Welcome Kristine Idarius, our first artist in residence!

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You could be next.

"I can still remember the moment when I knew I wanted to become an artist, when I was about 14 years old during a high school art class. While completely engaged in a novel art process and at the same time trying to push my imagination into new territories, I experienced for the first time what is sometimes called the “optimal flow experience.” Time slowed to a standstill and the creative process, for a moment, allowed me to feel completely in synch with the world, or maybe even the universe. So I was hooked.

I have since, through the course of years of study and practice, explored many art mediums: intaglio printmaking, various types of mono-printing, multiple drawing and painting mediums, and ceramic sculpture.

The common thread of content for me has always been related to emotional experience, represented by both human and animal forms. In the past, I have often tried to evoke a dream state as the context or environment in my images. Currently, I am exploring the concept of memory, which is related to dreaming as both are filtered through the unconscious.

I think that I am most motivated and inspired by the art process itself rather than a great need to convey specific ideas or messages. The forms themselves do the speaking for me on a mostly intuitive level. And always it’s the art process itself, i.e. the process of taking tool in hand and pushing both my imagination and skill in creating forms, that leads me, when I am lucky, to that time stopping, turning on the wheel of the universe sensation that spoke to me so long ago."

-Kristine Idarius

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 Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the residency be held?

The program will be held at Grace Community Center’s new Art & Wellness Studio. A recently refurbished Victorian house adjacent to San Jose State University, the Art & Wellness Studio provides programs & activities to Grace Members Monday through Saturday. For more information please visit: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/centers/CC/GraceCC/artandwellness.htm

Who is sponsoring the program?

The Friends of Grace, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing advocacy and generating supplemental financial support to Grace Community Center in its provision of therapeutic services for adults with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. For more information please visit:

http://thefriendsofgrace.org/

Who will be attending classes or participating in mentorships?

Grace Community Center Members will sign up to attend classes and will be selected through a juried process to obtain a mentee position.

What will be expected from a resident artist or performer?

Each artist and performer will conduct one 1 ½ long class a week, resulting in a final class project. Each artist and performer will provide an hour long mentorship for a Grace Community artist or performer with the development of a show. Each artist and performer will use the Art & Wellness Studio’s facilities to work on the development of their own show to be exhibited at the end of their residency.

How long does a residency last?

The residency is a pilot program rolling in three month residencies, with each position resulting in a final project or performance, providing the center with regularly scheduled events.

What will be the residence’s compensation?*

The resident will be provided with a private work studio, relevant supplies, training and support working with GCC artists, and a three-month gallery exhibit including promotional materials.

For further questions call;

Residency Coordinator, Michaela Rodriguez (408) 904-8190 or email info@thefriendsofgrace.org

*We do not provide living accommodations.
 

Mission Statement 

The Artist in Residence Program connects artists living with symptoms of mental illness with professional artists in the local community to create and exhibit art.