By Bernie Petit

Creativity has always been part of Charlotte artist Dorne Pentes’ life.

His father, the late Jack Pentes, was a successful artist who created “Wind Sculpture” – one of the city’s first uptown public artworks – in 1986. The younger Pentes began his artistic career more than 20 years ago as a filmmaker and a writer.

And while film is still part of his daily life, “now I paint, draw and create art installations,” he said.

That’s where the 2022 ASC Artist Support Grant he received comes in. Artist Support Grants support professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences.

Funded projects can range from the purchase of equipment and materials to the pursuit of professional development and the development or upgrading of promotional materials.

Pentes is using his $2,840 award to purchase Inkjet and sublimation printers and supplies to reproduce his work and sell limited edition prints, as well as custom-made works featuring a person’s names, which he calls “Animalgrams.”

“These tools I am purchasing will allow me to print my work on a number of different media,” he said. “I’ll be able to concentrate now more on creating the work rather than running back and forth to the printers.”

Additionally, he said, his Artist Support Grant gives him more control over his creative process and costs.

“If I didn’t have these items, my professional practice would take longer to perfect and I’d be spending a lot more time and money at a print shop,” he said.  

This is why ASC’s work to support artists and creatives at all stages of their careers matters.

“Funding for creative individuals is important because they all have limits to what they can create – time and money being the biggest limitations,” he said. “Funding for these folks allows them to grow more quickly artistically and professionalize their practice so they can become self-supporting.”

The grant program also helps creatives take a fresh look at their practice, recognize where there are gaps and then apply for funding to fill those gaps, Pentes said.

“When I got the notification I received the grant,” he said, “I felt a strong sense of validation – which artists always need to move forward and take risks.”

2022 ASC ARTIST SUPPORT GRANT RECIPIENTS

Marina Alexandra, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to produce videos for a unique guitar/drum female artist duo.

E.E. Balcos, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to choreograph and present a new professional dance trio based on social concerns for the environment and the natural world.

Audrey Baran, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to produce and present “TEN,” a professional dance concert and retrospective of the last decade of contemporary dance company Baran Dance.

Gabriel Bello, Cabarrus—$3,000 to build a rural music and recording training facility.

Regina Bos, Cleveland—$3,000 to expand studio resources and take continuing education classes on sculpture.

Molly Brown, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support the cast recordings for Beautiful Day in Hell Productions.

Teil Buck, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase high-quality video cameras.

Jessica Burke, Mecklenburg—$1,900 to complete and present new work for an upcoming solo exhibition, “Dressed Up Bones,” in the Zoe Golloway Gallery at the Gadsden Arts Center and Museum in Quincy, Florida.

Kalin Devone, Mecklenburg—$300 to support the Goodness Campaign, a workshop-based project that focuses on image externally and internally in women.

Sorayda Diaz Leon, Mecklenburg—$2,990 to cover expenses for promotional marketing items for a magazine.

Joelle Dietrick, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to produce “Chasing the Sun,” a multi-channel animation installation with extinct plants organized by the time zones where they were last seen and shifting in color intensity based where the sun is setting.

MyLoan Dinh, Mecklenburg —$2,000 to purchase two portable/rechargeable HD projectors.

Dionne D. Hunter, Mecklenburg—$2,929 to purchase office equipment and studio supplies.

Nicole Driscoll, Mecklenburg—$1,355 to produce a photography series that focuses on the emotional toll people go through when dealing with binge eating disorder and how it impacts their daily lives.

Sequina DuBose, Cabarrus—$3,000 to support a world premiere recording of vocal music featuring innovative 21st century composers.

Hilary Edwards, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support a two-week artist residency in Orquevaux, France.

Barbara Ellis, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support the renovation of new studio space.

Vickie Evans, Mecklenburg—$2,700 to support recording an original work musical, “The Gift.”

Sala Faruq, Mecklenburg—$1,178.43 to conduct an oral history project on community gardeners in Charlotte’s Genesis Park neighborhood.

Sarah Ferdon, Cabarrus—$1,720 to purchase a drum carder and spinning wheel for faster production of handspun yarn.

Kali Ferguson, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to create professional audio/video recordings of her signature story, “Blancaflor,” to virtually sell and rent to individuals and organizations.

Tracie Frank, Cabarrus—$3,000 to support an experimental project where a group of women will help develop characters, collaborate on the script and act as crew to produce a groundbreaking feature-length film.

William Fried, Mecklenburg—$1,647 to purchase technology for mobile score setup.

Miranora Frisch, Cabbarus—$3,000 to support “String Music by Black Composers,” which will include a public performance, a video recording, and a national conference presentation.

William Gaddis, Gaston—$3,000 to complete an album of original compositions.

Patrice Gopo, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support one-to-one mentorship and coaching.

Jonathan Grauel, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase a 3D printer.

Darrin Griggs, Cleveland—$3,000 to purchase a printing press.

