Letter to our Community from Reena Kashyap: Welcome to our New Artists-in-Residence 2020-2021!
August 22, 2020
The humble beginnings of the Artist-in-Residence program were to offer ceramic artists studio space. With that in mind, I researched Artist-in-Residence programs that existed at other organizations and launched ours in 1998. Clay Art Center’s yearlong resident program was designed to offer recent BFA & MFA graduates time and space to focus on their studio practice, build on their teaching experience, assist with technical chores and work towards a solo exhibition to highlight their accomplishments.
In 1998, we had less than 10 applicants. The program has grown over the years, and in 2001, we added one more resident position. This was made possible through our annual fundraising. In 2010 we received funding from the Westchester Community Foundation to support a resident who was dedicated to teaching and assisting in the community arts programs. Also, in 2011, Barbara Rittenberg, a valued board member and artist passed away, and to honor her service and love for Clay Art Center, her family founded the Barbara Rittenberg Fellowship. Together the residents enrich our studio life and experiences with their boundless energy as they generously share their love for clay and community.
I have a great sense of pride when I reflect and recount the contributions the past 50 Residents have made over the last 22 years. To witness their personal and artistic growth and transformation during their residency is a testament to the drive, dedication and passion they bring to their work.
At the end of the year’s residency, we bid a bittersweet farewell. Though they may be far away, they leave behind fond memories that live on as they become an extended part of our Clay Art Center family.
I sincerely hope you will get to meet Austin, Breana and Maria when you visit the studio next!
Warmly,
Reena Kashyap
Director Emeritus
*Originally posted in our weekly email newsletter. Click here to sign up for our newsletter!
Meet our 2020-2021 Artists-in- Residence!
Every August for the last 22 years, the Clay Art Center community has eagerly welcomed the incoming Artists-in-Residents. This year is no exception, and we are excited for you to learn more about them. Please join us in welcoming two new artists-in-residence, Maria Spiess (Rittenberg Artist-in-Residence) and Breana Hendricks (Westchester Community Foundation’s Young Artist Fellow) and one returning artist-in-residence Austin Coudriet. They will be teaching classes this year and will be a great addition to the Clay Art Center family!
Austin Coudriet holds a BFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His work highlights the interaction between architecture and amorphous forms with some abstract sculptures being life-size. Austin enjoys teaching because his personal career goals are to be both a maker and an instructor. Austin is joining us for a second year as a resident. He will be teaching Handbuilt Pottery, Intermediate Ceramics, Thrown & Altered, Sculptural Ceramics and Drawing & Planning for the Studio this Fall.
Maria Spiess holds a BFA from BGSU in Bowling Green, OH and a MFA from Syracuse University. Prior to coming to Clay Art Center Maria completed various Artist-In-Residence programs including Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild in Woodstock, NY, VACI program in Chautauqua, NY, Taos Clay in Taos, NM, Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln, NE, and Golden Bridge Pottery in Pondicherry, India.
"In both teaching and making, I believe the journey is just as important as the destination or product. I consider this a lot in my making process and try to pass this on to my students as they are learning in my classes. " She will be teaching Introduction to Wheel Throwing, Beginners & Beyond, Intermediate Handbuilding and Bento Box this Fall .
Breana Hendricks is Clay Art Center’s Westchester Community Foundation’s Young Artist Fellow. She received her BFA from the State University of New York at New Paltz, NY. Before coming to Port Chester she taught ceramics at Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY and has taught at Don Bosco Community Center for grades 3 - 5 and Port Chester Recreation. She has been with Clay Art Center since 2019 as a Community Arts Assistant. She will be teaching Introduction to Ceramics, Beginners & Beyond, Sgrafitto & Terra Sigillata and Sankofa Clay this Fall.