Mexican Artist Residency

The Task at Hand

I fell in love with Mexico whilst travelling there solo for a month last year.

This time informed my decision to return to Oaxaca in the hopes of making ceramics under the guidance of local artisans. Making this dream a reality has proven challenging to date with set backs in relation to funding and available opportunities. I aimed to gather funding through a residency program set up by the Mexican Government but needed to find an external party in Mexico to lodge my application in Spanish and take me on for the duration of my stay. Finding a ceramicist that fitted these criteria turned out to be an unattainable feat. I then turned my attention to obtaining an artist residency through a pre existing program; many weren't in the Oaxaca area or didn't offer ceramics.

I then came across Obracadobra, a humble Casa nestled in the streets of Oaxaca. I new it was the one. They accepted my proposal and asked me to join them for the month of August. As this residency isn't funded my next port of call was to apply for funding to cover the fees and flights through Creative New Zealand, only to discover my project is ineligible as it begins too early for this round of funding. I have been working and saving but have not been able to amass all the money I need to cover the costs. This is where I extend my reach to you, in the hope that you will see my passion and help me to bring this dream to fruition.

Background

I completed a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 2006 and since then I have exhibited in group and solo shows in both New Zealand and Australia.

I'm an interdisciplinary artist working across the mediums of painting, installation, textiles, photography and ceramics. I came to practice ceramics serendipitously in 2014 and since then I haven't looked back. I love the tactile nature of the medium and it's ability to take on form and function. As a practicing ceramicist, I'm motivated to make work that inquires into the functions and aesthetic qualities associated with domestic objects. I'm passionate about creating ceramics and would like to further my skill set and practice any way possible. Learning ancient techniques from skilled native artisans would be an invaluable experience that will change my life forever.

In recent weeks I have come across initiatives supporting artisans working in the Oaxaca area to preserve their craft and would love to offer my time and energy in supporting and furthering these projects while residing in Oaxaca.

How You Can Help

I would like to invite you to participate in helping make my dream a reality.

I'm running a 30-day donation based crowd funding campaign to raise $4000, enabling me to get to Mexico and attend the artist residency in August.

Your generous donation will go towards the cost of flights and fees for the residency, which covers, studio, internet and accommodation.

Please help me reach my target by making a tax-deductible donation to my campaign.

Boosted is an all or nothing platform, meaning that if I don't reach my target in 30 days, I won't receive a single dollar and my dream of getting to Mexico in August will be lost.

To help me even further please share this page with your networks.

People can only offer their support if they know about my project.

Please help spread the word, I will be forever indebted to you!

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Sarah Rossiter