History
Project 1612 is an independent artist-run project and short-term residency located in Morton, Illinois. The project is co-curated by Jessica Bingham (she/her) and Alexander Martin (she/her/they/them) and exists in the backyard and garden of Bingham and her partner Zach Ott (he/him). This domestic art project was co-founded in Peoria, Illinois in August 2015 and originally existed within a detached garage. Project 1612 seeks to serve and support early and mid-career artists looking to experiment in their practice in a non-traditional exhibition setting, while also allowing Bingham and Martin to build and maintain their curatorial practices. Project 1612 is without a doubt an art project. Since opening, Project 1612 has hosted traditional and experimental artists, including painting, photography, video, performance, installation, sound- and time-based work, and viewer participatory projects. The short-term residency lasts 4-6 days and artists end their time with an ephemeral exhibition that is open to the public on the last day.
Overview
Project 1612 seeks to support historically underrepresented artists including womxn, LGBTQIA, BIPOC, and parents. Since opening in 2015, Project 1612 has hosted traditional and experimental artists, including painting, photography, video, performance, installation, sound- and time-based work, and viewer participatory projects. The short-term residency lasts 4-6 days and artists end their time with an ephemeral exhibition that is free and open to the public on the last day.
Project 1612 is not a business or NFP, it is an extension of our studio practices. We simply ask that artists come to make and share their art with our community. Project 1612 does not receive monies from artists in any capacity. There are no submission fees, no participation fees, and no commissions of sales. If a someone is interested in purchasing an artwork from a participating artist, that transaction is solely between artist and patron. Project 1612 is operated out-of-pocket for the founders, we are able to provide free lodging onsite, meal assistance, and travel while visiting.
Funding
Project 1612 exhibitions and artist residencies are sponsored by Big Picture Initiative. Big Picture Initiative is a 501c3 whose mission is to build a thriving and vibrant community for all by using arts and creativity as a driver for social change, economic development, and wellness. They do this by providing arts-based solutions, promoting and supporting artists and arts initiatives, and advancing arts education. Visit their website here.
Outreach
Project 1612 strives to provide educational opportunities to visitors through film screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, online artist features, and class visits. We have hosted group exhibitions for Bradley University art students, partnered with the Society for Photographic Education (SPE), participated in Peoria's Citywide Celebration of Women in the Arts, hosted artists for the international Terrain Biennial. We have also been invited for radio interviews with Arts Partners for WCBU’s Out and About, been featured in articles for Peoria Magazine, and published exhibition reviews for Sixty Inches From Center.
Internship
From 2016 through 2019, Project 1612 supported an internship program for area art students. The internship offered opportunities to work with artists outside of the academic setting, install exhibitions, maintain a gallery space, and write reviews for exhibitions in the Peoria-area. Interns curated and exhibited their work to complete the internship.
Past Interns
Haley Funk - 2017-2019
Dylan Pashke - 2017-2019
Anna Fredrick - 2016-2017
2015 at the original location in Peoria, IL
Left to right: Co-founders Alexander Martin, Jessica Bingham, and Zach Ott
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wright
![Screen Shot 2022-03-24 at 11.07.40 AM.png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/565e67dbe4b0a34a5c57b492/1651524310496-6QM09NUEC8SZRY4SVP3V/Screen+Shot+2022-03-24+at+11.07.40+AM.png)
Above: Current location in Morton, IL.