The Contemporary Arts Network

The Contemporary Arts Network Building sustainable careers for the creative class.

Today we say “Happy Birthday” to CAN Team member Kayda Plus by sharing this masterpiece of the man himself recently pain...
08/26/2026

Today we say “Happy Birthday” to CAN Team member Kayda Plus by sharing this masterpiece of the man himself recently painted by Nico Cathcart. An exciting year with Kayda lies ahead! Stay tuned for more soon!
Kayda Plus we thank you for your commitment to documentation & CAN Talk Podcast , your broadcasting with WHRO Public Media CANdo, all that you have always done behind the scenes to move the mission forward, & all that you’re preparing in the coming months ahead! May this be a fruitful and abundant dance around the sun! Happy birthday to you! Support Portsmouth Public Art (SPPA)

photos by JORDAN | 757 PHOTOGRAPHER 📸⚡️ with Rain Spann & Wil Swink during installation day for ‘Artists in Residence:...
08/26/2026

photos by JORDAN | 757 PHOTOGRAPHER 📸⚡️ with Rain Spann & Wil Swink during installation day for ‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’ Assembly

RSVP to the Opening Reception Assembly at the link in our bio

The CAN Foundation presents ‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’, a group exhibition featuring Wil Swink, MarieAnn Fluker, and Rain Spann at Assembly NFK. An opening reception will take place September 3, 2026 from 7-9 PM.

‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’ brings together the work of Wil Swink, MarieAnn Fluker, and Rain Spann. The exhibition reflects on the CAN Foundation’s Artist in Residence program, and the resident artists that help shape its story.

At the heart of CAN Foundation’s work, the Artist Residency provides artists with dedicated space, resources, metorship, and opportunities to develop their practices while engaging with the broader creative community. The residency is designed to support artists not only in the creation of new work, but in building sustainable practices and careers.

The exhibition welcomes Wil Swink as the 2026-2027 CAN Foundation Artist in Residence, while marking the culmination of MarieAnn Fluker and Rain Spann’s residencies with CAN. ‘Artist in Residence: Past and Present’ celebrates this transition while recognizing Fluker and Spann’s continued evolution within the organization. Fluker will step into the role of CAN Community Engagement Manager, and Spann will serve as CAN Exhibitions Manager at Assembly NFK, supporting exhibition operations and assisting with curation.

Together, the exhibition celebrates residency as a continuum, honoring residents past and present and the transitions in between.

Exhibition Announcement! RSVP to the Opening Reception Assembly at the link in our bio!The CAN Foundation presents ‘Arti...
08/19/2026

Exhibition Announcement! RSVP to the Opening Reception Assembly at the link in our bio!
The CAN Foundation presents ‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’, a group exhibition featuring Wil Swink, MarieAnn Fluker, and Rain Spann at Assembly NFK. An opening reception will take place September 3, 2026 from 7-9 PM.
‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’ brings together the work of Wil Swink, MarieAnn Fluker, and Rain Spann. The exhibition reflects on the CAN Foundation’s Artist in Residence program, and the resident artists that help shape its story.
At the heart of CAN Foundation’s work, the Artist Residency provides artists with dedicated space, resources, metorship, and opportunities to develop their practices while engaging with the broader creative community. The residency is designed to support artists not only in the creation of new work, but in building sustainable practices and careers.
The exhibition welcomes Wil Swink as the 2026/2027 CAN Foundation Artist in Residence, while marking the culmination of MarieAnn Fluker and Rain Spann’s residencies with CAN.
‘Artists in Residence: Past and Present’ celebrates this transition while recognizing Fluker and Spann’s continued evolution within the organization. Fluker will step into the role of CAN Community Engagement Manager, and Spann will serve as CAN Exhibitions Manager at Assembly NFK, supporting exhibition operations and assisting with curation.
Together, the exhibition celebrates residency as a continuum, honoring residents past and present and the transitions in between.

Our hearts are with all impacted by the loss of Tony C., the creative community of Hampton Roads that knew him well. To ...
08/14/2026

Our hearts are with all impacted by the loss of Tony C., the creative community of Hampton Roads that knew him well.
To our CAN Family member Jaida Garrison, we are in admiration of the work you two have done with TheDoperShow. Your care for community and for space making for creatives near and far has always been admired and appreciated deeply. We value and know the importance of that work and in it Tony’s memory will continue on.
What has existed within form finds freedom in formlessness and we know well that Tony is familiar with the rest alive in other realms.
Jaida Garrison, we hold you in our hearts along with Tony’s family. You are loved, prayed for, and in our thoughts.

