We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on November 8, 2012.

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Grin City Artist Collective's renovation of our brick barn and corn crib into additional studio space to welcome 30 artists a year.

Scroll down for more information about and images of our rewards!

The Elevator Speech

Grin City Collective is dedicated to fostering new types of creative thinking and social impact for artists and non-artists alike.

What’s This Mean?

Grin City is an Artist Residency welcoming artists in all mediums. We provide housing, studio space, and the time and creative space to make creative work. We are also a volunteer collective. All residents participate in regular community outreach to gain exposure to the rural community of Central Iowa. In return, the community gains exposure to an international array of art and artists. Past residents have helped build sets for the Grinnell High School fall play, planned a free bagel & art day, organized a free shop, volunteered at the animal shelter, and taught children’s art classes.

How Kickstarter Will Help

We have reached the critical mass where we must expand and improve our studios. The rural Iowa farm on which Grin City is situated is not without its eccentricities, and we plan to highlight the unique space. First generation studios have been built in a former tofu factory, but we have reached capacity and need to expand from our current 5 studios to 4-6 more. These studios will be built in two out-buildings: the Brick Barn and the Corn Crib. But both of these spaces need major renovations to get them in working order.

Funds from this Kickstarter will literally help us raise the walls of our residency. Studio walls will be built and insulated; electric heating and cooling will be installed (it gets both very hot and very cold in Iowa). The Corn Crib will require some structural renovations to install the writers’ studios and build a mezzanine-communal-area in the loft between. Any additional funds raised over $10,000 will go toward new windows in our 130-year-old residency house, many of which are cracked from decades of use.

All renovation and building work will be done by community volunteers and artists.

Help us make Grin City an even more beautiful artist residency and collective!

Rewards

More details about our rewards are listed below.

Slip-cast porcelain screwdrivers by Jacki Whisenant '11 ($100 and $200 level)
Slip-cast porcelain screwdrivers by Jacki Whisenant '11 ($100 and $200 level)
All backers at the $5 or higher level will receive either a Popcorn mini-card by Jack Whisenant '11 or a Grin City postcard by Sophie Radl '12
All backers at the $5 or higher level will receive either a Popcorn mini-card by Jack Whisenant '11 or a Grin City postcard by Sophie Radl '12
Grin City Patch of our road sign ($10 level)
Grin City Patch of our road sign ($10 level)
T-shirt design #1 - Rorschach (limited sizes available) $25 level
T-shirt design #1 - Rorschach (limited sizes available) $25 level
T-shirt design #2 Grin City Landscape (all size available) $25 level
T-shirt design #2 Grin City Landscape (all size available) $25 level
"Supers" by Co-Director Molly Rideout with cover art by Jacki Whisenant '11 ($30 level
"Supers" by Co-Director Molly Rideout with cover art by Jacki Whisenant '11 ($30 level
sample drawing by Joe Lacina ($50 level) Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Joe's work. Your reward will be an original drawing yet to be created!
sample drawing by Joe Lacina ($50 level) Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Joe's work. Your reward will be an original drawing yet to be created!
Naughty Pills by Co-director Molly Rideout. Pill capsules containing words cut out of abandoned romance novels. The pills come in a glass bottle ($50 level and higher)
Naughty Pills by Co-director Molly Rideout. Pill capsules containing words cut out of abandoned romance novels. The pills come in a glass bottle ($50 level and higher)
"Queen Gidrea's Family Armor," by Chanel Matsunami Govreau '11. Prints are 18x24 unframed. Photo by Cory John Ploessl ($100 and $250 level)
"Queen Gidrea's Family Armor," by Chanel Matsunami Govreau '11. Prints are 18x24 unframed. Photo by Cory John Ploessl ($100 and $250 level)
"Compass Points" Original art work by Martha Tuttle '11 ($150 and $250 level). Each piece will vary slightly.
"Compass Points" Original art work by Martha Tuttle '11 ($150 and $250 level). Each piece will vary slightly.
Sample artwork by Collin Hatton '08, acrylic on paper ($80 and $150 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Collin's work. Your reward will be an original painting or print yet to be created!
Sample artwork by Collin Hatton '08, acrylic on paper ($80 and $150 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Collin's work. Your reward will be an original painting or print yet to be created!
18"x24" Sample digital print by Daniel Wallace '08 (two options at the $100 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Daniel's work. Your reward will be an original single or triptych print yet to be created!
18"x24" Sample digital print by Daniel Wallace '08 (two options at the $100 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Daniel's work. Your reward will be an original single or triptych print yet to be created!
36"x36" Sample acrylic painting by Joe Lacina ($500 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Joe's work. Your reward will be an original painting yet to be created!
36"x36" Sample acrylic painting by Joe Lacina ($500 level). Note: This is not the exact reward you will receive. This is an example of Joe's work. Your reward will be an original painting yet to be created!
Our first Nano Structure still in progress. This 8'x8' mini-studio is built on skids to be transported to any part of the Grin City property. Have one built for Grin City with your name and style in mind! ($2,000 level)
Our first Nano Structure still in progress. This 8'x8' mini-studio is built on skids to be transported to any part of the Grin City property. Have one built for Grin City with your name and style in mind! ($2,000 level)

More About our Contributing Artists

Jacki Whisenant

Erik Jarvis

Molly Rideout

Joe Lacina

Chanel Matsunami Govreau

Martha Tuttle

Collin Hatton

Daniel Wallace

Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter

Grin City Collective's staff is highly qualified to complete the studio renovations planned in this project. Co-Director Joe Lacina will be heading renovations. He is also Co-founder of the Philadelphia-based art gallery Extra Extra and his four years in gallery work proves he knows how to make a truly creative space. There is nothing at Grin City he hasn't been able to fix. Tom Lacina, who built our current artist studios, will contribute additional expertise and help. All electrical and HVAC work will be done by local professionals who have worked closely with the Grin City property for decades.

