I’m making a plan for next year. I promised myself - no new projects for this year! But I love the premise that I don’t need anyone’s permission to make art about a place that I love.
Voila! When I came to Substack a year ago, I appointed myself literary artist-in-residence of the social and cultural history of the community where my mother grew up and I spent summer vacations as a kid: Warroad, MN. A small town (pop. 1800) on the Canadian border along the shores of Lake of the Woods. My appointment to this residency has been renewed! Oh, joy!
Oh wow! OK, I want to know everything about this, and if it ever reaches a point where you want to share it with the world (well, share it with my newsletter readers, anyway), please let me know!
Jill, I grew up in Menahga, MN, and have often thought about making my annual summer visit there a writing retreat, though it’s hard to do with friends and relatives to catch up with, especially when you grow up in a pack of 46 first cousins on one side of the family. So far, an unpublished middle grade novel is my only specifically MN piece. But then again, since my Substack is memoir-ish, maybe that counts!
My visits are more research roadtrips than writing retreats. I write once I get back home and go through my new discoveries, including new family stories. 46 is a lot of cousins! Lots of stories yet to be written perhaps.
Ooooh yes! Specificity is wonderful. Keep us posted and if you ever have something you want to share, let me know! I'm going to be featuring some artist residencies in future newsletters.
What are wizard idea! My husband and I are going to be moving out of our house of 50+ years in a year or so, and I think I am about to appoint myself, Artist in Residence of my residence😃.
It is a wonderful way to say goodbye to a house. It really helped me be thoughtful (and I'll admit, to really feel sad and grieve) this place where I'd spent so many years. If you do a project, come back and tell me about it! I want to share of these in upcoming newsletters, if anyone's willing.
I have been doing an artist residency retreat for years, just as soon as I figured out I don’t need anyone to Approve. I gave myself the award and permission to go on all sorts of artist residencies of my own choosing:)
I have been in a cabin along a lake for a month in Greenville, SC. I have sat by the Peugeot Sound on Vashon Island and wrote. I have rented a house in Cauhita, CR and painted in a gazebo on the grounds while capuchin monkeys swung through the trees:)
The biggest ‘Celebrate Me the Artist Residency’ was this past spring for three months in Florence, Italy. Can we say FRESCO! And I am writing this from my campsite in Brown County State Park. I have come to study so many different architects and draw their buildings in Columbus, Indiana.
I always enjoy your emails, Amy, but I think this one might be my favorite. So fun, wonderful art and story, great idea (if quirky, but then we love quirky).
Our backyard in the far north side Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park has been allowed to grow wild. Lots of milkweed and other interesting vegetation and insects. (We have landscapers come in once a year to reestablish order.) When I bring my trash back to the alley, I always bring my phone also. I’ve been taking photos back there for a few years and recently have started painting from those photos. It feels like my own personal rainforest. I suppose the neighbors think we are a bit eccentric or worse, but since I don’t always enjoy being in the city, it’s great to know I have an escape right out the back door. I am the artist in residence at my own residence.
I really love this idea. This summer I visited a small museum in western Montana that was showing different artwork from various artists in the wilderness artist residency. In theory, I would love to do this. The reality is I don’t have the time to only focus on art and I’m not sure I’d love being so isolated for so long. I live on a small farm, surrounded by farms. I document a the changing seasons, I’m going to declare myself the official artist in residence for my little farming community.
OK, I am in. This may be the kick in the pants I needed. I am going to be the AIR of Ranch du Bois, my house and all it surveys. Tho right now, there is very little breathable air at Ranch du Bois with all the wildfire smoke. My plan is to "rise above it." Thanks, Amy!
this is a really really wonderful idea.
Thanks so much! If you do one, I want to know about it!
I think I will after I finish the current project I'm working on.
I’m making a plan for next year. I promised myself - no new projects for this year! But I love the premise that I don’t need anyone’s permission to make art about a place that I love.
genius idea. i can see such a movement produce joy, wonder, curiosity and overall help re-enchant many things around us. well done 🫶
YES. This is exactly my hope. I'm going to try to make this a thing.
Voila! When I came to Substack a year ago, I appointed myself literary artist-in-residence of the social and cultural history of the community where my mother grew up and I spent summer vacations as a kid: Warroad, MN. A small town (pop. 1800) on the Canadian border along the shores of Lake of the Woods. My appointment to this residency has been renewed! Oh, joy!
Oh wow! OK, I want to know everything about this, and if it ever reaches a point where you want to share it with the world (well, share it with my newsletter readers, anyway), please let me know!
