Chatham Arts Council

We nurture creative thinkers

  • ClydeFEST 2022
  • About
    • Our Who, What, Why, and How
    • Our Past
    • Our Friends
    • Our Press
    • Our Contact Info
  • Kids
    • Arts for Resilient Kids Season 2021-22
    • Artists-in-Schools
    • ArtAssist for Kids
    • ClydeFEST 2022
  • Artists
    • Meet This Artist
    • Go See This
    • Arts Directory
    • Arts Calendar
    • Chatham Experience 2021
    • Grant Programs
    • – Jumpstart Application (closed)
    • – Grassroots Arts Grants (closed)
    • – Artist Support Grants (Sept 1 Deadline)
    • – Emerging Artist Grants (Sept 30 Deadline)
  • Who Values Arts
  • GIVE
    • Individuals & Families
    • Businesses & Groups
    • Lily’s Golden Birthday

Search Chatham Arts Council

August 5, 2014

Spotlight! Local Photographer Michael Lento Receives Emerging Artist Grant

This is the final post in a four-part series spotlighting Chatham County Emerging Artist Grant recipients for 2014. The Emerging Artists Program is a project grant program that provides financial support to developing or established professionals by funding a project pivotal to the advancement of their careers as artists.

Here’s what photographer Michael Lento had to say.

LentoWhat is your first memory of creating art? 
Before I started kindergarten I used to go to the local library and they held an art class for kids. We would make various arts and crafts.

Where does your creative inspiration stem from?
I am not exactly sure where my creative inspiration stems from. I spend a lot of time daydreaming. Most of my ideas come from daydreaming.

What tends to be your favorite subject matter?
Well… I am in most of my pictures. When I first started taking pictures I wanted to take on a style that no one else was doing. I am from a small town and I was afraid of what models would think of my style as I was still refining my work process, so I decided to avoid models all together. I became my own model as I developed my style. Once I realized what my style was, I continued to do self-portraits.

Briefly describe your creative process and technique.
I usually take anywhere from 25 to 100 photos and piece them together like a puzzle into one coherent photo.

What are your goals for your art?
I don’t really have many goals. I just want to be proud of what I make.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?
Don’t confuse your hobby or profession with who you really are. You are not an artist. You are much more than that.

What is your dream project?
I always wanted access to an empty house and then furnish it as if a family were living there. I would take thousands of pictures of the furnished house, inch by inch, and then print out the pictures in a 4×6 format. Then I would take the furniture out and place the 4×6 pictures on the walls, floors and ceiling of the house.

The Emerging Artists Program is funded through grants from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, the Orange County Arts Commission, the Granville Arts Council, the Person County Arts Council, the Chatham County Arts Council.

Related

By Chatham Arts Council | Filed Under: ChathamArts News, Meet this Artist | Tagged With: Recipients - Emerging Artist Grants

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Go See This

Go See This: Grand Opening Reception at Pittsboro Gallery of Arts

As Chatham Park continues to develop its community, they remain dedicated to supporting local art in Chatham County. As part of that commitment, Chatham Park is powering our Go See… Read More →


PO Box 418
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-0394
Email Us

Local Businesses Investing in the Arts

  • 2016-0912-cac_clydefest_sponsor_hobbs-architects_logo_small
  • 2016-0915-cac_clydefest_sponsor-logo_lesley-landis-designs
  • B and J Custom Printers

  • 2017-1119 CAC_Cheek Electric_logo
  • 2017-1119 CAC_Deep River Mercantile_logo
  • Opus_New Logo-08 (1)
  • absolute_logo_forbignitein
  • Belle_Fleur
  • kindred_gallery_vertical_logo
  • ©autumns creek
  • CHR
  • Life 1031 Logo 2018 white background
  • Chatham Mag logo
  • TCF_make_a_difference_FINAL_CMYK
  • 2018-1102 CAC_The Jester Group at BAIRD_Logo (3)
  • MOSAIC-LOGO-CMYK_HORIZONTAL use this one
  • Chatham_Park_Logo_Stacked
  • 2021-0503 CAC_Logo_Women of Fearrington
Subscribe to our E-News
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Proud member of Arts NC and Designated County Partner to the NC Arts Council
Copyright © 2022 Chatham Arts Council • Website by Tomatillo Design