Carmen Gripper, Mecklenburg—$2,501.14 to support the Growing Up Art & Science Camp.

Raymond Grubb, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to prepare and distribute self-promotional materials to accompany and point to current projects and past work.

Hannah Hasan, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to write, edit, and record a collection of stories and poems about home during the Hermitage Fellow Artist Residency.

Marc Hoffman, Rowan—$3,000 to support the composition, rehearsal, performance and recording of a new string quartet to be premiered by the Beo String Quartet at the Charlotte New Music Festival.

Teresa Hopson, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support “Singing in the Dead of Night,” an all-black and all-female artist showcase.

Timmy Hord, Mecklenburg—$2,875 to support the creation of a series of large oil paintings from photos of Grandfather Mountain’s profile in each season.

Ralph Jannelli, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support increased studio space and material for large scale ceramic sculpture.

William Jenkins, Mecklenburg—$2,600 to support “The Black for the First Time” project.

Amber Johnson, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to choreograph a new dance that examines the gender specificity of classical ballet vocabulary.

Anna Kenar, Mecklenburg—$1,200 to purchase professional camera equipment.

Jinna Kim, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support 2022 artist residency at Kuenstlerstadt Kalbe in Germany.

Laurie Klaus, Rowan—$3,000 to attend the A1s conference or another similar event for entertainment industry professionals.

Elizabeth Lauren Kowalski, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase a new computer.

Troy Kryzalka, Cabarrus—$2,939.68 to support “Number Drummer ON-DEMAND: The One-of-a-Kind Music Through Math Learning Experience.”

Dylan Lloyd, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase a computer workstation to process, edit and create music for recordings and live performance with clarinet and live electronics.

Shane Manier, Cabarrus—$2,089.09 to create a film portfolio for career promotion.

Jeremy Marks, Cabarrus—$3,000 to record the New Trombone Ensemble Repertoire.

LaDara McKinnon, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to participate in The Harding Art Show.

Eric Millard, Cabarrus—$3,000 to support a diversity focused trumpet ensemble commission.

Fay Moyers, Gaston—$570 to purchase a kiln electro-sitter.

Frederick Murphy, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support “Duality: A Collection of Afro Indigenous Perspectives.”

Brian Neher, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to update their current website, making it more user friendly and accessible for mobile devices.

Dorne Pentes, Mecklenburg—$2,840 to purchase Inkjet and sublimation printers and supplies.

Ngoc Lan Pham, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support the production of “The Last Rest.”

Ron Philbeck, Cleveland—$1,400 to purchase a 2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Stacey Pilkington-Smith, Lincoln—$1,385.64 to purchase an Epson printer to produce books and prints.

Petra Pingel, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase an electric kiln and equipment to have a professional set-up for the completion of 4 large flower panels.

Kilee Price, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support Stone House Art Gallery.

Hoan Rahlan, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to acquire a studio space and purchase supplies.

Kayla Reische, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support “The Fig & The Wasp,” which explores the complex relationship between these two organisms through costume and film.

Terrence Richard, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to produce a full-length album tentatively titled “Alan Charmer Presents…”

Jayland Sanders, Rowan—$3,000 for The Emergence of J.J. Sanders L.L.C.

Arsena Schroeder, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to secure PR services for the full-length album, “Metamorphosis: The Evolution of Arsena.”

Gregory Allen Scott, Mecklenburg—$2,835 to attend the 55th annual National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts conference in Sacramento, California.

Amy St. Aubin, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to complete building a studio, including adding windows, doors and a solar power source.

Hamilton Ward, Gaston—$3,000 to support the creation of cyanotype prints made from photographs taken in a digital landscape.

Camerin Watson, Mecklenburg—$2,700 to fund a trip to Axis’ Dance Summer Intensive and Teacher Training to develop greater proficiently in choreography for inclusive groups of dancers (with and without disabilities).

Brandon Weiner, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support a North Carolina Nature & Wildlife Conservation profile.

Rosalia Torres-Weiner, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to purchase tools, art supplies and materials for a new series of multi-media artwork focused on Latinx stories of the pandemic, to be featured in a solo exhibition at the Diamante Arts and Cultural Center in Cary.

William White, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to participate in an online Masterclass offered by seasoned bespoke tailor Lee Marsh.

Bradley Wik, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to support the recording costs for an upcoming album.

Brianne Wik, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to publish the third book in her debut romantic fantasy trilogy.

Ashia Williams, Mecklenburg—$2,000 to support “Masked: A Reflection on Black Masculine-Presenting Women Experiences.”

Tamara Williams, Mecklenburg—$3,000 to attend an online choreography training session which cumulates with face-to-face instruction at Casa de Cultura SoMovimento.

Bryan Wilson, Mecklenburg—$1,551.91 to purchase a new iPad and accessories needed as a painting companion.

Luciano Xavier da Silva, Mecklenburg—$2,960 to purchase Brazilian percussive instruments to provide Brazilian music to the Charlotte community.