Artist Residency Programs
Rediscovering the Past: A Journey Through an Artist Residency
For many artists, an artist residency provides more than just a quiet space to create—it offers a rare opportunity to step back, reflect, and evolve. This was exactly the case for me as I embarked on a transformative residency experience at the Trout Museum of Art in Appleton, Wisconsin. With over two decades of artwork behind me, I used this dedicated time to reassess my creative journey, unearth forgotten inspirations, and redefine my artistic voice.
A Residency as a Reset
Unlike many artists who enter a residency with the intent of producing new work, I approached this time differently. Instead of pushing forward, I looked back—sifting through decades of photographs and conceptual projects. It was an introspective process, one that involved revisiting early themes, unfinished ideas, and artistic detours that had been abandoned along the way.
I soon realized that I had been so focused on moving forward that I never truly paused to understand where I had been. This artist residency gave me the space to reconnect with my own artistic DNA.
Confronting Growth and Change
One of the most profound revelations during the artist residency was seeing how my work had evolved over time. Some pieces felt like echoes of my past self, while others revealed seeds of ideas that still felt relevant today. I grappled with questions like:
- Which themes have remained constant throughout my career?
- Have I been unintentionally repeating certain patterns?
- What parts of my past work still excite me?
- What do I want to carry forward, and what should I leave behind?
Through this process, I identified unity in my work. My deep fascination with nature and human connection was present since the earliest days, but evolved over time.
Creating From a Place of Reflection
Rather than immediately diving into new work, I spent much of the artist residency journaling and experimenting with ways to reinterpret older ideas through a fresh lens. Some pieces were reworked or expanded upon, while others served as springboards for entirely new directions. I used to think of my work as a linear progression, but now see it as a cycle. Ideas return in different forms, and there’s value in revisiting and refining them.
By the end of the residency, I developed a new body of work. This collection bridged over two decades of artistic exploration, weaving past and present into something both familiar and entirely new.
Lessons From Looking Back
The Trout Museum of Art's artist residency experience was a powerful reminder that sometimes growth isn’t about moving forward, but about looking inward. As artists, we often feel pressure to constantly innovate, but there is immense value in pausing to reflect.
For those considering their own creative reset, I offer this advice to you:
- Give yourself permission to reflect - Your past work holds insights that can inform your future.
- Look for patterns - Themes, colors, or techniques that reappear in your work can reveal what truly resonates with you.
- Embrace change - Some aspects of your work will no longer feel relevant, and that’s okay. Growth is about transformation.
- Don’t be afraid to rework old ideas - A concept from years ago might just need a fresh perspective to become something new.
My work carries a renewed sense of purpose as I prepare for my next chapter. Honor your past while embracing the endless possibilities ahead. When you learn to believe in yourself, you'll find others who believe in you, too.
Have you ever revisited old artwork and found new meaning in it? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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