Government Shutdown - Natl. Park Artist Residency
My name is Nafis White and I am an artist and recent MFA graduate who uses landscape as the inspiration for my artwork, and when I discovered the wonderful art programs offered through the National Parks Service I leaped at the chance to participate. I applied and was accepted into the National Parks Artist in Residency program at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, to begin my 3 month residency starting in January.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, New Bedford, MA.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Art Studio Space
This residency offers a $2,500 stipend with additional monthly material fees funding, and a large studio space to create artwork from. The projects generated are research based, and largely community focused. Excited to begin in January, I was horrified along with the hundreds of thousands of people impacted upon learning that the shutdown was to commence. All National Park Artist residencies have been halted, and this unexpected situation is proving to be financially challenging for me, as it is for all government employees and adjacent workers.
The stipend would have covered my vital monthly expenses rent, bills and art materials. I am asking for help and support to cover expenses that the stipend would have. Once the shutdown ends, which will hopefully be soon, the expectations of me will remain the same, I will need to produce art events that center community engagement building bridges between the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and local civic and historic organizations. Please help me sustain my practice in order to create change through my art.
Please view my incentives, which I am creating as a Thank You for your support and advocacy.
$5 - Thank You card in great appreciation of your support.
$25 - Eternity Knot Pin and Thank You card. Inspired by the late local New Bedford artist, sailor and knot maker, Clifford W. Ashley, these pins are composed of fabric with a hand tied
knot. Each pin is uniquely different in color and fabric and has brass findings to attach to clothing.
$50 - Josephine Knot Necklace inspired by the Maritime history of New Bedford plus an Eternity Knot Pin and Thank You card. Each necklace is made of different fabric color combinations and is unique. Approx 18 inches long.
Thank you so much for your time and care.
You can visit my work here at www.nafiswhite.com .
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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, New Bedford, MA.New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Art Studio SpaceThis residency offers a $2,500 stipend with additional monthly material fees funding, and a large studio space to create artwork from. The projects generated are research based, and largely community focused. Excited to begin in January, I was horrified along with the hundreds of thousands of people impacted upon learning that the shutdown was to commence. All National Park Artist residencies have been halted, and this unexpected situation is proving to be financially challenging for me, as it is for all government employees and adjacent workers.
The stipend would have covered my vital monthly expenses rent, bills and art materials. I am asking for help and support to cover expenses that the stipend would have. Once the shutdown ends, which will hopefully be soon, the expectations of me will remain the same, I will need to produce art events that center community engagement building bridges between the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and local civic and historic organizations. Please help me sustain my practice in order to create change through my art.
Please view my incentives, which I am creating as a Thank You for your support and advocacy.
$5 - Thank You card in great appreciation of your support.
$25 - Eternity Knot Pin and Thank You card. Inspired by the late local New Bedford artist, sailor and knot maker, Clifford W. Ashley, these pins are composed of fabric with a hand tied
knot. Each pin is uniquely different in color and fabric and has brass findings to attach to clothing.
$50 - Josephine Knot Necklace inspired by the Maritime history of New Bedford plus an Eternity Knot Pin and Thank You card. Each necklace is made of different fabric color combinations and is unique. Approx 18 inches long.
Thank you so much for your time and care.
You can visit my work here at www.nafiswhite.com .
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you after what I can only describe as a nail biting, immensely stressful week. I just got word from the National Park today that I am able to begin my residency mid week coming, so it's been long long overdue but thankfully it is still happening and I will be with the wonderful Rangers and volunteers soon. While I am extremely excited to be going, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again, I am seriously concerned that this feeling of relief and elation will last a few weeks, until Feb 15th, when the deadline looms strong again. I'm hoping that we as a country do not tread down this road once more, the damage is too great.
The toll of this shutdown has been intense and I hope that we don't have to revisit this exact circumstance in the near future. I will continue to update you all here with text and images of my goings on at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Artist in Residency Program.
I will also ask in the coming weeks for your addresses so that I may send you all thank you cards and artwork created at the residency.
I cannot articulate fully how thankful I am for you all, for this community and for the amount of advocacy, love and support I have received. I am truly blessed. Thank you all for absolutely everything. For cheering me on, for standing in solidarity, for creating a pathway so that I could take care of housing and food during this unnecessary and demoralizing shutdown.
I am so grateful for each and everyone of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
With Deep Gratitude,
Nafis
I am writing to you after what I can only describe as a nail biting, immensely stressful week. I just got word from the National Park today that I am able to begin my residency mid week coming, so it's been long long overdue but thankfully it is still happening and I will be with the wonderful Rangers and volunteers soon. While I am extremely excited to be going, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again, I am seriously concerned that this feeling of relief and elation will last a few weeks, until Feb 15th, when the deadline looms strong again. I'm hoping that we as a country do not tread down this road once more, the damage is too great.
The toll of this shutdown has been intense and I hope that we don't have to revisit this exact circumstance in the near future. I will continue to update you all here with text and images of my goings on at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Artist in Residency Program.
I will also ask in the coming weeks for your addresses so that I may send you all thank you cards and artwork created at the residency.
I cannot articulate fully how thankful I am for you all, for this community and for the amount of advocacy, love and support I have received. I am truly blessed. Thank you all for absolutely everything. For cheering me on, for standing in solidarity, for creating a pathway so that I could take care of housing and food during this unnecessary and demoralizing shutdown.
I am so grateful for each and everyone of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
With Deep Gratitude,
Nafis
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