Why would I want a (free) studio:
For about nine years, my studio and bedroom have remained superimposed within a single realm. Less choice than necessity, this action originally begot by financial force has become an integral part of my studio practice. That being said, the home studio has its limitations. Many projects must be quashed out of simple respect for rented dwellings. Isolation is an equally regrettable result of such a practice. Such a state affects one’s emotions as well as the product of one’s endeavors. Studio progeny come to feel stifled and shut in. Though I hesitate to leave what has mostly worked so well, the promise of interaction through barter is quite inviting. In many ways, what I would I owe is exactly what I seek. Social engagement and artistic expansion are forces that flow in unison. This space stands ready to meet the needs left unanswered by my current domestic headquarters.
Out-reach!:
In this epoch of impending shortage, I often wonder what sort of art practice and aesthetic is born of scarcity. About a year ago (in addition to my painting) I started to create little message-laden bottles from the detritus of my consumption; I’d then scatter these slight containers teeming with poetry and drawings about the city. This simple effort towards artistic-recycling has morphed into something far more complex (for me anyhow). Not only do these votives fulfill a need to connect but they also create a platform for giving. While my paintings are stacked at home, longing for new homes and walls, these bottles are gladly set loose on the world. Through this residency, I hope to expand upon this fledgling project (perhaps link it more closely to my practice as a painter) as well as to create some workshops geared towards this sort of making.
