In 2009 we paired 21 immigrant artist mentees with 20 NYFA Fellow mentors. Scroll down to learn more about the 2009 mentors and mentees, and click their names to visit their websites (where available).

For more information on the Mentoring Program for Immigrant Artists, click here.

Mentees

Mentors

Salvador Angel (Mexico)

Shari Diamond (United States)

Lisa Crafts (United States)

Exquisite Corpse, animation still from NYFA holiday card

Lisa in an independent animator who works in a variety of mediums including stop-motion, drawing, photo animation, digital compositing and effects. She creates my her own work and collaborates with independent feature directors.

Eduardo Guedes (Brazil)

Photo: Jason Gardner

Eduardo Guedes is a drummer, percussionist, author and educator originally from Brazil living in New York City. He is the author and publisher of “Brazil for Drum Set Vol. 1 (North East)”. He has been recording and touring nationally and internationally with Nation Beat and the Myla Hardie Family Band.

Mayumi Ishino (Japan)

Blindfaith, performance still, 2009
(Presented for "Performance in Crisis" at Exit Art)

Born in Tokyo and currently living in NYC, Mayumi combines studio art practice and site-specific live art while collaborating with various artists. She presents her work in national and international institutions including Exit Art, NY and Art News Projects, Berlin. Awards include Virginia Center for Creative Arts; I-Park; HRH Prince of Wales Prize; and Fractured Atlas Fund. About the Mentoring Program, Mayumi says, "The support I received and contacts I developed through the Mentoring Program was tremendous. My mentor gave me perspective and aim that I can continue to remind myself for the rest of my career. I recommend every emerging artists in NY to join the program."

Robert Pyzocha (United States)

About his mentee Mayumi, Robert says, "I feel I was able to strengthen her skin a bit and encourage her to look beyond the immediate pleasures of immmediate recognition and encouraged her to focus on long term strategies of personal and artistic success."

Jennifer Monson (United States)

Jennifer Monson uses choreographic practice as a means to discover connections between environmental, philosophical and aesthetic approaches to knowledge and understandings of our surroundings. As Artistic Director of iLAND she creates large scale dance projects informed and inspired by phenomena of the natural and the built environment. In 2009 she had the wonderful opportunity of reconnecting with and mentoring choreographer and teacher Karla Florez from Colombia. Together they worked on an artist statement, grant opportunities and strategic planning.

Miki Katagiri (Japan)

Jeremy Langdon (Canada)

GEL-DS-S-2, ink, crayon, and pencil on paper, 2009

Jeremy Langdon's work begins with found objects utilized as printmaking tools culminating into drawings. "Working with my mentor gave me the direction and focus I needed to push my artwork."

Gilbert Ndahayo (Rwanda)

Gilbert Ndahayo speaks with students after viewing his film “Rwanda: Beyond the Deadly Pit”

Gilbert was born in the countryside of Rwanda. He migrated to the US after confronting his parents' murderer at a trial and recording the encounter on tape. Hr is currently pursuing an MFA in Film at Columbia University. About the Mentoring Program, he says "I was empowered with outreach skills. [My mentor] Heather encouraged me to view my film differently. She even insisted."

Ela Orleans (Poland)

Lost, album cover (design by Charles X. Morrissey for La Station Radar)

Ela is a Polish musician now based in Brooklyn, having arrived there by way of Glasgow. She is a member of heavenly pop collagists Hassle Hound, has played with various luminaries of the New York experimental and noise scenes and is a composer for the theatre and for the screen. Thanks to Mentorship Program she got a lot of support which gave her a lot of self esteem and gave her strength to reach out and be heard, create and perform.

Sung Hee Pae (South Korea)

Untitled, 2008, pen on paper

Sung Hee Pae received a BFA degree in Printmaking from Hongik University in Seoul, Korea and an MFA degree in Printmaking from Rhode Island School of Design. After completing the Mentoring Program she received a residency in LMCC's Swing Space.

Olivie Ponce (Mexico)

NS 1, Enamel on framed plexiglass, 2009

Sepideh Salehi (Iran)

Mille Parole, 2008, sumi ink on rice paper

Sepideh was born in Tehran, Iran. After completing her studies in Tehran and Florence, Italy she moved to united states in 2008. Moving, separation from home, family, woman and veil,longing and the tradition of letter writing are all addressed in her painting, drawing, sculpture and videos. She credits the Mentoring Program for helping her to better understand art marketing in New York, connecting her with many interesting artists and friends with different backgrounds, and bringing her inside the New York art world.

Adriana Varella (Brazil)

Trans Small Sketches video still, 2009, Five channel HD video installation

"I use in my works multiple media, such as installations, video, sound, photos, drawing, sculpture, objects, performances and site specific public art projects. My experience with the Mentoring Program was inspirational [...] The program helped me organize in many ways and prepare myself for new challenges. I was honored to be part of it."

Jeanne Verdoux (France)

Jeanne was born in Paris, France. She received an MA from The Royal College of Art in London. Her medium is drawing. "When I look at the world around me, I see things to draw: people and objects I come across in my daily life in New York".

Stephen Woods (Ireland)

Dreamcatcher, 2009, installation

"Participating in the mentoring program, I gained valuable insight into navigating the New York art world. A beneficial program for immigrant artists who are looking for an outlet and a community."

Chizuco Yw (Japan)

Friends, acrylic on canvas

"I am a painter from Japan. I create imaginary creatures on the abstract painting using pen and brush, watercolor, acrylic and oil. During the program, my Mentor gave me a lot of information about art scene in New York that I never had before. I still keep in touch with my Mentor. I realize the connection is very important."

Joan Grubin (United States)

Lattice #8, 2009, acrylic on paper

"It was a gratifying experience being part of the Immigrant Mentoring Program in many ways, but mostly for the way it created a forum to mix with other NYFA Fellows and with artists from around the world who share with us the struggle of making and showing work in the NYC area. The successful collaborative effort to mount a group exhibition of our work over the Dumbo Arts Festival weekend was particularly satisfying and fun."