AVA a-i-r
Currently in Residence : Anna Kaufman
Kaufman grew up in the Los Angeles area surrounded by the chaos of an urban environment, bustling bodies and bumper to bumper traffic. She found calm in her art. “Drawing and painting have always offered a voice for me where my own has failed. I could get lost for hours drawing, painting, sculpting, creating narratives through line and shape,” says Kaufman. Coming from a family of many artists, her maternal and paternal grandfathers and parents are all painters and writers by trade. They encouraged her to make art.
A recent graduate of Vassar College in upstate New York, Kaufman received a degree in environmental studies, exploring art as science, and science as art, two areas she’s come to believe are necessarily intertwined, breathing life into one another. A passion for environmentalism has deeply influenced much of her artwork, inspiring Kaufman to explore the intersectionality between activism, the arts, and sciences. Kaufman aims to use her residency to create work that reflects and draws attention to ecological issues and to create a dialogue between herself and others.
About AVA a-i-r
The AVA a-i-r Program is designed to encourage the creative, intellectual, and professional growth of local artists. One residency finalist will be chosen on the basis of merit by an independent selection panel of professionals in the arts and arts patrons. The selected artist will be provided with a studio in the Astoria Studio Collective building free of charge for the six-month residency period. Artists who have applied in the past are encouraged to reapply with an updated portfolio and statement reflecting updates and changes.
Next call for applications will be in May 2023.
Next residency dates: July-December 2023.
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General Information/How to Apply:
The disciplines and what to submit:
Visual art: Works that are primarily visual images. Submit three to five high-resolution .jpg digital images, including the title, size, and medium for each work, and a short statement about the work.
Film/video: Includes animation, documentary, and narrative work. Include a short synopsis of work, if it exists, and samples of work no greater than 20 minutes in length.
Eligibility: Local artists at least 18 years of age and living within the greater Astoria area (Clatsop and Pacific counties), will be judged on the quality and promise of their work and proposal. (AVA a-i-r does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.)
Requirements: While no exhibition, publication, or performance is required of the selected artist, community responsibility includes weekend open studio events during Astoria's Second Saturday Art Walk at least twice during the residency.
Length of stay: Six months.
Aid: Selected artists will be provided with a small studio in the Astoria Studio Collective building free of charge. Some additional financial help with art supplies and drink/food vouchers may be provided.
Call for artists will be via local media, web posting, and social media.
Selection committee: An independent panel of working artists and supporters will serve as the selection committee.
AVA a-i-r Alumni by Date:
2022
Jan - June Roy Sanchez
July - Dec Lindsey Aarts
2021
July - December Kristen Nekovar / Blis
Nov 2020 - June Deanna Antony
2020
Jan-Apr Denise Monaghan, Karen Ni Neill Bear
May-Aug Denise Monaghan, Kirista Trask
Nov - June 2021 Deanna Antony
2019
Jan-April Celeste Endlich, Sally Lackaff
May-Aug Sally Lackaff, Kirista Trask
Sept-Dec Oscar Nelson, Morrison Pierce
2018
Jan-April Stirling Gorsuch
May-Aug Jill Mulholland
Sept-Dec Lucca Dust, Melanie Steffl
2017
Jan-March Terry Robinett
Feb-May Andie Sterling
May-Aug Andie Sterling
May-Aug Tyler Little
Aug-Dec Roger Hayes
2016
Jan-March Annie Eskelin
Jan-March Sarah Lippold
Jan-March Blaine Verley
April-June Rachel Jensen
April-June David Plechl
April-June Meghann Hanour
July-Sept Erika Hawkins
July-Sept Meghann Hanour
2015
April-June Sarah Hendrickson
July-Sept David Coyne
July-Sept H. Elizabeth Koch
Oct-Dec Kinzi Gordon
Oct-Dec Liz Harris