Spiderweb illustration, created with black spots
Jim sitting on a chair with his bare foot on top of an ottoman

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

IN MEMORY OF

JIM WALROD

Jim Walrod (1961-2017) was an interior designer, curator, writer, and fixture of downtown New York. Growing up in New Jersey, he would gaze across the river and dream of a life in New York City; after high school he moved to the city to fulfil that dream. Despite his lack of a formal education, he went on to have a wildly successful career and was known for his original style, eclectic taste, and encyclopedic knowledge of contemporary design. He was a generous friend to many and was at his happiest when connecting people with one another—spinning a web of meaningful relationships.

ABOUT JIM’S WEB

Jim’s Web is a mentorship program that connects emerging creatives with creative professionals who can advise them on a project. The program is run by 8-Ball Community, a not-for-profit organization that generates collaborative and educational creative exchange through free, open-access platforms and events.

Jim’s Web came together from the decision of Jim’s dear friends Laila Gohar, Omar Sosa and Jeremy Liebman and Jim’s sister Kathleen Walrod to collaborate with 8-Ball Community, an organization Jim loved and supported. The intention was to honor their brother and friend’s knack for forming webs between artists of all fields through Jim’s own social network, creating unlikely friendships and collaborators along the way.

Mentors will contribute their expertise to one mentee over a four month period. Mentors will provide access to their studio or office throughout the mentorship period and advise the mentee on their proposed project.

Six mentorships will be awarded each year.

Each awardee will receive a grant of $3,000 to help them produce their proposed project. The completed projects will be showcased in a group exhibition at the end of the program. You can see images of our 2019 shows here.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

No age requirement.

Participants must be able to complete their project over 4 months period.

APPLICATION PROCESS

In addition to completing the form, applicants must submit up to 5 samples of past work (with explanations if needed) as a single PDF.

2020 application will be opening soon.

2019 AWARDEES

Architecture: Tova Kleiner

Fashion: Nicole McLaughlin

Fine Art: K. Wentrcek & A. Zebulon

Photography: Kimari Hazward

Product Design: Daniel Castillo

Publishing: Claire Hungerford

ABOUT 8-BALL COMMUNITY

8-Ball is an independent non-profit organization that — through free, open- access platforms and events — nurtures and supports a community of artists.

We provide virtual and physical meeting sites for people of all scenes, generations and backgrounds.

Our mission is to generate collaborative and educational exchange through public access television and radio station, an imprint, a self publishing fair, a public library, an internship program, a residency and series of workshops in art-related trades.

8-Ball Community operates free of elitism and is governed by its participants.