New Faces at WSW: Spring 2014 Edition

The Women’s Studio Workshop can be a a transient place – anyone who spends a few months here can tell you that. From the residents who spend up to ten weeks here at a time to the rail trail walkers who stop in to take a quick tour, new faces arrive in the studio almost every day.

One of the most significant changes to the WSW family is the new set of interns that are welcomed every six months.  Just two weeks ago, three new young artists arrived, ready to get down to studio business.

Studio Intern Emily Ritter has come to WSW all the way from Wichita, Kansas. Since graduating with a BFA in Printmaking in 2012 Emily has dedicated her time to making art while simultaneously working several different odd jobs, including a hat shop (and trust us, this lady knows her hats). She was drawn to WSW by the opportunity to experience the printmaking world in a non-academic setting. Emily’s work focuses on the relationship between humans and animals, and the implications of these interactions. She hopes to be able “to use ALL of the facilities” while at WSW, in addition to learning more about the wildlife of the Hudson Valley.

Liz Cunningham graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2012, with a BFA in their “Print, Paper, Book” program.  Before arriving at WSW, Liz worked as a studio monitor for both MCAD and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA).  An experienced papermaker, Liz has already spent several long days working on personal projects in the papermaking studio. She’s also interested in learning more about WSW’s ArtFarm; her goals include building her own farm, sustainable living space, and non-toxic print studio. While at WSW, Liz hopes to work on her bookmaking skills, in addition to finishing a series of etchings.

This year’s Chili Bowl intern is Jessica Fong, who comes to us all the way from California, where she recently graduated from the University of the Pacific. She became interested in Women’s Studio Workshop after hearing co-founder Ann Kalmbach speak at Mills College in 2012. Jess has already proven to be a power house in the ceramics studio, making around 150 bowls in her first week here. When she isn’t busy making Chili Bowls, she hopes to have some studio time to herself to experiment with combining print and ceramic processes.

Interns aren’t the only new faces around here. WSW is also welcoming former interns Jenn Bratovitch and Tara Hagen to the WSW Staff

Admin intern alumna Jenn Bratovitch graduated from the University of Rochester in 2011, where she earned a BA in studio arts. Jenn came to WSW for a unique nine-month internship in October of 2011, and has been working in for non-profit arts organizations ever since.  Jenn returned to Binnewater Lane in August 2013 and currently writes for the WSW blog.

Blogging has allowed her the chance to interview and connect with our artists in residence, something that Jenn finds both fulfilling and inspiring. “In my job I think a lot about how, and by whom, art histories are written.” Jenn states, “Many of our artists are emerging, and to be a part of the interpretation of their work is really exciting. Contemporary women artists are making awesome work, and I feel a real responsibility to help record it.”

Jenn will soon be working on an alumnae blog series, highlighting past artists-in-residence. In addition to blogging, she has been working on making the WSW archive of nearly 700 artists in residence accessible online.  With these projects, we hope to share and illuminate the work of our residents and to expand the visibility of WSW’s large network of artists.

After working as the 2012 Chili Bowl intern, Tara Hagen fell in love with the WSW community and decided to stick around, living just a short walk from the studio. She has remained incredibly involved with the studio, and often teaches workshops in the ceramics studio. In addition to teaching at WSW, she has also worked as a teaching assistant at the Memorial Art Gallery and a “fine arts specialist” at Camp Saginaw in Pennsylvania.

This spring, Tara will be taking over the position of Art-in-Education Coordinator. At two weeks in, she is getting used to the inner workings of the WSW office and is excited about her new role. The position has allowed her to view teaching from a new perspective. As the coordinator, she’s not only looking at the student experience, but at the entirety of the program; what works well, what doesn’t, and what can be done better. She says she is happy to be part of a program which allows young artists the opportunity to “be creative in a space that they don’t have any other access to in their education.”

We’re excited to start off the new year with all of these new women on staff! The crowd at Women’s Studio Workshop is ever changing and evolving, and with each new face the community grows a little bit more.