VARIABLE WEST
ART WRITING RESIDENCY
Variable West and Stelo invited emerging and mid-career arts writers working and living in Oregon to apply for a week-long art writing residency that took place at both Camp Colton and Park Block locations; where we welcomed one resident per site, per week, for a total of 8 residents from November 2021 - February 2022. After their residency concluded, each resident published a work on Variable West.
Program Updates:
As each resident’s work is published we will share links to their writing here.
March 2022: Ella Ray, Black in Bed
April 2022: Daniela Molnar, Chromophilia
July 2022: Lusi Lukova, An Invitation Into Intimacy
September 2022: Callum Angus, One Map Stapled Together
November 2022: Laurel V. McLaughlin, Deconstructive Acts—from Oregon to Connecticut
Congratulations to the recipients of the residency!
November: Callum Angus & Daniela Naomi Molnar
December: Intisar Abioto & May Maylisa Cat
January: Ella Ray & Laurel V. McLaughlin
February: Eel Probably & Luiza Lukova
About the Program
With this residency partnership Stelo and Variable West invited the residency recipients to consider their respective seasonal themes of storytelling and staying with the trouble. “In these troubled times” is a tired refrain of the past eighteen months, what stories are artists telling to surface, parse, amplify, and reframe these troubles? What role does artistic narrative play in understanding, coping with, and archiving and memorializing our current world?
What Residents Received
For one week, participants engaged with one another and Variable West founder, Amelia Rina, in reading, discussions, writing and editing. This residency is designed to support arts writing and journalism focusing on exhibition reviews, artist interviews, long form essays and research. Applicants engaging these writing forms were welcomed to apply.
Approximately half of the week was structured and the other half of the week was self-directed; providing independent time for writing, resting, and exploring their surroundings.
Participants received
Free on site lodging
An honorarium of $1,500
A produce box from a local farm and access to their own kitchen
Access to Stelo’s on location resources
Tailored instruction and support from Variable West’s founder, Amelia Rina
Residencies took place
November 10 - 17
December 8-15
January 12-19
February 2-9
To Apply
Applications are now closed. Thank you to all the applicants!
All applications were thoughtfully and compassionately reviewed by independent jurors, Ashley Stull Meyers and Bean Gilsdorf. Residency awards were determined by the jury. For any questions, please contact info@steloarts.org.