Pond Farm Artist in Residence Program

Pond Farm was built by like-minded individuals who were dedicated to the arts and nature, and who engaged with and contributed to the community through teaching, lectures, workshops, fireside chats, and collaboration. For Pond Farm to continue its legacy and thrive in the future, it is important for us to maintain and foster this legacy of community spirit.

As such, an important component of this residency is supporting engagement with the communities that Stewards serves, including youth engaged in Stewards’ environmental education programs (many of whom deal with socio-economic challenges); the local community of artists and their supporters who live and work in and around the Russian River area; and the general visiting public who learn about Pond Farm through a visit to the area or through websites, social media and press coverage. Most of the target audience will be from the greater Bay area, although it is not uncommon for the park to see national and international visitors.

During the artist’s residency, we ask the artist to give back in some way to the Park and the community. It is up to the resident to propose how they would like to engage with the community—whether onsite at the Park, locally with the artist community in Guerneville, or reaching out to schools and/or broader communities in San Francisco and beyond. Applicants are encouraged to include their proposal for how they would like to give back in their application packet. Doing so will will increase the likelihood of acceptance.

Examples of engagement with the community could consist of things such as onsite workshops that can take place in nature, or at the Guest House, the conference room at the Stewards office, or in the town of Guerneville. Additionally, there are First Friday Art Revised 8/2/19 6 Walks and opportunities to show one’s work and/or give talks at shops and galleries in Guerneville and other nearby towns.

Eligibility

● Artists, historians, anthropologists, writers, musicians, etc.
● Must be self-directed and experienced in their craft.
● Open to residents of any country.
● Minimum/Maximum stay – 1-3 months
● We expect the resident to live on the property during their residency in accordance with State Park policies, and act in a caretaker role by keeping the property protected, clean and without visible garbage.

Application Process – www.pondfarmpottery.org

● Application form – personal information; whether an individual, couple, or small family, and any specific accommodations needed.
● Work proposal - (What, Why, How) no more than one page outlining the project to be completed at Pond Farm
● Artist statement: one page ○ Describe your history and involvement in your craft
● Images of work - please submit up to 10 jpegs, no more than 1mb each or 1 document with up to 5 poems and/or 5 pages of prose for writers.
● Describe what kind of equipment/supplies you plan on bringing to work on the project
● Duration and start date of residency request - minimum 1 month, maximum 3 months to start at the beginning of a given month.
● Proposal for how to engage in the local community. What to give back? (e.g., a piece of art, hold a workshop, etc.) – one page

Facilities

● Workspace access – barn’s side room and breezeway; in areas of Armstrrong Redwoods SNR and Austin Creek SRA during regular visitor open hours. ● 24/7 access to the site and guest house ● Internet and phone are available on site. ● Cell service with AT&T, others are spotty in hilly terrain. ● Internet, access to a printer and AV equipment are available at the Stewards Office/Volunteer Center in Armstrong Redwoods during the workweek or at the Revised 8/2/19 7 Ranger’s Operations Center on the weekends (across the street from the Armstrong Woods Visitor’s Center) ● Artists must provide their own transportation. The road leading up to Pond Farm from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is an unpaved county road and not maintained. It is a steep grade with several hairpin turns.

Supplies

Artists are responsible for bringing all supplies and materials to do their artwork.