Help Ash Fully Attend AADK Artist Residency
Donation protected
THE SHORT OF IT
After years of poring my creative energy into other’s visions, I want to finally devote a month to my own art practice at the AADK Spain Artist Residency focused on researching body, spatiality and territory. I’ve never done anything like this before, so here goes—
CAMPAIGN OUTLINE
1. Rundown/Backstory
2. What Your Contribution Means to Me
- Value of a Dedicated Month
- Thank You
3. Residency Info
- About AADK Spain
- About the Residency
- Residency Video
- **Cost break down**
4. My Art and Project Proposal
- My Artist Bio
- Summarized Project Proposal
1 ————————————————————————————————
RUNDOWN
There was a time in my life when I thought that my accomplishments only counted if I did them on my own. I used to think that accepting help from others meant disqualifying my own achievements. Perhaps I wanted to learn what I was capable of on my own if I set my mind to it. In a big way, I have.
Now I want to learn how to ask for help. This process in and of itself is quite challenging for me. But I also know that there is a lot for me to grow from in this process. And that the feeling of reaching out to my communities and having them reach back will be incredibly encouraging.
ADDITIONAL BACKSTORY
After graduating with honors from UCLA with a BA in Art and a minor in Art Education, I began a graphic design career to pay off my student debt and earn enough to have some of the simple comforts of western life (such as my own bedroom ;p). After 4 years as a full-time in-house graphic designer, I found myself in a rat race I never deeply wanted to win. So I made a promise to myself: to not jump into the next full-time design opportunity after my last position ran it’s course.
It took me years to believe that I am allowed to do this. That I am worthy of putting my Art degree to use in a direct way. That I deserve a chance to see what happens when I dedicate time into my own practice. That I am deserving of making art at all.
I've taken steps out of full-time corporate work slowly. As of July 2018, I began utilizing my Berlin Freelance Artist Visa to start art directing and designing for small business owners and other artists. As of August, I quit my full-time job and rely on my freelance work and savings solely. This shift has provided a lot of freedom and also a huge pay-cut (nearly a 70% monthly decrease). Essentially, I now earn just enough to meet each month’s necessary expenses combined with my savings. I obviously won’t be able to maintain this setup for too much longer. This is why I need to make this count now.
Freelancing over the past months has allowed me to put more time into training, art making, and collaborating on new work. In preparation and priming for the residency, I will continue freelancing while attending two dance intensives in Goa, India. People always ask me how I can afford to do things like this. Now that you know that I’m living off of freelance earnings and savings, I’ll let you in on the real secret: it costs me the same amount of money or more often less to spend a month living and training abroad compared to a regular month living in Los Angeles!
2 ————————————————————————————————
WHY AM I ASKING FOR YOUR HELP?
I am most enthused to participate in this residency so that I can expand my practice through the dedication of allotted time, the inspiration of an intriguing rural landscape, and the opportunity to collaborate with new artists. From the development of my practice while at this residency, I know I will conduct invaluable research for my art and create a body of work that could further my artistic opportunities in the US and EU.
I will attend this residency and give it my all regardless of receiving money on this campaign. But without the pressure to continue maintaining freelance clients and diverting energy into the companies, missions, and dreams of others—I will instead be able to invest that energy into my own. I know I will be able to reach deeper into the depths of my work and the possibilities available at this residency if the time I spend there is focused on making the work I’m there to do.
WHAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION MEANS TO ME
I know that having support from my community at this time will bolster my dedication, holding me not only accountable for what I wish to create, but accountable to put this work out into the world for all of you to see what you helped bring to life.
Your support is beyond monetary for me. The gift of your help at this budding moment in my artistic career is massively encouraging.
Thank you for believing in me.
3 ————————————————————————————————
ABOUT AADK SPAIN
AADK Spain is an international artistic platform based in Blanca, Murcia, to provide projects and research opportunities in contemporary art creation. AADK was founded in 2012 by performance artist Abraham Hurtado.
