As winter unfolds, the bird feeder becomes a small stage for persistence. Birds arrive in quick, nervous bursts, take what they need, and disappear back into the cold. Some return daily, others vanish for weeks, but the feeder never stays quiet for long. There’s comfort in this rhythm of movement through scarcity, and it mirrors the way artists endure their own winters, coming to the work when they can, gathering a sketch, a sentence, a small idea, then retreating again. Progress isn’t always bold or visible, often it’s simply staying busy enough to keep faith, tending the work in modest, repeated ways until the light shifts once more.
IU Bloomington’s Eskenazi School seeks international artists/designers for the 2028 McKinney Residency lasting 4–6 weeks during Feb–Apr 2028. There is an $8,000 stipend. Visit the website to learn more. Deadline January 18.
NJPAC is commissioning 13 indoor and outdoor public artworks to activate its new mixed-use Newark campus, inviting community-engaged artists to reflect the city’s evolving stories through sound, movement, and history. Learn more at the website. Deadline is January 19.
Salina Art Center seeks submissions for the 2026 Mountain Plains Contemporary Art Biennial, a juried exhibition of contemporary visual art from the Mountain-Plains region exploring identity, place, and transformation across all media. For more information, visit the website. Deadline is January 20.
Praxis Center is rooted in the belief that a strong, steady artistic practice and the right toolkit can surely get you where you need to be. We have seen this again and again – the persistence and patience, they do pay off. Just like those birds at the feeder, it’s about coming back again and again, no matter what.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics and is currently faculty at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He has written seven books for artists, including Making it in the Art World. His seventh book, The Problems in the Art World: An Artist’s A-Z Action Guide, is available now.
Photo credit: Salina Art Center