Elizabeth’s First Artist Residency at ACRE

I was accepted to my first artist residency! From July 18-30th, I will be a curator-in-residence at ACRE, a residency program for emerging artists in rural Steuben, Wisconsin. I was one of 75 applicants selected to attend from a pool of 700. ACRE has become one of the most competitive residency programs, and I am honored to be counted among its participants.

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As most of you know, I have been working in the arts for almost a decade as a public art coordinator, curator, grant administrator and residency program administrator. Over the course of my career, I have helped over a hundred artists realize exhibitions, supported them in their applications to MFA programs and residencies, mentored them in how to write successful grants, and stayed up all night helping to install artworks.

In addition to conducting research for upcoming curatorial programs, I plan to use my time in the residency to write essays for upcoming exhibitions and try my hand on the ceramics wheel. I currently work for SPACE, an arts non-profit in Portland, ME and will researching and writing about food systems for an upcoming project in which I will be hosting pop-up restaurants with artists and chefs in the gallery.

I am also working on projects related to my role in a curatorial collective called Border Patrol. My collaborators Meg Hahn,  Jared Haug, and I  recently received a grant from the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation in support of our latest project, R.I.P.

R.I.P is a public art initiative that will place works inside of the mall and the cemetery as a way to talk through the politics and aesthetics of grief. By continuing to explore the boundaries between public and private space which we have done in our gallery, our hope with R.I.P. is to expand these notions within the cemetery and the mall-- both semi public/private spaces.

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ACRE's facilities include a ceramics studio, wood shop, and print making studio as well as a sound studio and tech lab. I have always wanted to learn how to work with ceramics and feel that this is an excellent opportunity to incorporate experimentation in my creative practice. I'm excited to learn from my peers and explore the most of what ACRE has to offer.

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The current grants available in the state of Maine to support this opportunity do not consider curators as artists or curatorial practice as artistic labor. Having spent the winter helping my great aunt Rita and my great uncle John transition into a nursing facility, I used all of my available paid time off from work that would allow me to receive a paycheck while I am in residence. I’m asking you to help me raise $1,800 to help fund the following expenses:

Flight from Portland, ME to Steuben, WI - $250

ACRE’s tuition - $700

Money to pay for rent and student loans while I am away from work - $800 

Materials for making and shipping work back to Maine - $125


Having spent years supporting artist projects, I know how much small donations can make a huge impact on a creative practice. I am grateful to have this opportunity and am appreciative of your support.

THANK YOU!

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