Walker Hancock Sculptor-in-Residence Program at Paul Manship’s former home and studio

Manship Artists Residency is honored to establish a residency in memory of Walker Hancock, FNSS (1901-1998), a celebrated local artist who is among the first to be commemorated in this way.  More than a colleague, Walker Hancock was a close friend and in-law of Paul Manship.  They also shared a deep love of Cape Ann and Lanesville, where Manship had a summer residence and studio, and where Hancock settled.

ELIGIBILITY

Preference will be given towards an artist who is both a working sculptor and a teacher and who has dedicated themselves in some way to the service of their community.  The sculptor-in-residence (‘SIR’) must be available to live and work at the Manship Artists Residency for the duration of the residency. The selected sculptor is responsible for their living expenses (i.e. food, materials, and transportation). Public transportation is limited, and it is advisable for the resident to have a car.

Residency candidates must be citizens of, or residents in the United States with a social security number. The residency is awarded without regard to sex, ethnicity or religion.

The selected sculptor will receive:

• Two weeks lodging at the Manship residence
• $2,500 cash award from the National Sculpture Society

TO APPLY

Sculptors are asked to submit the following:

• Images of six to twelve different works with up to 3 views each, with a maximum of 36 images.
• A resume

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:  TBD

RESIDENCY

The sculptor’s residency will be at the former home and studio of one of America’s foremost public sculptors, Paul Manship, located in Gloucester, MA.  Best known as the creator of the Prometheus Fountain at Rockefeller Center, Paul Manship developed this Lanesville estate in the artistic community of Cape Ann in Gloucester, MA.

The residency will take place in 2023 for a consecutive period of 14 days total.  The winning sculptor will live in the Manship residence and work in a studio on the grounds.  The Manship residence has five bedrooms which alternate between living and work space depending on the needs of the artists in residence.  Paul Manship’s seasonal studio space and an 8 x 8 ft studio on the grounds also will be available.

Applications will be reviewed by a jury of three persons appointed by the National Sculpture Society which will include a board member of the Manship Artists Residency. The jury will determine the recipient based on the sculptor’s application materials.

The sculptor-in-residence will be required, with the help of the staff of the Manship Artists Residency, to schedule times to interact with the public, either by giving a talk, doing a demonstration, and/or leading a workshop.

Manship Artists Residency

Manship Artists Residency is part of a vibrant community of artists that has long flourished in the Lanesville section of Gloucester, Massachusetts.  Located north of Boston on Cape Ann, this region has historically been a mecca for artists.  The idyllic 15-acre property boasts two pristine quarries, scenic vistas, rocky summits, and some five acres of forested land. It is the former summer residence and studio of Paul Manship, best-known as the sculptor of the Prometheus Fountain at New York’s Rockefeller Center.

Manship Artists Residency believes that diversity and inclusion are essential to fulfilling its mission. MARS wants to inspire and nurture the human spirit and values the perspectives and contributions of all people.  The Manship experience includes varied ideas, world views, and personal characteristics.  The Manship Artists Residency is committed to being a community that welcomes and respects everyone regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, philosophical or political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, and socioeconomic status.  MARS is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination.

More about Walker Hancock (1901-1998)

Hancock first came to Gloucester as a student of Charles Grafly, his teacher at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA).   He lived in Philadelphia during the school year and spent summers working in Grafly’s Folly Cove studio. In 1925, Hancock won the esteemed Prix de Rome, and spent the next three years at the American Academy. Not long after his return, he became the sculpture instructor at the PAFA following Grafly’s tragic death.  Hancock would soon purchase a property in Lanesville and build a studio there, making Cape Ann his home, while commuting to Philadelphia until his retirement thirty-eight years later.

In addition to his influence as tenured sculptor instructor at PAFA, Hancock created important public monuments, including the deeply moving Pennsylvania Railroad War Memorial located in Philadelphia’s Thirtieth Street railroad station. He was considered the dean of American figurative sculpture. Those who knew him, recognized him as a true mentor.  He was a gentleman scholar and a gracious host, who also served his country as an army officer and “Monuments Man,” responsible for the repatriation of stolen cultural treasures after World War II.