The Wassaic Project is a non-profit artist-run arts, community and art education space in Wassaic, New York founded in 2008 that curates exhibitions, produces community events and hosts artist residencies. Currently it consists of a year-round competitive residency program and year round arts programming.[1][2][3]

The Wassaic Project
Formation2008
TypeArts Organization
HeadquartersWassaic, New York
Region served
United States
co-directors
Bowie Zunino, Eve Biddle, Jeff Barnett-Winsby
Websitewww.wassaicproject.org

History

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Co-Founders Bowie Zunino and Eve Biddle reconnected several years after graduating from Williams College. They shared an interest in creating a free arts festival and decided to collaborate on producing one. Eve had curated shows with (Co-Founder) Elan Bogarin and Elan expressed interest in becoming a partner. The first festival was held the summer of 2008 in Wassaic NY at Maxon Mills the former grain elevator that Zunino's father and his partner Richard Berry had recently finished restoring. Jeff Barnett-Winsby joined the next spring and co produced the 2009 Festival. Immediately following the 2009 Festival, Barnett-Winsby and Zunino moved full time to Wassaic and worked through the winter to renovate the old Luther Barn and build studios. Biddle, Zunino, Bogarin, and Barnett-Winsby founded the artist residency in the spring of 2010. [1][4][5][6]

The project

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The organization makes use of restored historic buildings in the hamlet of Wassaic, including Maxon Mills and Luther Barn.[7] Maxon Mills, a seven-story former wood crib grain elevator, has been converted into exhibition, office, and studio spaces, including Art NEST, a free drop-in creative space for kids.[1] Luther Barn is home to artist-in-residence studios and the old cattle auction ring is used as a film exhibition space during the summer festival. The organization currently offers year-round programming as well as an education program focused onsite and at the Webutuck consolidated school district serving the Towns of Amenia and Northeast.[1]

The Wassaic Project hosts an annual Summer Festival, outdoors and in their Mill building. Their Mill building has an exhibition space open to the public that has shown work by Colin Williams, Margeaux Walter, Minhee Bae, Tatiana Arocha, Eleanor Sabin, Ghost of a Dream and Doug and Mike Starn.[8][9] And their artist in residence program alumni include Sean Fader, Manuel H. Márquez, Hillerbrand + Magsamen, Hunter Creel, Goldie Poblador [1] [10][11][12] The project hosts other community events that bring thousands of visitors like their August Festival for dance performances, their annual haunted house and overnight bonfires.[10][8]

The Wassaic Project also has an invitational print Editions Program where they pair a contemporary artist with a master printer to produce an edition in their studio. Artists in this program have included William Powhida, Lisa Iglesias, Kenya (Robinson) and Amanda Valdez among many.[1]

Artists residency

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There are summer residencies from May to October with studios in the Luther Barn, a historic livestock barn built in 1875. The winter residencies are January to April with studios in Maxon Mills, a historic grain mill. There is 24-hour access to the studios. Facilities include a print shop, wood shop, and ceramics studio. All residents live just a short walk away in one of our three residency houses, the Schoolhouse, the Lodge, or the HVA.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Green, Penelope (2015-03-04). "The Wassaic Project: A Festival, a 'Beautiful' Flood and Now Art". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  2. ^ Wilkins, Jamie (2016-05-10). "The Wassaic Project Welcomes New Board Members". Southeast-Brewster, NY Patch. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  3. ^ THRASHER, STEVEN (8 August 2011). "The Wassaic Project: Our Favorite Art from Summer Festival 2011 (PHOTOS & VIDEO)". www.villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Randy (2009-07-28). "The Wassaic Project: Elevator for Grain Reinvented for Art". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  5. ^ Marston-Reid, Linda. "Vintage photo inspires Wassaic Project exhibit". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  6. ^ Shoup, Risa (19 August 2010). "Converse Welcome, But Not Required". HuffPost. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  7. ^ "The Wassaic Project: A Pop-Up Museum and Pizza, Too". Rural Intelligence - Serving the counties of Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess and Litchfield. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b Steinhauer, Jillian (2017-06-29). "9 Art-Filled Summer Day Trips from New York". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  9. ^ Kelley, E.J. "Wassaic's Lantern Inn brings 'new Brooklyn' pizza cred north". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  10. ^ a b Safronova, Valeriya (2018-10-31). "A Weekend at Witch Camp". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  11. ^ Nunes, Andrew (2018-03-20). "Want to Get the Most Out of an Artist Residency? Here Are 7 Simple Tips". artnet News. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  12. ^ Glentzer, Molly (2019-03-27). "Art review: 'A Device to Forget' gives a new view on Houston disasters - HoustonChronicle.com". www.houstonchronicle.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  13. ^ "Artist Residency". www.wassaicproject.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
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