Newsletter Issue #1
News from the Mesa
This is a wrap for our first year of programming, and we are thrilled with your response so far. It looks like we’ll end the year by hosting a total of 6 self-directed residents - https://www.wowartsci.org/alumni (we also had two artists stay unofficially, thank you!). We are currently hosting our first supported residents, the collaborative duo of Hillary Bohm - http://hillarybohm.com/ - (LA) and Carmen MC Vigilante - https://www.youtube.com/@mcvigilante7027/videos - (RI). They will be followed almost immediately by Cynthia Hauk - http://mindfulcreativemuse.com – (CO). There will be more about the supported resident stays on social media and our website very soon.
Our art and movement studios as of 11/2/2023 – electric lines are in but still waiting for final install and inspection. After that is done we will put in new stairs and start the interiors.
Studio Updates
At the beginning of the year, we were fortunate enough to be able to purchase the 10 acres immediately behind our property. There were two practically brand-new unfinished lofted barns on the property, which were moved over the summer down to our budding courtyard garden area. We primed, painted, and replaced one broken window over the summer (the anvil), and we’ve been in a holding pattern since August. The electrical extension and trenching we need completed before finishing the interiors was finally started at the end of October. Now we wait again for final installation and inspection. We will be working on the interiors all winter. In the meantime, our supported residents have a nice large open space in our currently solar powered workshop. Hopefully in 2024 there will be fully functioning movement and art studios for all residents to use. Keeping our thumbs twiddling as we wait!
2024 Self-Directed Residencies
The self-directed residency application (https://www.wowartsci.org/selfdirectedapp) for January – June 2024 is now available, there are a total of 9 weeks available. The residency rate for 2024 remains at $500 +tax/fee for 7 days/6 nights. We had to increase our rates over the summer due to soaring insurance costs. We don’t have much hope these will stabilize anytime soon but will revisit our rates on a regular basis. Our goal is to get as many interested artists and scientists to visit as possible without being too much of a financial burden for them.
2024 Supported Residencies
We are in the process of planning our 2024 supported residencies. There will be at least 2 (maybe 3) available in 2024. Our supported residencies provide 11 days/10 nights of accommodation and a cash stipend to be used by the residents in whatever way they wish. For certain one of the residencies will be during the summer months for educators only. Stay tuned, supported residency applications will be available by the end of 2023.
WOWArtSci in 2024
Our mission is to provide a safe, quiet, relaxing, and stimulating space for artists and scientists to explore themselves and their creative practices. In 2024 we will expand our programming with workshops, open studio visits, lectures, events, and community outreach. 2023 was all about getting started, 2024 is about continued organic growth. To help WOWArtSci maintain its momentum we are seeking to raise funds (https://www.wowartsci.org/make-a-donation) to provide additional support for our residents, projects, and expand our art supply and equipment inventory. Looking forward to an expansive and creative 2024. Thanks for your continued interest and support!
That’s it for now - See you in 2024 with Issue #2 coming in January.
