The Merriweather District Artist-in-Residence program has selected four new artists for its 2020 residency.
The program brings together artists to work, live and create in Downtown Columbia for six-weeks. The residency provides a $12,000 stipend and 27,000 square feet of studio space in 6100 Merriweather Drive, in the Merriweather District. The artists will live in the Merriweather District’s newest residential building, Juniper, located next to the studio space.
This year’s artists:
Johannes Barfield, a multimedia artist from Winston-Salem, NC, who works in photography, video, sculpture, and sound installations. His work revolves around the Black American experience and how institutions and systems of power and influence are connected to the amplification and nullification of blackness.
Peter Krsko, an artist and scientist from Wonewoc, WI, works primarily with wood to create collaborative and community public art, such as sculptures and murals. Inspired by biological concepts of diversity, differentiation, participation and symbiosis, his work mimics the structure and form as well as the dynamics and laws of interactions among members of the natural ecosystems.
Amy Reid is a Baltimore, MD-based queer electronic musician, producer, sound, visual artistry and curator striving to transform spaces sonically, socially, and visually. Her work often explores the intersection of the natural and man-made world through the use of field recordings, vocals, and electronic instruments.
Ying Zhu is an installation artist originally from Lanzhou, China, but now based in Washington, DC. Her work focuses on the confluence of cultures and identities. She emphasizes sophistication in detail while creating simplicity in structure.
The artists will work under the theme of community, creating work that will provoke conversation and strengthen community. To connect with resident artists, explore their work and learn about upcoming virtual workshops and live performances, follow the Merriweather District’s social media channels.
The artists were selected by a panel of jurors who included Vanessa Rodriguez, vice president of marketing at the Howard Hughes Corporation; Meg Olni, associated curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art, associated with the University of Pennsylvania; Coleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council; Ken Farmer, founder of Wild Dogs International and curator for OPUS Merriweather, and Darin Atwater, founder and creative director of Soulful Symphony and Artistic Director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission.
