Artist in Residence : Day One
I decided I wanted to live my life centered on creativity, community and connecting to nature," I told the young woman I was getting acquainted with. She is also here at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge on an assignment to collect data. She is at the beginning of her career where she described feeling a call to work in ecology and conservation. She was intrigued that I am here as an artist and asked many thoughtful questions. After dinner, we walked at dusk on the unpaved dirt road that leads to the back country as they call it around here. "I hope we see a tarantula," she told me. "They are active this time of year."
We did not see a tarantula - which are harmless creatures by the way and I also hope to see at least one before my residency is over - though we did see an owl and later a road runner, peculiar birds with mohawks that run and behave as if everything in their world is full of urgency.
For the next four weeks I will be spending as much time outside on the refuge becoming as acquainted with this land as I can. "I am going to make some new friends," I told the refuge manager and I was not referring to people (though I have already made new friends with some rad people). I will explore and find my sweet spots around here where I will become more acquainted with the plant life and trees as well as the local wildlife (like road runners and ravens!)
This residency is a wonderful opportunity and I am already being given leads to possibilities at other wildlife refuges which are all over the United States and managed by US Fish and Wildlife. IMAGINE THAT !
Living my life centered on creativity, community and connecting to nature has become a reality since I first realized this bone deep desire five years ago. It is an unconventional lifestyle that suits me so well.
However, these kinds of residencies are not compensated due to budget constraints. As a result, not many artists are able to participate. I AM SO BLISSED AND BLESSED by the support of my audience and community who value and affirm who I am and what I offer as a fulltime creative.
In this artist in residency time, I will learn and be inspired by the desert refuge and focus on creating desert themed art and also writing. As I learn and grow in my understanding of this environment and of the good work of the wildlife refuge, I will share that with others. I will also be leading a workshop on Nov 9th here at the visitor center of the refuge that is free and requires me to provide the materials with no cost from the refuge. I wholeheartedly agreed with this requirement... and I will also be making an original artwork to donate to the refuge that will be displayed in the corridor of their offices. I AM HAPPY TO DO SO!
This means that I have been willing to disrupt my teaching incomes while I am here. Like many people, I do not possess a robust savings , and of course it ebbs and flows. I launched a Go Fund Me before I left and am pleased at the response. Besides contributing to the Go Fund Me directly, several people in my community privately gave to me to help support my time here.
If that interests you, I welcome your support as I lean deep into this residency for the next four weeks.
Link below if it resonates to contribute toward my time as
I work here at the desert refuge.
Last night I sat outside under the Nevada starry sky. Light pollution from nearby Las Vegas is evident, yet still many stars shined bright against the ocean of black. I had barely been star gazing when the brightest and longest shooting star I have ever seen glided low across the horizon. An auspicious sign for the beginning of my time here.
Thank you for being a part of the exploration as I continue to dedicate myself to living life centered on creativity, community and connecting to nature.
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