The headquarters of AADK Spain is Centro Negra. This space offers various programs focused on process and experimentation such as the residency program, interventions, cartographies and contemporary practices. The main interest across all programs is the exploration of body, spatiality and territory.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Centro Negra
Espacio de Investigacion y Creacion Contemporanea
Calle del Castillo, 30 Blanca Murcia Spain
www.aadk.es
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
I was selected to attend the month of February at the AADK Spain Artist Residency focusing on body, spatiality and territory.
AADK offers: Accommodation with fully equipped kitchen and shower; Working and exhibition spaces; Technical equipment; Mentoring by AADK members; Curatorial advice; Communication; Assistance on the production (not production costs); Public presentation of your process; Connections with local, regional, national and international institutions; The possibility to participate in other programs of AADK; Dissemination of work after the Residency program.
Participant Requirements: minimum of two years of professional experience in related fields. Submission of Letter of Motivation, Project Proposal, bio, portfolio, and residency application. AADK reviews all application materials and awards a small selection of artists to participate at AADK for 1-6 months.
Purpose: To connect practices and research during the residency period with the local context, and/or a broad approach around the topics of body, spatiality and territory.
Residency Video
**COST BREAKDOWN**
Residency Costs: Total costs per person in the residency program is 1500€ per month + accommodation, travel, materials, and living expenses.
Paid by host, AADK Spain:
AADK Spain invests 850€ ($975) per resident in the program, and the Municipality of Blanca provides the accommodation.
Studio space is also provided by AADK Spain.
Paid by me:
- 650€ ($746) per month
- If the resident works collectively there is an extra cost of 100 ($115) per month per person, only if working on the same project, and sharing the studio and accommodation.
- Travel cost total: 447€ ($513)
392€ ($450) one-way airfare ticket, 40€ ($46) train ticket, 17€ ($20) taxi
- Insurance: 69€ ($79)
- Day-to-day living expenses: 17€/day = 510€/month ($20/day = $600/month)
- Costs of production materials : 436€ ($500)
Projected Total ~ 2122€ ($2438)
Asking for: $2500
4 ————————————————————————————————
ARTIST BIO
"Raised in a small town on the east coast of the United States, Ash now primarily works out of Los Angeles, California and Berlin, Germany. While at the University of California Los Angeles, Ash studied painting and drawing abroad in the French Riviera and Paris. In 2014, she graduated with honors from UCLA with a BA in Art and a minor in Art Education. During her studies she produced work across a range of mediums, favoring abstract painting, mixed-media assemblage, movement photography, and multimedia installations and performances. Her shared process approaches throughout these mediums are the utilization of found materials, the element of chance, and the temporality of movement.
Ash has performed and exhibited installations, photography, and sculptures in Los Angeles. Inspired from attending various movement intensives over the years in the US, Europe, India, and Mexico, Ash’s work has taken on a more bodily approach. Continuing to educate herself in topics like world cultures, interpersonal communication, positive psychology, and dance, she is dedicated to research and work that embodies themes such as vulnerability, empathy, healing, identity, human connection, and authentic expression. Currently, Ash is devoting time to dive deeper into her work and aims to broaden her outreach."
ashwitham.com
WHY AADK SPAIN
It’s been a dream of mine to attend an artist residency, especially one abroad. I am specifically interested in the AADK Spain for the residency prompt to explore body, spatiality and territory. Additionally, I am inspired by the richness that is the landscape of Blanca, Murcia. After living in Madrid for 3 months and exploring other cities in Spain, I developed a fondness for the Spanish lifestyle and desire to continue exploring Spain’s cultures and any opportunity to practice the Spanish language.
SUMMARIZED PROJECT PROPOSAL
At this residency, I will research the movement of bodies interacting with and set against the unique landscape of Blanca, Murcia by photographing myself, other artists, and potentially locals of the city, interfacing with the texture of the mountains, orchards, and Segura river. Focusing on movement exploration, color studies, photography experiments, new creative rituals, and the art of collaboration, I will also maintain openness to discover new ideas that inspire further research and development. My process is rooted in my preference for found materials, the element of chance, and the tension between the limits and boundlessness of the human body moving in a particular space.
