Artists in Residence at IslandWood

By looking at process, medium and technique, artists offer innovative ways to expand the students understanding and relationship with both natural systems and cultural communities, providing them with the language and models to explore and express such connections. Each artist brings something very special to our community, which includes their unique sensibilities, their perspective as an artist and their ability to foster creativity in others.

Artists are selected on their teaching experience as well as artistic merit, exhibition and/or publishing experience. Each residency will focus on a particular concept that integrates with IslandWood's curriculum. The length of the artist's residency may last from one day to three weeks depending on the needs of the center. Some of the disciplines that have been represented in the last two years are, digital video, Native American storytelling, African drumming, body movement and dance, Japanese Sumi painting, editorial cartooning, and theater.

Connecting the creative process and scientific inquiry allows for innovative ways of learning. The Artist-in-Residence program provides a gathering place for local, national and international artists. These artists who represent various disciplines, media, cultures, experience and age work with visiting school children and adults in the School Overnight Program and Community Programs to expand their understanding and relationship with both natural systems and cultural communities through experiential and inquiry-based exploration in the outdoors. The length of residencies may last from one day to three weeks, with an emphasis on the longer residency.

Eligibility:

Resident applicants are selected on teaching experience as well as artistic merit, exhibition and publishing experience. The application process is on-going throughout the year. Artists interested in teaching during the School Overnight Program are scheduled from September through June. Artists interested in teaching in Community programs are scheduled throughout the year.

Responsibilities:

Artists teaching in the School Overnight Program or presenting in the Community Programs are teaching artists. Artists working in the School Overnight Program have experience working with children, particularly elementary age, (4th and 5th graders). Artists working in the community programs may have experience working with adults and/or children.

The length of the residency within the School Overnight Program will range from one week to three weeks. At the beginning of the residency, the IslandWood Arts Coordinator works very closely with the artist to develop the integration of the artist's work with the project-based curriculum at IslandWood. In a three-week residency, the artist works with a new group of children each week from a different school, yet the project will remain consistent throughout the artist's time at IslandWood.

An artist teaching in the Overnight School Program for a three-week residency is requested to teach in IslandWood community programs sometime throughout the year. This provides an excellent opportunity for a broad exposure within the Northwest community for the artist and their work.

IslandWood provides lodging, plus an honorarium, a small travel and material stipend. Meals are provided while an artist is teaching.

What does the Overnight School Program look like for an artist?

Up to 100 students per week come to the center for four days and three nights. The classes are organized into manageable field group sizes of 8-10 students with an instructor and adult chaperone. Each day during the residency, the artist works with up to two different field groups of children.

What does the community program look like for an artist?

Our community programs at IslandWood are filled with educationally focused programming for children, families, adults, and professionals. An artist may teach in a weekend program during the year or a weeklong workshop during the summer. Focused on life-long learning, workshops in the arts, science, and technology make IslandWood resources available to everyone. Some of our programs include: Digital Media in Your Classroom, Journaling and Illustration in Nature, Through Artists' Eyes: Sensing the World Anew, Sustainable Design for Architects and Designers.

For further information on the Artist-in-Residence Program or to request an application, please call our Art Coordinator, Jessica Henderson at 206-855-4325 or jessicah@islandwood.org