What is a DIY Art Residency?
For some time now I have been stalking art residencies online, imagining myself in exotic locations with nothing to do but focus on my art. I found myself hampered by two things, first the work I do often involves large equipment, my floor looms are about the size of a piano and not easily transported, not to mention my dye lab. Second was the logistics, having my availability coincide with the timing of the residency and acquiring/shipping the supplies and equipment that would allow me to make what I am interested. I kept thinking to myself that what I wanted was to transport my whole studio to a place where I had time to focus and access to other artist to talk to. Enter the DIY art residency.
Although there are huge advantages to a conventional residency including being pulled from one’s comfort zone, building community, and connecting with others, I realized that I could have most of what I was searching for at home if I could create an atmosphere of focus and collaboration. I cleared my schedule, I said no to all work that coincided with this month. I talked to my friends to see if anyone wanted to do little mini art intensives in parallel so we could chat. I picked a topic (tassels, for those of you following along at home), wrote goals, created opportunities to try new mediums (gouache and lathe turning, so far), and wrote rules for myself.
Although I’m less than a week into it I can say that I feel extremely creative, curious, and oddly like a thirsty person gulping directly from the hose. I do wish I had more outside perspective. My brain seems to work best with collaboration, debate, and inspiration involving other people, so if you’re reading this and want to chat about what you’re working on and how you think about it, please stop by.
And if you want to try your own DIY art residency here is the list of assets that I made myself before starting, which I found very helpful:
A list of goals for the residency which could be as simple as ‘follow my whims’ or as complex as you need them to help you stay on track and provide some structure. (Mine included aiming for a gallery show and updating my website.)
Guidelines for how you will spend your time including how many hours a day you want to focus on the project and what those hours could look like. Maybe it’s all in the studio or perhaps inspiration trips also count.
Clarification on the art that will be made. This is a time to explore something exciting that will pull you through any slow spots or existential crisis. This is not the time to work on something that you are doing for someone else or because you think you’re suppose to.
An artist statement. Who are you and why are you exploring this art? Why is it important to you to be doing this residency. (This one has been the hardest for me and I don’t have a good one yet, stay tuned)
Happy art-ing and please let me know if you try a DIY residency of your own.