An International Residency Experience

Judith Cooper, Iván Ferrer-Orozco, and Olive Ayhens at Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus
VCCA has partnerships with five international residencies, including Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus. Each year, VCCA sends two visual artists, one writer, and one composer for a six-week residency (June-mid-July) to the town of Schwandorf in southern Germany. Fellows are housed in the Künstlerhaus, which features private rooms, a shared living area, and kitchen.

The four Fellows in Schwandorf this summer, writer Judith Cooper, composer Iván Ferrer-Orozco, painter Olive Ayhens, and photographer Tucker Hollinsworth were featured at the Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus Open Studios Day. Read more about them.

Judith Cooper was "very productive at this residency, and found the staff to be delightful and supportive." Cooper continues, "There are beautiful walks right in the area, including a castle dating from 1305 and a path that leads past the grounds and into farmlands behind it, and a walk along the River Naab into Schwandorf proper. People living in the area couldn’t be more welcoming. To me, travel is all about forging personal relationships. I relished the opportunity to have a longer stay and to get to know people in the area better. To take a local walk and run into new German friends was just wonderful."

For Olive Ayhens, the opportunity to experience Bavarian culture was meaningful. "Nearby there was a castle and we were often invited there for dinner and events. There were events in the villa where we were able to interact, and gallery openings and meetings with the folks running the program who were also helpful and informative. We were taken as a group to visit local sites in the community, the foundry, old tower, underground caves, etc. I found this very inspirational and learned about the local culture from these experiences. Some of the imagery observed may get into my work in inventive and unique ways. "

The deadline for VCCA's international exchange program is September 1, 2018. Apply today!

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