex introduction to the techniques of illuminated painting as well as a distinctive historic and artistic learning experience.
As the projects have multi-cultural implications, interns attracted to the Atelier have proven an international group from diverse cultural and religious traditions. Among them have been natives of Hong Kong
, Korea
, Colombia
, Japan
, Estonia
, Poland
, Canada
, and many states throughout the United States
. Consistent with the interest in multi-cultural dialogue that animates the Atelier, they are sharing insights and ideas and exploring differences in perspective as they work.
The foundation recently finished a project called Cities of Peace
that appeared in New York City
at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
.http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92455 The foundation is also currently working with the National Association of Women and Arts, and the United Nations. The Atelier continues its work with guest and intern artists from around the world. The foundation holds exhibitions and presents workshops, lectures, symposia and seminars on the art of illumination, the Atelier project and on art as a tool for global understanding.
Illumination (image)
Processing of illumination is an important concept in computer vision and computer graphics....
. Specifically, the organization hopes to enhance understanding of the art and history of illumination among artists and the public and to enable the creation of new work in this historic genre. The organization pursues this goal by varied means, the most notable being its utilization of a renaissance style atelier to produce its labor intensive art works. Under the tutelage of artist Ellen Frank
Ellen Frank
Ellen Frank is an artist, writer, and educator, currently based in New York.-Life:She was born in Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles; her Master of Arts and Ph.D in literature and visual arts from Stanford and Yale universities,...
, the Atelier brings together students, artists, scholars, curators, and librarians from all over the world to work on its projects.
Inspiration
Ellen Frank, accomplished professor of literature and visual art, was inspired to transform her career from one concerned largely with theory to one engaged fully in praxis after seeing an exhibit by Joseph BeuysJoseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys was a German performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue of art.His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social...
which left a marked impression. This transformation saw Frank rediscover the almost entirely unpracticed art of illumination
Illumination
Illumination, an observable property and effect of light, may also refer to:* Illumination , the use of light sources* Illumination , the use of light and shadow in art...
. The ancient art of illumination, which explicitly explores the nexus between the written word and the artistically rendered image, made an ideal artistic home for Frank given her erudition and passion for both the visual arts and also the written word.
Beginnings
The current Atelier has been functioning under EFIAF auspices since May, 2005 as a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit public benefit organization. It was in this year when the first group of summer interns from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
arrived. Since then, more than 17 resident interns, and a number of “day” interns from the community assisted in the creation of six large, illuminated paintings in the series Cities of Peace
Cities of Peace
The Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation's Cities of Peace exhibition displays areas of the world that have been wrought with conflict.Her website reads: “Frank’s visit to Jerusalem in 1999 inspired her to produce the first painting in the series and to visualize the creation of other works...
for a debut exhibition at the Laurie M. Tisch Gallery of JCC
JCC
JCC may refer to:* John Cooper Clarke, Mancunian punk-poet* China Basin Heliport, San Francisco, CA, USA * Jackson Community College* Jamestown Community College* Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research...
Manhattan. Work on the research, design and execution of each provided a complex introduction to the techniques of illuminated painting as well as a distinctive historic and artistic learning experience.
As the projects have multi-cultural implications, interns attracted to the Atelier have proven an international group from diverse cultural and religious traditions. Among them have been natives of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and many states throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Consistent with the interest in multi-cultural dialogue that animates the Atelier, they are sharing insights and ideas and exploring differences in perspective as they work.
Present
Cities of Peace
The Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation's Cities of Peace exhibition displays areas of the world that have been wrought with conflict.Her website reads: “Frank’s visit to Jerusalem in 1999 inspired her to produce the first painting in the series and to visualize the creation of other works...
that appeared in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York, is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
.http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92455 The foundation is also currently working with the National Association of Women and Arts, and the United Nations. The Atelier continues its work with guest and intern artists from around the world. The foundation holds exhibitions and presents workshops, lectures, symposia and seminars on the art of illumination, the Atelier project and on art as a tool for global understanding.