Artist Residency Selection, Spring 2026
Plus one more residency, because why not
As previously discussed Molly and I decided to try running an artist residency. Two weeks at our land, twice a year in the spring and fall, when the weather is peak-enjoyable. This round was a relatively short application window of two months, but it produced an impressive batch of applicants from all walks and far corners. I figured I’d share some data and officially announce who will be Land Resident One™.
We had 61 applicants. Three more if you count the late arrivals. Which I won’t.
Of those, the vast majority were interesting and accomplished. Most showed genuine passion and had a plan for the work they’d be doing on site. Truly only a couple folks were lost souls looking for a cabin to bed down in, which I was surprised by.
A majority were located in California, and the rest evenly spread throughout the US with a few folks from abroad—the UK, Mexico, and Canada. A lot of painters—26 of them. A dozen photographers, one of whom won a Pulitzer. Ten musicians—composers, award-winning jazz folk, singer-songwriters, and someone looking to collaborate with the electrical signals of plant and fungal life. There were poets and writers of note. A couple of filmmakers. Some performance artists and dancers, textile workers, ceramists, illustrators, and even a crew who wanted to brain-tan sheep hides. All in all a healthy spread and I think a more compelling pool—and one further reaching—than we had anticipated. Which makes future programs all the more enticing.
We put together a small selection panel to review the 137 page Google Doc (next round needs a better system) and we were unanimously enthusiastic about extending this first trial run to local artist and author Jenny Odell. Her 2019 book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy didn’t live long on our bookshelf—it’s one of those books you quickly pass along to a friend.1 She’ll be holed up at the property for a couple weeks this spring writing her new book. We’re excited to have her and to see how this whole thing feels.
Both Molly and I struggle with what the property means to us these days, as we/it/and the ways we engage with our community have all transformed. The value just isn’t as certain as it was a decade ago when we and our friends were pouring so much into projects week after week. Our hope is that this residency adds a new facet of utility that keeps the space exciting and acts as a conduit between us and creative folk doing inspired work. Fingers crossed it goes well. Everything is riding on Jenny. But, like, no pressure.
Other Residency News
I own a boat with our friend Rob. A little 24 foot east coast lobster-style boat. The tired joke is that I own the front half. Or the wet half. I’m lucky if it earns a charitable laugh, but I still keep at it.
Rob (who runs his own artist residency on Rabbit Island) decided to offer what he’s calling “micro residencies”—Time and Tide. Three hours or so, floating in and around the SF bay and seeing what comes.
Our first outing was with the talented Jessica Segall and Jamie Emerick, who proved their merit while stacking impressive painting after impressive painting, as we four drifted along the Marin coast on a remarkably cold Tuesday. Rob was no slouch and held his own on the canvas. I tried my hand at one sketch, but it was drown-yourself-bad, so I called it quits. I never really figured out how to draw… But, as they say, “Those who can’t draw, pilot the boat.”
If you’re interested in some Time and Tide, Rob said to drop him an email. robgorski@gmail.com
Just Doing Residencies
Pieter Levels coined, or at least popularized, the oft-repeated tech mantra of “You can just do things.” And like a lot of oft-repeated tech mantras it’s been occasionally weaponized to empower douchebags. These things happen.
But there is a worthy kernel in there. You really can just do some things. Apparently to start an artist residency you just have to declare it. And oh sure there will be adjustments along the way. But the barrier of entry to kicking it off, seeing what happens, and learning as you go, is effectively zero.
I don’t know where this whole Internet fad is going; the desire and ability to bicker with someone a world away can’t be great... But the current capacity to instantly launch a company, or a campaign—or a residency—and to connect with like-minded people a world away, is also perpetually amazing. It’s pretty remarkable what you can just do and the newfound scale at which it can be accessed.
And, that there’s no prerequisite for the host to have any artistic capability or talent… all the better.
DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
NEW TO THE NEWSLETTER? TO BUILDING?
Start with these posts on Project Planning and Construction Basics.
Or these posts on Community Building.
Or browse. Posts wander from friendship, to workshops, to tools, to explosives. Because we contain multitudes.
elevatedspaces.ca | Instagram | YouTube
Which one of you has it? We’d like it back.
Love this reflection on applying 'just do things' to actual community building vs usual tech bro stuff. The internet paradox of letting us bicker with strangers but also instantly connect with creative ppl across the globe hits differnet. I tried starting a community workshop space and the hardest part was just announceing it existed rather than overthinking every detail. The scale is wild tho, going from idea to 61 quality applicants in 2 months would've taken years pre-internet.
Congratulations to Jenny Odell! I'm excited to read her first book about the attention economy, as well as what she's composing at the cabin. When do you plan to begin accepting the next round of applications for the artist residency?