I-Park Foundation Inc

NURTURING ARTISTS AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS THROUGH ITS INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, THE AESTHETIC ENGAGEMENT OF ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.

I-PARK'S CORE ACTIVITY IS ITS GENERAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM. MIXED-DISCIPLINE GROUPS, GENERALLY 6-7 ARTISTS AT A TIME, SPEND A MONTH TOGETHER AT THE I- PARK FACILITY. THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH A PRIVATE BEDROOM, PRIVATE STUDIO, MEALS PROGRAM, WORKSHOP AND OTHER SHARED SPACES, ENTHUSIASTIC STAFF SUPPORT AND OPEN ACCESS TO AN EXPANSIVE, VARIED NATURAL LANDSCAPE WITH MILES OF ART/NATURE TRAILS. WHILE MOST PARTICIPANTS ARE PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO STUDIO PRACTICE, MANY CHOOSE TO EXPLORE THE LIMITLESS CREATIVE POTENTIAL AFFORDED BY THE I-PARK GROUNDS. THE RESIDENCIES ARE FULLY-FUNDED; ARTISTS' ONLY COSTS ARE FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE AREA AND THEIR OWN ART MATERIALS. EACH RESIDENCY SESSION ENDS WITH A PUBLIC OPEN STUDIOS EVENT, WHERE THE ARTISTS OPEN THEIR STUDIOS AND SHARE COMPLETED AND IN-PROCESS WORK PROJECTS AND OFFER GLIMPSES INTO THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS.

IN 2021, I-PARK HOSTED ITS EIGHTH SITE-RESPONSIVE ART RESIDENCY & BIENNALE, A MULTI-DISCIPINARY EXHIBITION OF TOP-QUALITY WORKS FROM THE FIELD OF SITE-RESPONSIVE ART. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED A 3-WEEK ONSITE RESIDENCY DURING WHICH NEW WORKS WERE CONCEIVED AND INSTALLED. NINE OUTSTANDING NEW WORKS WERE CREATED FOR THE EXHIBITION. BECAUSE OF LINGERING CONCERNS ABOUT COVID, ALL THE ARTISTS WERE FROM THE U.S., THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENDED. ALSO, 3 OF THE PROJECTS WERE DEVELOPED BY COLLABORATING TEAMS. SEVEN OF THE ARTISTS/TEAMS RECEIVED 3,500 AWARDS AS WELL AS A MATERIALS BUDGET AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT. IN CELEBRATION OF I-PARK'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY, TWO BIPOC ARTISTS WERE COMMISSIONED TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL NEW WORKS FOR THE BIENNALE. EACH RECEVIED AWARDS OF 12,500 AS WELL AS MATERIALS AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS. THE BIENNALE OPENING WAS WELL ATTENDED AND WAS FOLLOWED UP WITH SEVERAL FREE PUBLIC TRAIL WALKS. AS OF THIS DATE, ALL 9 WORKS REMAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT I-PARK CONSISTS OF ORGANIZING PUBLIC EVENTS SUCH AS OPEN STUDIOS, WHERE THE ARTISTS OPEN THEIR STUDIOS AT THE END OF THEIR RESIDENCIES TO EXPOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THEIR WORK PROJECTS AND CREATIVE PROCESS, OPEN TRAILS DAYS, VOLUNTEERS' DAYS, A FREE FAMILY DAY AND HOSTING GROUPS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN - FOR BIRD WALKS AND WALKS ALONG OUR EXPANSIVE SYSTEM OF ART/NATURE TRAILS WE ALSO MAKE OFFSITE PRESENTATIONS AND PARTNER WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION TO SHARE IDEAS, EXPOSE ONE ANOTHER TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD AND COLLABORATE ON PUBLIC PROGRAMMING FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.