NORTH EAST, MD — In an exciting development for the local art community, Joshua Schaefer, a respected faculty member of Cecil College’s Art and Design Program, has been honored with a notable fellowship by the Mid-Atlantic Arts and The New Jersey State Council on the Arts for the year 2024. This fellowship is a significant recognition of Schaefer’s artistic talent and dedication to his craft.
The award comes with a generous grant of $29,700, earmarked for supporting Schaefer’s artistic projects in the upcoming year. Such financial support is instrumental in allowing artists like Schaefer to push the boundaries of their work without the constraints that often hamper creative exploration.
Schaefer plans to use the grant to undertake a series of larger paintings, delving into complex themes such as loss, melancholy, identity, and childhood, juxtaposed with elements of morose humor. These artworks will draw inspiration from the unique atmosphere of his studio, situated in a former section of the Germantown Hospital and Dispensary in Philadelphia — a setting Schaefer believes is particularly suited to exploring these motifs.
The ambitious project aims to culminate in a series of exhibitions across various prestigious galleries and museums along the East Coast. This exposure not only represents a significant milestone for Schaefer but also promises to enrich the broader artistic landscape with his introspective and thematically rich works.
Since joining Cecil College in the fall of 2016 as an adjunct studio art and art history instructor, Schaefer has made significant contributions to the institution’s cultural and educational offerings. His prior exhibitions, including those at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Art, as well as galleries in Philadelphia and New York City, have established him as a prominent figure in the art community.
Residing in Voorhees, N.J., with his studio nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, Schaefer embodies a bridge between the academic and professional art worlds, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and inspirations that benefit both his students and the wider audience of his art.
This fellowship not only highlights Schaefer’s individual achievements but also shines a spotlight on Cecil College’s Art and Design Program, highlighting its role as an incubator for talent and innovation in the arts. Through this recognition, Schaefer’s work is poised to reach new heights, offering audiences across the East Coast an opportunity to engage with thought-provoking art that challenges and inspires.
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