The GBU Mentorship Program
Further explained
Two weeks ago, I introduced The Ground Beneath Us Mentorship Program. The description was very brief so I want to go a little more in depth here. If you’ve been reading this newsletter, you will recognize a thread. I first conceived of The Ground Beneath Us as an alternative to more professionalized art schools. It morphed over the next decade. That decade also coincided with the rise of MAGA and the quick dismantling and discrediting of institutional pillars. It saw the rise of rageful alienation and fractured citizenry through ever more potent social media. Finally, like a building whose support beams have had an invisible termite infestation for decades, the last year saw collapse after collapse of basic support systems. AI grows and continues to eat energy and jobs. None of this inevitable, nor is it irreversible.
I believe in art. I believe in an expansive idea of art school. Some people thrive in degree seeking structured institutions, some don’t. As a field however, there should be room for those who want more than weekend workshops (nothing wrong with those, I love participating) but also don’t want or can’t afford to enter into a full program. Their practice might be well underway, they just lack community or feedback. They might know that they want to get to a particular place but the gap between here and there seems insurmountable. They might have gone to art school years ago and need some structure to return to an abandoned practice. Legitimacy comes from within. That is the purpose of this mentorship. It is to give you a full one-on-one experience, the same I give to thesis students and grad students.
Since I posted this two weeks ago, the economy has gone bonkers, thanks to a foolish war. I am lowering the price to $1200. I am also opening up more spots. That way hopefully more people could participate. In pricing this, I am trying to balance affordability with my own needs. This is not funded by anyone else. This, like the name implies is from the ground up. I have been teaching for twenty five years. I was a non-traditional student. It took me a long time to finish my degree and I never received an MFA. Nonetheless, I created a vigorous studio and writing practice. I have always taught as an adjunct or visitor in college level classes. I love doing that, but I recognize that not everyone fits that same mold. So this mentorship brings that experience to you and is tailored for you.
You can expect:
Feedback and critique on your work
Readings and artist suggestions
Guidance for finding grants, fellowships, residencies etc.
Connection with the larger cohort
One on one discussions about studio practice and professional practice
Depending on where this goes (I’m loathe to predict anything these days), in the future there could be in person components such as intensive atelier, workshops and cohort conferences. More on that later.
I will be holding an informational online session on March 20, 2026 at 10AM PT. Email me at dduford@groundbeneathus.org for a link and more information.
I will be returning next week with another installment from The North American Codex.
AND A REMINDER:
Order a copy of my new book Four Scaffold Visions: Poems and Pictures from Lulu. This is the second of my books from Ground Beneath Us Books.
Also available: The Naked Boy Graphic Novel
PRAISE FOR THE NAKED BOY:
“The Naked Boy retains a classic feel as Duford pulls Native American creation myths and superhero comic conventions into a rich (and strange) tapestry. Duford’s artwork, which sets blotchy black-and-white figure drawings against imposing warped-perspective architecture, is reminiscent of fine comics artists like Ben Katchor and Jeff Lemire. That free-flowing, unpolished style allows all these strange characters and cross-cultural story elements to intermingle pretty seamlessly. It’s hard to guess at where The Naked Boy is headed, but the bumpy road that takes you there is hard to turn away from.”
Casey Jarman in The Willamette Week
