Residency Artist Research and Translation Assistant

Posted by on December 8, 2006

[emailed 12/11/06]

Title of internship: Residency Artist Research and Translation Assistant

Start Date: January 16, 2007
End Date: April 30, 2007

Expected number of hours per week: The internship hours will fluctuate based on the research needs and when the artist is in Philadelphia, but will be at least 8 hours per week.

The hours are (or could be): during office hours and weekends (if and when Rachid is in Philadelphia), as needed

Compensation: volunteer or college credit

Description of internship: Artist Rachid Koraichi is interested in creating a site-specific art installation sited in Philadelphia neighborhoods that refer to histories usually passed over. He wishes to employ the writings of Philadelphia authors and poets, most of whom are African American, in groups of seven to provide commentary on the site (either direct or metaphorical), and to translate those writings into Arabic. The intern will provide translation during the artist’s visits to Philadelphia. The Research intern will be expected to collaborate on identifying appropriate writings in collaboration with the artist and guest curator, Salah Hassan. Authors currently under consideration are: WEB DuBois, Sonia Sanchez, Trapeta Mayson, William Penn, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, O.V. Catto, Phyllis Wheatley, Lorene Carey. Rachid Koraichi is an Arabic artist living in Paris, France. His aesthetic is deeply rooted in his multicultural Algerian heritage, and his art demonstrates a tremendous awareness of the most recent currents in the international contemporary art scene. Kora?chi works with many media, including ceramics, textiles, poetry, calligraphy, and paint. Born to a Sufi family in Ain Beida, Algeria, his work is intimately informed by the numerology, signs and ethos of Sufi mysticism. He was recently included in the international touring exhibition ‘Short Century’, and in the 47th and 49th Venice Biennale. Part of his installation, ‘Path of Roses’, comprising embroidered silk textiles, steel sculptures, roses and Turkish ceramics was recently acquired by the British Museum.

Specific skills needed: On-line research skills, familiarity with African American Literature, fluency in Arabic (and/or French).

To apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Cover letter should include what position you are applying for, how you heard about Philagrafika and what you hope to gain from an internship here. During the interview process the intern will be asked to submit a translation of a short text chosen by the curator and artist.