International Art Mission Grant

Local artists win international grant

The Houston based International Art Mission (I.A.M.); an artist grant making entity-under the guidance of Brent Bruni Comiskey recently closed their January 2012 deadline for the latest round of international grant giving opportunities, following their introductory grant award in November of 2011 awarded to San Antonio Artist, Gabriel Diego Delgado.

I.A.M. is to support artists, creators, and a producer via grants and commissions…the Mission is meant to invigorate the experience of art in society… to explore art and the creative forces to enhance, educate and enlighten humanity and culture.”  Although the International Art Mission is Houston-based, it has opened its unique submission process to an unrestricted audience, via social media promotional. Primarily on Facebook and Tumblr, I.A.M’s start-up proved financially constricted and almost unmarketable alluding to an almost inevitable conceptual failure. Formerly the Artwar Fund, the soon to be nonprofit found itself facing many other difficult questions in the initial launch; like all foundational seeds experiencing the growing pains of any company.

Political overtones, a misconstrued mission, unfavorable first impressions, and lack of social media interest plagued I.A.M. even before it could award the Round 1 Grant. Unrelenting in his focus, Brent continued forward, using his own personal money to fund Round 1, minus the financial sponsors he had anticipated to be secured before the original selection process was finalized at the end of October 2011. “I did not have many submissions to the first round, evident to what I saw as a direct result of the political nuances of the original name, which were irrelevant to me… I think a lot of artists were hesitant to be affiliated with something called the Artwar Fund, when in actuality, I was open to any and all artists who were serious about their own work and their confidence on their contribution to the Art World”, Brent says.

With the only rule being the submission of 5 images of  artwork, and a small optional artist statement, the simplicity process is reflective of more well- know Artist Grants like the Texas based Hunting Prize and the San Antonio Artist Foundation Grant, making it a straightforward and almost effortless application. With Brent’s decision to award the first round of award money to Gabriel Diego Delgado, he committed himself to pushing forward in an unremitting dedication to the Arts.

Having found Gabriel Diego Delgado’s artwork inline with the core values of the vague mission of the then Artwar Fund, the recognized artist and his overtly social/political imagery spurred internal dialogue within the Mission of the quasi-political base of what Brent was trying to support. He sought guidance from fellow peers and Art Professionals to take time to step back and reevaluate the concept behind his fund; pouring over personal certitude of his love for “Outsider Art”, “Political Art”, art on the cusp of Mainstream Markets like a Post-Contemporary affiliation coupled with the foundational concept of an opportunity for any artist. With Brent’s assessment to move through Round 1, he was certain to turn around the next round of grants in a relatively quick timeline, creating what was seemingly a quarterly grant making process. His dedication to his mission sparked the interest of other colleagues and supporters who saw his perseverance, who then contributed financial support to his artistic vision.

 In awarding San Antonio artists with the first two rounds of money, Brent alludes to his support and humble pride of his direct lineage to the notable Texas Bruni Family. Quick to state a simple history lesson, Brent says, “I have a maternal connection to Jose de Urrutia (ca. 1678 to 1741), a historical figure in the settlement of Texas and captain of San Antonio de Bejar… one of his descendants married Patrick Henry producing a child who then married Antonio Mateo Bruni (1856- 1931); politician, rancher, Vice President of the First national Bank in Laredo, and Founder of Bruni, Texas…I come from a long line of prominent figures from Spain, Texas and the San Antonio region, and if I can support the vibrant Art Community of San Antonio, I am ever so proud to do so.”

As Grant Award Winner, Gabriel Diego Delgado’s financial award will be used for the production of new artwork. Ashley Kirkland Chiles’s monetary award help in the funding of future film productions. James Saldivar’s “Spotlight” award will be applied toward his creation of a new body of work leading into Contemporary Art Month 2012.