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| Peninsula Arts Council |
2010 Calendar, Gallery Schedule & News |
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In conversation with Dennis O’Leary,
Executive Director of the Djerassi Resident Artist Program.
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| Imagine having the luxury of time to perfect your art in a stunning and secluded location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Watch a short video on this retreat-style artist residency program located in the scenic hills of Woodside, California. Read more about the program in a conversation with Dennis O’Leary, Executive Director of the Djerassi Resident Artist Program. |
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Tori by Bruce Johnson Photo Credit: Chris Schmauch / GoodEye Photography + Design
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Dennis O’Leary - Photo Credit: Chris Schmauch / GoodEye Photography + Design
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The Djerassi Resident Artists Program is located in Woodside in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. The private ranch property is used to host artists from all over the world for one-month residencies.
Formerly a cattle ranch, the 580 acres of land is now dedicated to the mission of the Djerassi Resident Artist Program which is to “support and enhance the creativity of artists by providing uninterrupted time for work, reflection, and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty, and to preserve the land on which the Program is situated.”
 
Oak Tree and Old Barn - Photo Credit: Chris Schmauch / GoodEye Photography + Design
Now in its 31st year, the Djerassi Resident Artists Program is the largest artist residency program in the West and is considered among the best in the country. The program has provided over 1,900 artist residencies and currently serves approximately 80 artists each year. The cost to host an artist is approximately $7,500 per artist—yet the program is free to artists. All funding is raised from grants, fundraisers, donations and special events.
Once they are selected, artists need only provide their own transportation to the ranch and art supplies for their month-long stay. All meals, housing, and the “gift of time” are provided by the Program.
PAC: How does an artist find out about participating in a residency with Djerassi?
The call to artists goes out on-line to an international audience and can be found on the Djerassi website as well as the The Alliance of Artist Commmunities website, their AAC Facebook page, and Res Artis and TransArtists, two additional worldwide networks of artist residencies.
PAC: What types of artists qualify?
O’Leary: Residencies are awarded competitively, at no cost, to national and international artists in the disciplines of choreography, literature, music composition, visual arts, and media arts/new genres. We seek applications from emerging and mid-career artists, for whom appointments as resident artists may make a significant difference to their careers, as well as from established artists with national and/or international reputations. Applicants are evaluated by panels of arts professionals in each category. Those selected are offered living and studio space for four to five week sessions during the season which runs from mid-March through mid-November. We strive for diversity in age, gender, national origin and type of work. Our current artists in residence are very diverse and represent the nations of Vietnam, China, Japan, India, Italy, Canada and the US.
PAC: What type of experience can an artist expect?
O’Leary: The Residency Program is designed as a retreat experience to pursue personal creative work and share in collegial interaction within a small community of artists. Artists are given the gift of time to pursue their work in an unstructured environment. The only regular event is the evening meal served at 7 p.m. This event serves not only as sustenance, but as an opportunity for artists to forge a sense of community and fellowship. Conversations often linger late into the evening, as their residency and friendships progress.
PAC: Does Djerassi offer any other programs?
O’Leary: In addition to Artist Residencies, we do a number of public events such as the popular sculpture tours of the 51 sculptures located on the ranch. We just held our annual Open House on August 1 and have a current lecture series in progress in partnership with The Palo Alto Art Center. Lastly, we host an annual fundraiser, "Artful Harvest", which will be held on Sunday, October 17, from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. and benefits the Artist Residency Program.
PAC: Thank you for your time today. It was a pleasure speaking with you and learning about this wonderful program that serves as a catalyst for the creative process and brings international attention to San Mateo County.
Djerassi Resident Artists Program, SMIP Ranch
2325 Bear Gulch Rd., Woodside, CA, 94062
(650) 747-1250 - Venue Website
Photo Journal of the Open Studios Event
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| http://www.djerassi.org/Photo-Journal-by-Ed-Jasmin.pdf |
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More Unique Attractions in Woodside
Runnymede Sculpture Farm 160 large scale outdoor sculptures on 120 acres of private land in Woodside, California
Filoli CenterAn historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century.
Pulgas Water TempleA Beaux Arts style greek temple created as a monument to the engineering marvel that brought Hetch Hetchy water more than 160 miles across California from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay Area. The Hetch Hetchy Project had taken 24 years to build through the Great Depression at a cost of $102 million.
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| Article prepared by Julie Fellers, Peninsula Arts Council |
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Dialog by Roland Mayer - Photo Credit: Chris Schmauch / GoodEye Photography + Design |
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PROFILE ARCHIVES
PAC In Conversation with George Shoenstein, PAL Blues Festival
Christine Leslie Peninsula Ballet Theatre
Boris Koodrin and Bardi Rosman Koodrin coordinators of the Fine Arts Department at the San Mateo County Fair.
Michael Lederman Artistic Director, Coastal Repertory Theatre
Alicia Clancy Operations Director and Host of KCSM’s "A Morning Cup of Jazz” |
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