AIR
Artists-in-Residence Exhibition
August 21 – September 4
Opening Reception: August 21, 4-6pm
Liz Leggett
Patricia Pedraza
Clarice Shirvell
Rachel Volpone & Cynthia DiGiacomo
About the Residency (AIR)
A little background…..
When the pandemic hit last year and we had to shutter our great Guild barn studios from holding in person classes, we decided to make lemonade out of lemons. We took the opportunity to offer one of our studios to artists to use as their own for an Artist-in-Residence program. We sent out a call for artists and chose, through a juried process, five artists to share the space over a years time in 10 week increments.
The A-I-R will culminate with an in gallery exhibit this coming summer for the artists to share the body of work they have created during their residency.
Liz Leggett
Residency dates:
November 15, 2020 – January 22, 2021
About:
My painting is predominantly process-oriented, and my canvases serve as an arena for speed, tension, destruction, rebuilding and grappling with expectations of conformity and control. Surface accidents and spontaneous forms are encouraged as I often apply the materials aggressively and haphazardly. I then may refine areas to establish structure and suggest imagery. However, I continuously play with abstraction and ambiguity so the work remains open for interpretation, meaning and an overall visceral response. Ultimately, I strive to relay a feeling of exaltation, joy and hope.
The Ridgefield Guild’s residency provided an outstanding opportunity to pursue my studio practice after a very challenging year due to the pandemic. The Ridgefield Guild had a creative and productive solution to utilize an unused space in their building by offering this spontaneous residency to local artists. It was not only an incredibly productive time for me to process such unprecedented times and create a new body of work, but enabled me to get out of my home studio, and break the tedium that many of us felt due lockdowns, and remote work and learning. The paintings and drawings I made as a result of this residency opportunity brought about a new body of work that I continue to pursue–and as I continue to process the times we continue to navigate.
Liz Leggett
To learn more about Liz and to view her work, visit her website here https://www.lizleggett.com
Clarice Shirvell
Residency dates:
January 24 – April 2, 2021
About:
I feel very fortunate to be able to express myself through the visual arts. I sketch whenever I have a moment; a pad and micron pen are with me wherever I go. Sketching is calming and meditative for me, as well as makes me see the world around me and appreciate its beauty in something that may be over looked in a busy life.”
Over the past few years I have turned to painting in acrylics. En plein aire or in a studio, studying clouds and landscapes, showing my love of nature and hiking and slowly evolving towards more expressionistic works.
I knew I would benefit from a studio residency; solitude is such an important factor for creativity. I knew having a studio would allow me immediate access to my materials, not waste time packing and unpacking gear. I knew a studio would allow me to work larger and draw on big paper on the wall and use multimedia. So, I applied for the Artist in Residence program at Ridgefield Guild of Artists.
The opportunity turned out to be more than expected. The studio was my oasis, free from daily worries and obligations. The setting so peaceful with a running trail in the back to clear my mind. I did a lot of writing and meditating and produced 16 finish pieces in my 10-week period.
The solitude allowed me an uninhibited unleashing of my inner self and my spirit. I allowed myself to play, experiment and work on ideas which I could once only dream of and now was able to execute the projects.
My themes therefore include Meditation in Motion series, which was my proposal as well as a Dreaming series, and a Spirituality series both probably developed from my experience of RGOA Artist in Residence.
I am so grateful for this experience, thank you Ridgefield Guild of Artists for supporting local artists especially during this time of Covid. I look forward to the AiR Art Exhibit in the Gallery come August 2021.
Clarice Shirvell
To learn more about Clarice and to view her work, visit her website here https://clariceshirvellartist.weebly.com
Cynthia DiGiacomo & Rachel Volpone
Residency dates:
April 4 – June 11, 2021
About:
The Guild residency and collaboration began with the inspiration of the giant Norway Maple growing beside the barn. In this tree, the founding members posed back in 1974 symbolizing the deep connections and growth of the artists and organization itself.
Reflecting on that tree and the networks of connections rooted in a twenty year friendship that began at the Guild, Cynthia and Rachel started the residency in the dark days of Covid. During this period of enforced stillness, they became like that tree, fixed in one place, subject to new rhythms of time, contemplation, personal growth and transformation. The work in the beginning was dark and somber. As the residency time went on, winter became spring —the greening of the earth, sprouting of seeds and blossoming of plants. A time of renewal, healing and hope that became reflected in the bloom of color and the subsequent works produced for this show
The tree project is a continuation of ongoing series of collaborations between the artists who regularly investigate and communicate ideas around environmental themes.
To learn more about Cynthia and to view her work, visit her website here https://www.cdigiacomo.com/
To learn more about Rachel and to view her work, visit her website here https://rachelvolpone.com/
Patricia Pedraza
Residency dates:
June 13 – August 20, 2021
About:
The artist residency at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists has been nothing short of magical for me! As an emerging artist, my main goal is to keep learning and evolving. Having a light and airy atelier, a “room of my own”, in a charming historic barn proved to be a great place to do just that. The residency gave me the freedom to carve out space and time to focus and dive deep into my creative process in digital art and photography. I experienced a real boost in both creativity and productivity. I experimented, and I gained clarity as to my defining style. I also feel privileged to have been around such supportive fellow creatives, of all ages! The Guild is truly an inspiring place! Thank you to all who made my time there possible!
To learn more about Patricia and to view her work, visit her website here https://patriciapedrazadesign.com/
To learn more about our Artist-in-Residence programs, please reach out to us HERE