After years of poring my creative energy into other’s visions, I want to finally devote a month to my own art practice at the AADK Spain Artist Residency focused on researching body, spatiality and territory. I’ve never done anything like this before, so here goes—
CAMPAIGN OUTLINE
1. Rundown/Backstory
2. What Your Contribution Means to Me
- Value of a Dedicated Month
- Thank You
3. Residency Info
- About AADK Spain
- About the Residency
- Residency Video
- **Cost break down**
4. My Art and Project Proposal
- My Artist Bio
- Summarized Project Proposal
1 ————————————————————————————————
RUNDOWN
There was a time in my life when I thought that my accomplishments only counted if I did them on my own. I used to think that accepting help from others meant disqualifying my own achievements. Perhaps I wanted to learn what I was capable of on my own if I set my mind to it. In a big way, I have.
Now I want to learn how to ask for help. This process in and of itself is quite challenging for me. But I also know that there is a lot for me to grow from in this process. And that the feeling of reaching out to my communities and having them reach back will be incredibly encouraging.
ADDITIONAL BACKSTORY
After graduating with honors from UCLA with a BA in Art and a minor in Art Education, I began a graphic design career to pay off my student debt and earn enough to have some of the simple comforts of western life (such as my own bedroom ;p). After 4 years as a full-time in-house graphic designer, I found myself in a rat race I never deeply wanted to win. So I made a promise to myself: to not jump into the next full-time design opportunity after my last position ran it’s course.
It took me years to believe that I am allowed to do this. That I am worthy of putting my Art degree to use in a direct way. That I deserve a chance to see what happens when I dedicate time into my own practice. That I am deserving of making art at all.
I've taken steps out of full-time corporate work slowly. As of July 2018, I began utilizing my Berlin Freelance Artist Visa to start art directing and designing for small business owners and other artists. As of August, I quit my full-time job and rely on my freelance work and savings solely. This shift has provided a lot of freedom and also a huge pay-cut (nearly a 70% monthly decrease). Essentially, I now earn just enough to meet each month’s necessary expenses combined with my savings. I obviously won’t be able to maintain this setup for too much longer. This is why I need to make this count now.
Freelancing over the past months has allowed me to put more time into training, art making, and collaborating on new work. In preparation and priming for the residency, I will continue freelancing while attending two dance intensives in Goa, India. People always ask me how I can afford to do things like this. Now that you know that I’m living off of freelance earnings and savings, I’ll let you in on the real secret: it costs me the same amount of money or more often less to spend a month living and training abroad compared to a regular month living in Los Angeles!
2 ————————————————————————————————
WHY AM I ASKING FOR YOUR HELP?
I am most enthused to participate in this residency so that I can expand my practice through the dedication of allotted time, the inspiration of an intriguing rural landscape, and the opportunity to collaborate with new artists. From the development of my practice while at this residency, I know I will conduct invaluable research for my art and create a body of work that could further my artistic opportunities in the US and EU.
I will attend this residency and give it my all regardless of receiving money on this campaign. But without the pressure to continue maintaining freelance clients and diverting energy into the companies, missions, and dreams of others—I will instead be able to invest that energy into my own. I know I will be able to reach deeper into the depths of my work and the possibilities available at this residency if the time I spend there is focused on making the work I’m there to do.
WHAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION MEANS TO ME
I know that having support from my community at this time will bolster my dedication, holding me not only accountable for what I wish to create, but accountable to put this work out into the world for all of you to see what you helped bring to life.
Your support is beyond monetary for me. The gift of your help at this budding moment in my artistic career is massively encouraging.
Thank you for believing in me.
3 ————————————————————————————————
ABOUT AADK SPAIN
AADK Spain is an international artistic platform based in Blanca, Murcia, to provide projects and research opportunities in contemporary art creation. AADK was founded in 2012 by performance artist Abraham Hurtado.
