Page 21 - Fall-Winter 2022-2023 Program Brochure

CREATIVE ARTS www.roswellgov.com/creativearts

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT ART CENTER WEST

www.roswellgov.com/parks
any park visitors only know Leita Thompson Park for its rolling
hills, shady trails and bustling dog park, but the park is also
home to Art Center West, a community arts center that offers
Mamazing, hands-on clay and metal programs! Since the art
center’s transition from private residence to community art center in 2003,
Art Center West has offered comprehensive ceramics programs focused
on the versatility and diversity of clay as a creative medium. The evolution
of the art center and its programming has always depended heavily on
volunteers (aka: amazing apprentices) and a modest part time staff. These
humble yet essential positions are critical in bringing new excitement,
knowledge, and innovation to the programs and participants at Art
Center West – not to mention a great deal of necessary sweat equity and
ingenuity that make day to day clay operations possible!
To continue to meet growing demands, Art Center West recruited its
first resident artist in 2008 to support community programming and
facility needs, and the City’s first Artist in Residence (AiR) program was
born. An AiR program invites guest artists to work in a new environment,
collaborate within a community, and create a cultural exchange for a set
period of time. The criteria for the resident artist positions have always
been competitive. With a goal of attracting highly educated, experienced,
and talented artists that work with clay, the AiR program brings national
and regional ideas to the art center. Ideal candidates are interested in
collaborating with Art Center West and its programs, and want to add
an interesting layer to a collective community experience. AiR programs
provide opportunities for artists to spend time in a new atmosphere, grow
through cultural and artistic exchange, cultivate personal ideas within their
innovative practices, and contribute to the artistic and cultural climate.
These mutually beneficial partnerships have played a significant role in the
development of the clay programs at Art Center West, and have facilitated
local, regional, and national dialogue within the field.
Our residency programs create a dynamic atmosphere for the
programming, assist with the workload demands at the art center, and
promote meaningful cultural exchange within Roswell’s community. Our
spirits are high as we move into our Fall and Winter seasons as we recruit
and introduce a new resident artist who will continue to be dedicated to
the advancement of education of the ceramic arts at Art Center West. In
addition, we are also very proud to announce a new AiR position that is
poised to take our blacksmithing and metal programs to the next level at
The Forge at Art Center West.
Thank you to all current and past volunteers, resident artists, and
participants that have collaborated on creating the quality of atmosphere
that makes Art Center West exceptional!
For more information about clay programs and events, and AiR programs
visit: www.roswellclaycollective.com
For more information about metal programs including welding,
blacksmithing, and knife making visit: www.roswellgov.com/TheForge

ROSWELL FALL/WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE 21