CURIOUS CITY, a children’s book consulting company that builds creative marketing projects and outreach for authors, illustrators, and publishers focused on engaging readers with story, is looking for an intern(s) for Winter/Spring 2013. That intern can be a college student from anywhere in the U.S.
THE INTERNSHIP would be focused on the picture book It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
“…the story of this man’s life is an introduction to a noted American folk artist of the 20th century, and a refreshing reminder that artistic talent is not limited by age or formal training.” –School Library Journal, Starred Review
THE BOOK is a biography of outsider artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of 83 began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life. As an enslaved boy on an Alabama farm in the early 1860s, Bill Traylor worked in the hot cotton fields. After slavery ended, Bill’s family stayed on the land as sharecroppers. By the time he was 79, Bill was all alone in the world. Lonely, poor and eventually homeless, he wandered the downtown streets of Montgomery, Alabama. But deep within himself Bill had a reservoir of memories of his lifetime spent on the land. When he was 83 years old, these memories blossomed into pictures. Bill began to draw people and places from his earlier life, as well as scenes from the busy city around him. Today, Bill Traylor is considered one of the most important American self-taught artists.
Page from IT JES’ HAPPENED
BILL TRAYLOR is featured in several upcoming exhibits including a summer show at the American Folk Art Museum in New York.
Don Tate (Author), R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator) of IT JES’ HAPPENED
INTERNSHIP GOALS include:
a) Creating a repository of information about Bill Traylor (in the form of a WordPress blog designed by Curious City) for readers, educators, and librarians.
b) Highlighting the incredible work of Don Tate and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
c) Creating an art lesson plans for grade school children and seniors using the book and Bill Traylor’s work.
The project will be partially designed around the intern(s) interests and talents.
CONTACT Kirsten Cappy at 207-420-1126 or kirsten@curiouscity.net.
A REFERENCE on interning with Curious City would be Liz Long elong@meca.edu
Hello, I would really be interested in interning with you this year. Like yourself, all my art skills are self taught, I’m currently studying art history but would love to be a childrens book illustrator one day. I would really value your teaching and guidance. Look at your internship goals I noticed the one concerning the lesson plan for schools. I previously studied primary education and feel I would be very suited to this internship. Thank you so much for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Kind Regards
Anna Harrison