Former CAN Foundation Artist in Residence is at work on archiving history. We give thanks for this very thoughtful ackn...
05/19/2026

Former CAN Foundation Artist in Residence is at work on archiving history. We give thanks for this very thoughtful acknowledgment of CAN co-founder & of the essence of the CAN. The work has always come from a place of passion and for those that understand and have understood the intention, we give thanks. An organization built by artists, for artists, intent on building sustained pathways for the creative class.

The CAN Foundation is honored to participate in the Uhaul exhibitions and workshops Community Day taking place this Sat...
04/30/2026

The CAN Foundation is honored to participate in the Uhaul exhibitions and workshops Community Day taking place this Saturday, May 2nd from 10am-4pm.

Within the Uhaul, CAN Foundation Artists in Residence - MarieAnn Fluker, Rain Spann, and Dathan Kane - will present murals, original works, and embellished prints.

Additionally, at 3:15pm, First Patron AIRs, MarieAnn Fluker and Rain Spann will present an interactive conversation and workshop. Read on for the workshop description:

Join & for a conversation exploring their work in the CAN Foundation U-Haul activation and the deeper realities of building a life through art. They’ll examine collaboration as a force that expands, challenges, and transforms both artist and process. Grounded in their residency experience, this conversation offers insight into the risks, evolution, and commitment required to grow a sustainable creative practice.The experience will include a participatory element, inviting attendees to engage beyond observation.

Job well done to Newport News Public High School students on their completion of window murals ! Many thanks to Junior ...
04/29/2026

Job well done to Newport News Public High School students on their completion of window murals ! Many thanks to Junior Apprenticeship Artist lead and our partners for making this important project possible!!! Stop by to check out their incredible work!

Day 1 of The Junior Apprenticeship murals complete. Many thanks to our project partners & and artist lead for making ...
04/23/2026

Day 1 of The Junior Apprenticeship murals complete. Many thanks to our project partners & and artist lead for making it possible. Read on to learn about the project.

The CAN Foundation, in collaboration with City Center at Oyster Point & Newport News Public Schools, offers a junior apprenticeship for high school art students. The apprenticeship is an opportunity for students to work within a collaborative team, guided by a professional muralist, to execute a public art project. Art teachers from each Newport News Public Schools public high school are engaged to select student teams to execute one window mural per school at City Center at Oyster Point in Newport News.

The mural process is facilitated by professional artist and sign painter, Ashley Carson.

About the artist:

Ashley Carson, one-woman owner of Restless Roots Signs, is a sign painter and freelance artist from Alabama that has called Hampton Roads home since 2019. She received her BFA in 2007 and is currently exploring the crossroads of fine and applied art as a local sign painter and public artist. Heritage crafts passed through generational knowledge are disappearing and Ashley serves as an educational link in the chain of sign painting knowledge. Her passion for collaborative community storytelling and historical preservation shines through in custom traditional hand painted signs and murals for commercial clients, cities, and public art projects that prioritize community engagement. Her goal is to add to the personality and character of a city with artist-designed signs versus mass produced signage that make your daily commute more enjoyable and meaningful. She also assists as a community resource and technical sounding board for other public artists through local artists groups, community engagement projects and arts education teaching public art at the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk.

A message from our friends at Pearl Bailey Library! Check out .b_ this Saturday and read on for more information. 📚 Join...
03/31/2026

A message from our friends at Pearl Bailey Library! Check out .b_ this Saturday and read on for more information. 📚 Join us for an inspiring conversation with Markis Bowers-Dunlap, author and illustrator of Asking About Art and Asking About Chefs. Markis will share how his creative process blends storytelling and visual expression to empower readers and spark curiosity about the world around them.
Hear firsthand about his journey as an artist and author, enjoy a Q&A session, and connect with a local voice dedicated to uplifting creativity in the Hampton Roads community. For more information call (757)247-8677

Address

9601 Warwick Boulevard
Newport News, VA

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Contemporary Arts Network posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Contemporary Arts Network:

Shortcuts

Share