Oh wow! Here's last week's newsletter and I appreciate the offer!
https://jillswenson.substack.com/p/good-grief-its-been-a-year
Congrats on your reappointment, Jill!
Jill, I grew up in Menahga, MN, and have often thought about making my annual summer visit there a writing retreat, though it’s hard to do with friends and relatives to catch up with, especially when you grow up in a pack of 46 first cousins on one side of the family. So far, an unpublished middle grade novel is my only specifically MN piece. But then again, since my Substack is memoir-ish, maybe that counts!
My visits are more research roadtrips than writing retreats. I write once I get back home and go through my new discoveries, including new family stories. 46 is a lot of cousins! Lots of stories yet to be written perhaps.
I adore this idea! I don’t get out a lot but being The artist in residence of my own house would be amazing. Thank you. New excitement in my life.
Oh it's a wonderful project and I'm sure you'll love it. Let me know how you get on.
This is so inspiring! I'm going to get very specific and be the artist in residence of the *entrance* to the Ashland Town Forest.
Ooooh yes! Specificity is wonderful. Keep us posted and if you ever have something you want to share, let me know! I'm going to be featuring some artist residencies in future newsletters.
What are wizard idea! My husband and I are going to be moving out of our house of 50+ years in a year or so, and I think I am about to appoint myself, Artist in Residence of my residence😃.
It is a wonderful way to say goodbye to a house. It really helped me be thoughtful (and I'll admit, to really feel sad and grieve) this place where I'd spent so many years. If you do a project, come back and tell me about it! I want to share of these in upcoming newsletters, if anyone's willing.
Just finished my first and purposely messy sketch of my kitchen from the vantage point of the chair where I sit at the table.
How can I send a sketch?
I have been doing an artist residency retreat for years, just as soon as I figured out I don’t need anyone to Approve. I gave myself the award and permission to go on all sorts of artist residencies of my own choosing:)
I have been in a cabin along a lake for a month in Greenville, SC. I have sat by the Peugeot Sound on Vashon Island and wrote. I have rented a house in Cauhita, CR and painted in a gazebo on the grounds while capuchin monkeys swung through the trees:)
The biggest ‘Celebrate Me the Artist Residency’ was this past spring for three months in Florence, Italy. Can we say FRESCO! And I am writing this from my campsite in Brown County State Park. I have come to study so many different architects and draw their buildings in Columbus, Indiana.
We can all do this!🖌️🖌️🖌️
Oh wow, this is fantastic! If you ever want to share any of these, I'd love to feature them in an upcoming newsletter someday.
I always enjoy your emails, Amy, but I think this one might be my favorite. So fun, wonderful art and story, great idea (if quirky, but then we love quirky).
Thank you! You've been the artist in residence of succulents for a long time!
Our backyard in the far north side Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park has been allowed to grow wild. Lots of milkweed and other interesting vegetation and insects. (We have landscapers come in once a year to reestablish order.) When I bring my trash back to the alley, I always bring my phone also. I’ve been taking photos back there for a few years and recently have started painting from those photos. It feels like my own personal rainforest. I suppose the neighbors think we are a bit eccentric or worse, but since I don’t always enjoy being in the city, it’s great to know I have an escape right out the back door. I am the artist in residence at my own residence.
Yes! This is so so good!
Love this idea! I’m going to do this for sure!
OK I definitely want to know what you do, so keep me posted! (if you want to)
I really love this idea. This summer I visited a small museum in western Montana that was showing different artwork from various artists in the wilderness artist residency. In theory, I would love to do this. The reality is I don’t have the time to only focus on art and I’m not sure I’d love being so isolated for so long. I live on a small farm, surrounded by farms. I document a the changing seasons, I’m going to declare myself the official artist in residence for my little farming community.
Totally! That's fantastic.
OK, I am in. This may be the kick in the pants I needed. I am going to be the AIR of Ranch du Bois, my house and all it surveys. Tho right now, there is very little breathable air at Ranch du Bois with all the wildfire smoke. My plan is to "rise above it." Thanks, Amy!
Oh MA I totally want to know all about this! Keep me posted!
I love this idea just need to choose where to be Air of!
YES! The right idea will come to you when you least expect it!
Love the idea of chronicling your house before you move - a future plan, so better get started drawing.
Yes, it was really helpful and healing for me--plus I recorded so many little details that I probably would've forgotten otherwise.
Thanks for the shout out, Amy! Inspired by you, I declare myself writer-in-residence on the shores of the Salish Sea!
OMG I'm super interested in the Salish Sea and I love everything about this. Hope you'll share with us when you're ready to!
I just love this every time I hear about it. Evaluating my residency options right now.
hahaha totally! So many options!