USA Projects

The Pipeline Art Project started with a handful of Wyoming contemporary visual artists realizing they all wanted the same thing: to live in the place they love, and to have viable art careers.  But art opportunities are usually found in higher population areas.  

We knew that to market our work outside the state, we needed to pool our ideas and resources. So we created the Pipeline Art Project: “Pumping Art from the Energy State of Wyoming.”

Wyoming is better known for exporting coal, oil and gas than for its dedicated and talented contemporary artists.  It’s the perfect place to make art, but a very tough place to build an art career. Pipeline wants to change that. We are trying to create a conduit to an international audience and better opportunities for ourselves and others.

David Klarén, Sue Sommers and JB Bond have been selected to exhibit at Red Dot Fair in Miami, Florida this winter.  Red Dot is an important venue during Miami Art Week in early December every year.  Our goal is to exhibit our work to an international audience, network with other professional artists, attract opportunities from galleries, collectors and curators, and possibly sell artwork.  We are excited to have been selected and are confident that our work will hold its own beside our contemporaries.

Our biggest challenge – apart from time and energy – is financial. A small booth, travel to and from Miami, insurance, and other costs will total about $21,000.  Red Dot is a great opportunity, and we’re committed to seeing it through.  After lining up several matching grants, we have $12,000 to go. We’d like to reduce this amount by raising a minimum of $8000 in donations.

Here’s the cherry on top:

This project is the first of its kind in our state. The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund has awarded the Pipeline Art Project funding for a public presentation to Wyoming artists next spring.  We’ll show our work and talk about our experience in Miami so that other artists can benefit.

Our plan has spurred the Wyoming Arts Council and the University of Wyoming Art Museum to build an entire artists’ symposium around the Pipeline presentation, adding sessions on the business of art, artist residencies, and avoiding scams. We look forward to giving back to Wyoming artists and building opportunities in the visual arts.

But first , we have to get to Miami, and we need your help. Your support will help raise cultural awareness and enjoyment for everyone – not just Wyoming residents, but people everywhere, who may not know that great art gets made in Wyoming.

Thank you for any support you choose to give. And thank you, United States Artists.