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    Drawn together in Philadelphia

    Published September 9, 2014 by

    At Artspace Liberti from now through the end of October, it is possible to get sketchy (literally) with some of Philadelphia's most cutting edge artists working with one of the oldest, most versatile visual mediums. For “Drawing Now Philadelphia,” curator Sabina Tichindeleanu assembles 14 local artists creating two-dimensional works from...
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    Zoe Strauss, capturing unexpected moments in time

    Published September 8, 2014 by

    "Unscripted Art Chat" with Zoe Strauss and Knight Foundation VP/Arts Dennis Scholl. Photo courtesy Nathan Valentine/WorldRedEye.com. In spite of the bombardment of images and information that have become a mainstay of life today, Zoe Strauss still believes in the power of that one single image that cements a moment in time and touches lives in unexpected ways. Strauss, a 44-year-old self-taught photographer who first picked up a camera at age 30, was the focus of the third art chat sponsored this year by Bal Harbour Village’s “Unscripted Art Projects,” a public arts program started three years ago to bring arts to the community, commission works to make Bal Harbour a creative destination and to foster critical dialogue. The Philadelphia native was interviewed Sept. 4 during the event at One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa by Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation and an art collector who, along with his wife Debra, knows Strauss’ work well. Against a background of her photos, the unassuming and casually dressed Strauss spoke with Scholl about what motivates her, how her photography actually happens, about the reality that she wants to share through the lens of her camera and how what she photographs is related to a particular person or place or moment. “There are very specific images that mark periods of time for people,” said Strauss, “where one can say, ‘This is where I was at this particular time,’ and invoke something very different from the constant barrage of images and videos that we are normally inundated with.” People can refer to those images to evoke an emotion or feeling, or relive a particular chapter of their lives.
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    The next big step for Beall’s Hill in Macon, Ga.

    Published September 8, 2014 by

    Knight Foundation supports the Historic Macon Foundation to expand opportunities in Macon, while attracting and retaining talent. Macon is one of 26 Knight communities. We’re proud to be a part of a progressive community that’s leading the nation in innovative public-private partnerships. Historic Macon Foundation and Knight Foundation have created a unique funding tool that will serve as a national model for neighborhood revitalization. Knight Foundation’s $3 million investment is a combination of grant and loan funds. This model works for Macon because we’re building on a proven track record of success. Related Link  "Historic Macon Foundation will expand revitalization efforts in Macon’s Beall’s Hill neighborhood with a $3 million investment from Knight Foundation" -- Sept. 7, 2014 Press Release Macon’s historic architecture spans from the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds to antebellum mansions to the homes of legends of Southern rock and blues. But to the people of Macon, historic preservation is more than saving the grand antebellum structures of the wealthy; it’s a way to put homes with good bones back to use while enhancing the walkability and livability of our neighborhoods. One of Macon’s oldest neighborhoods, Beall’s Hill, has been a model for community revitalization efforts. Historic Macon has been working in the neighborhood since 2007 when it joined with the city of Macon, Macon Housing Authority, Mercer University and Knight Foundation. Knight awarded Historic Macon almost $800,000, which enabled the completion of 22 house rehabilitations over the course of five years, more than double the number promised in the original grant application.
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    Knight holds quarterly meetings in Macon, Ga.

    Published September 7, 2014 by

    Knight Foundation trustees and many staff members are in Macon, Ga., over the next three days for the foundation’s third-quarter board meetings. Macon is one of 26 Knight communities, cities where founders John S. and James L. Knight once owned newspapers, and one of eight communities where local program directors lead the foundation’s grantmaking. Beverly Blake is the program director in Macon. The gathering, with events that began Saturday in Macon, is more than a chance to do foundation business, however. It’s also a chance to learn more about the history of Macon, its rich musical heritage and its resurgence in recent years to become an international model for economic development.
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    Miami art scene: open season

    Published September 5, 2014 by

    Photo from Rafael Diaz, in "Anonymous" at Dina Mitrani Gallery. Labor Day is a distant memory, the season is starting, and not slowly. There are openings all weekend, at both museums and galleries. So starting up north, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood (1650 Harrison...
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    Partnering to rebuild Akron, Ohio, one block at a time

    Published September 5, 2014 by

    Photo of Main Street in Akron, Ohio by Flickr user Kevin T. Quinn.  Jason Segedy is director of the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. Akron is one of 26 Knight communities and the birthplace of Knight Foundation. Akron is a city with a storied past and a bright future. It’s a city navigating its way through a decades-long transition from an industrial economy to a prosperous future.  It was the fastest-growing city in the United States between 1910 and 1920, growing with the automobile and rubber and tire industries. But since the mid-’70s, we have seen heavy industry leave our city, and have lost 31 percent of our population.  The transition has been difficult, but we have many assets to build upon: strong civic leadership, a solid history of public, private and philanthropic partnerships; and a legacy of solid, well-planned neighborhoods. However, many of the houses and commercial buildings that were built during our boom years turn 100 this decade. Many of our oldest structures are increasingly blighted, vacant or abandoned.
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    Artist Profile: Micheal E. Burdick

    Published September 5, 2014 by

    Work by Michael Eugene Burdick. Image courtesy of the artist. Rosie Sharp: Can you give me some bio info and background on your development as an artist? Are you self-trained, or did you study somewhere? Were you always a painter, or have you worked in other...
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    Financial technology conference banks on Miami’s links to Latin America

    Published September 5, 2014 by

    Ray Ruga is co-founder of CVOX Events LLC, the organizer of the Fintech LATMA 2014 Conference scheduled for Sept. 24 at The Lightbox at Goldman Warehouse in Miami. Knight Foundation is a sponsor of the conference, which focuses on the intersection of technology and finance. Photo: Robertson Adams.  “Finance is arguably the last unconquered industry of Silicon Valley,” writer Austin Carr noted in his Aug. 11, Fast Company profile of Square’s Jack Dorsey. Lately, though, the financial technology industry—referred to as fintech—has emerged as one of the hottest and fastest growing in technology. Several cities, most notably New York and London, are revving up their efforts to assume leadership in the sector. Miami is the internationally recognized financial capital of Latin America, and Fintech LATAM 2014 aims to coax the city’s burgeoning technology ecosystem to consider finance as a space for local companies to focus their disruptive efforts on, and to encourage the development or import of startups in an area where there is great appetite and capital to scale.
  • Article

    Railroad photographs roll into Akron Art Museum

    Published September 5, 2014 by

    Good morning America, how are ya? If that railroad allusion rings a bell, then go to the Akron Art Museum, a Knight Arts grantee, and take in one of its stellar and current exhibits. This one features works drawn from the Akron Art Museum’s extensive photography collection and several loaned...
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    News21 students document struggle over gun regulations with multimedia project

    Published September 4, 2014 by

    Gun Wars: A News21 investigation of rights and regulations in America from News21. The telling of a story is no longer simply a story, but journalism woven with a richness that cannot be captured in words alone. In this year’s Carnegie-Knight News21 project “Gun Wars,” an investigation of gun rights and regulations, we challenged fellows to engage our audience in one of America’s most polarizing debates -- and in ways we never have before. It started long before the project launched with an ambitious multimedia-driven blog and a new partnership with the Public Insight Network, developed by American Public Media and supported by Knight Foundation. The blog included posts and discussions designed to engage our end user and help inform our reporting. It also attempted to build an audience for our content while increasing transparency for what -- and how -- we reported. Our goal was to create a conversation.