One challenge which we will face is acquiring and maintaining the volunteer force necessary for such a large-scale renovation project. As Director of the Grinnell Area Arts Council, Molly Rideout knows how to mobilize the volunteer troops. We are certain that our network of artists, local students from Grinnell College and Grinnell High School, community and board members will be able to fill this task.

FAQ

Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

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96
Backers
$10,650
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Oct 9, 2012 - Nov 8, 2012 (30 days)

  • Pledge $1 or more

    2 backers

    An emailed thank you from all of us at Grin City!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
  • Pledge $5 or more

    8 backers

    A letter-press postcard by Sophie Radl '12 or a handmade "Popcorn mini-card" by Jacki Whisenant '11 (this gift will come with all pledges of $5 or higher)

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
  • Pledge $10 or more

    8 backers

    A silk-screened patch of the Grin City sign

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $15 or more

    3 backers

    A CD of music by Erik Jarvis '12

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $20 or more

    5 backers

    Both the $15 reward and the $10 reward

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    23 backers

    Your choice from 2 t-shirt designs (see images in main description). Limited sizes available of Rorschach design.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $30 or more

    9 backers

    A limited edition book of Co-Director Molly Rideout’s short story “Supers” with artwork by Jacki Whisenant '11

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    8 backers

    An original drawing by Co-Director of Grin City and Curator of Extra Extra, Joe Lacina (see sample in main description) Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    0 backers

    2 bottles of Naughty Book Pills designed by Co-Director Molly Rideout (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $80 or more

    1 backer

    The Director Bundle! One original drawing by Joe Lacina and a limited edition book of Molly Rideout’s short story “Supers” with artwork by Jacki Whisenant '11 (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $80 or more

    0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)

    A digital 18"x22" print by Collin Hatton '08 (see samples of Collin's work in main description) Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    2 backers Limited (7 of 9 left)

    A slip-cast ceramic screwdriver by Jacki Whisenant '11 and one bottle of Naughty Book Pills by Molly Rideout. (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)

    A limited-edition 18x24 photograph from Chanel Matsunami Govreau's '11 performance "Queen Gidrea's Family Armor" (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    2 backers

    One bottle of Naughty Book Pills; a limited edition book of Molly Rideout’s short story “Supers” with artwork by Jacki Whisenant '11; your choice from 2 Grin City t-shirt designs; and a CD of music by Erik Jarvis '12 (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)

    A single-image digital print by Daniel Wallace '08, 18"x24". (see samples of Daniel's work in main description) Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)

    A triptych digital print by Daniel Wallace '08, 18"x24" (see samples of Daniel's work in main description.) Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $150 or more

    1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)

    "Compass Points" on paper by Martha Tuttle '11; and an original drawing by Co-Director Joe Lacina (see sample in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $150 or more

    2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)

    Original 18"x22" acrylic on paper painting by Collin Hatton '08 (see samples in main description) Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $200 or more

    1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)

    A slip-cast ceramic screwdriver by Jacki Whisenant '11; one original drawing by Joe Lacina; one bottle of Naughty Book Pills by Molly Rideout; and the $25, $15, and $10 rewards (see samples in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)

    A limited-edition 18x24 photograph from Chanel Matsunami Govreau's '11 performance "Queen Gidrea's Family Armor"; and an original art work by Martha Tuttle '11 (see samples in main description)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    0 backers

    Local foods dinner for 2 with current artists-in-residence. In July of next year, we invite you to a dinner party with our Emerging Artists in Residence. Food will be locally-sourced with much coming from our own garden. Dinner will conclude with a studio and grounds tour and discussion with our artists. Guests must provide their own transportation to Grin City.

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2013
  • Pledge $350 or more

    1 backer

    The Limited Edition Golden Grin City sneakers in your size!

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2013
  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)

    One new 30”x30” original painting by Joe Lacina (see samples of Joe's work in the main description). Note: this reward is not the image sampled. It will be one yet to be created by the same artist.

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
  • Pledge $750 or more

    0 backers

    A 5-day residency at Grin City Collective. Experience the residency first hand with your own room and studio! Scheduling as space allows. (Residents are responsible for their own transportation to Grin City)

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    2 backers Limited (4 of 6 left)

    Get a studio named after you and experience it with the $750 level reward.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
  • Pledge $2,000 or more

    1 backer

    A nano structure momunent to you! We will build a portable studio with your name emblazoned across it. This studio can be moved and placed anywhere on the Grin City property for artists to utilize.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013