The headquarters of AADK Spain is Centro Negra. This space offers various programs focused on process and experimentation such as the residency program, interventions, cartographies and contemporary practices. The main interest across all programs is the exploration of body, spatiality and territory.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Centro Negra
Espacio de Investigacion y Creacion Contemporanea
Calle del Castillo, 30 Blanca Murcia Spain
www.aadk.es
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
I was selected to attend the month of February at the AADK Spain Artist Residency focusing on body, spatiality and territory.
AADK offers: Accommodation with fully equipped kitchen and shower; Working and exhibition spaces; Technical equipment; Mentoring by AADK members; Curatorial advice; Communication; Assistance on the production (not production costs); Public presentation of your process; Connections with local, regional, national and international institutions; The possibility to participate in other programs of AADK; Dissemination of work after the Residency program.
Participant Requirements: minimum of two years of professional experience in related fields. Submission of Letter of Motivation, Project Proposal, bio, portfolio, and residency application. AADK reviews all application materials and awards a small selection of artists to participate at AADK for 1-6 months.
Purpose: To connect practices and research during the residency period with the local context, and/or a broad approach around the topics of body, spatiality and territory.
Residency Video
**COST BREAKDOWN**
Residency Costs: Total costs per person in the residency program is 1500€ per month + accommodation, travel, materials, and living expenses.
Paid by host, AADK Spain:
AADK Spain invests 850€ ($975) per resident in the program, and the Municipality of Blanca provides the accommodation.
Studio space is also provided by AADK Spain.
Paid by me:
- 650€ ($746) per month
- If the resident works collectively there is an extra cost of 100 ($115) per month per person, only if working on the same project, and sharing the studio and accommodation.
- Travel cost total: 447€ ($513)
392€ ($450) one-way airfare ticket, 40€ ($46) train ticket, 17€ ($20) taxi
- Insurance: 69€ ($79)
- Day-to-day living expenses: 17€/day = 510€/month ($20/day = $600/month)
- Costs of production materials : 436€ ($500)
Projected Total ~ 2122€ ($2438)
Asking for: $2500
4 ————————————————————————————————
ARTIST BIO
"Raised in a small town on the east coast of the United States, Ash now primarily works out of Los Angeles, California and Berlin, Germany. While at the University of California Los Angeles, Ash studied painting and drawing abroad in the French Riviera and Paris. In 2014, she graduated with honors from UCLA with a BA in Art and a minor in Art Education. During her studies she produced work across a range of mediums, favoring abstract painting, mixed-media assemblage, movement photography, and multimedia installations and performances. Her shared process approaches throughout these mediums are the utilization of found materials, the element of chance, and the temporality of movement.
Ash has performed and exhibited installations, photography, and sculptures in Los Angeles. Inspired from attending various movement intensives over the years in the US, Europe, India, and Mexico, Ash’s work has taken on a more bodily approach. Continuing to educate herself in topics like world cultures, interpersonal communication, positive psychology, and dance, she is dedicated to research and work that embodies themes such as vulnerability, empathy, healing, identity, human connection, and authentic expression. Currently, Ash is devoting time to dive deeper into her work and aims to broaden her outreach."
ashwitham.com
WHY AADK SPAIN
It’s been a dream of mine to attend an artist residency, especially one abroad. I am specifically interested in the AADK Spain for the residency prompt to explore body, spatiality and territory. Additionally, I am inspired by the richness that is the landscape of Blanca, Murcia. After living in Madrid for 3 months and exploring other cities in Spain, I developed a fondness for the Spanish lifestyle and desire to continue exploring Spain’s cultures and any opportunity to practice the Spanish language.
SUMMARIZED PROJECT PROPOSAL
At this residency, I will research the movement of bodies interacting with and set against the unique landscape of Blanca, Murcia by photographing myself, other artists, and potentially locals of the city, interfacing with the texture of the mountains, orchards, and Segura river. Focusing on movement exploration, color studies, photography experiments, new creative rituals, and the art of collaboration, I will also maintain openness to discover new ideas that inspire further research and development. My process is rooted in my preference for found materials, the element of chance, and the tension between the limits and boundlessness of the human body moving in a particular space.
Organizer
Ash Witham
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA