Artist in Residence Cara Morton January 6 - April 14, 2025
Cara Morton studied art at the Worcester Art Museum School in Worcester, MA. She spent her artistic life from a young age exploring many mediums, crafts and styles. Having retired from formal employment in the library world to pursue art full time over the past couple of years. Recently, she has been exploring painting in pastels, felt, and mixed media, while still exploring acrylic and water-based oil paintings. Her subject matter inspiration is usually organic in nature, drawing from the world around her. Her style is mostly realism to semi-realism.
She showcases and sells her work at Confluence Studios in Grand Junction and has participated in various exhibitions, including the Brush & Palette annual member show and Mesa County Libraries Culture Fest Juried Art Show. As an active member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, she continues to contribute to the local art community in Grand Junction.
In regards to her art practice, Cara says, “I just love color and playing with it! Manipulating hard edges into soft undefined spaces and creating indescribable shades of colors flowing into each other. Once I re-discovered pastels, my heart leapt at mixing my palette directly on the finished surface. I’m naturally very tactile and was attracted to the softness of the mat suede board I normally work on using a variety of chalks to refine my technique. This style of color play also works its magic seamlessly into my felt and acrylic paintings. I can zone into this play space for hours, but when I break, you might find me doing something whimsical in an entirely different medium. Art is Life for me.”
Programs:
Playing in Pastels
Discover the world of pastels in this beginner-friendly program. Explore values and composition using just three pastel shades. No drawing skills are required and supplies are included. Registration is required.
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, Central Library Monument Community Room
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, Clifton Branch Library Mt. Garfield Community Room
5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 28, Fruita Branch Library Idea Lab
Pastel Still Life
Explore the art of still life composition using pastels while exploring light and shadow through object arrangement. Beginners welcome and supplies are included. Registration is required.
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, Central Library Monument Community Room
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, Clifton Branch Library Mt. Garfield Community Room
5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 25, Fruita Branch Library Idea Lab
Pastels and Seasons
Explore the seasons with pastels by choosing two contrasting seasons and creating mood paintings for each. Beginners welcome and supplies are included. Registration is required.
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, Central Library Monument Community Room
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, Clifton Branch Library Mt. Garfield Community Room
5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, Fruita Branch Library Idea Lab
Artist in Residence Meet and Greet
Stop by to meet Artist in Residence, Cara Morton, during her open studio hours every Wednesday from 2-4:00 p.m beginning January 8 at the 970West Studio, 502 Ouray Ave. She’ll be available to answer any questions about her work and creative processes.
Click to enlarge
About the Artist in Residence (AIR) Program
Mesa County Libraries provides studio space in the 970West Studio through the Artist In Residence Program. Artists are encouraged to use this fourteen-week residency as an opportunity for growth and development while engaging with the community.
The Artist in Residence program aims to support the endeavors of our local artists who connect and engage the community with a variety of arts. Selected artists will receive a $2000 stipend courtesy of the Mesa County Libraries Foundation. Artists will have studio space to hone and focus their creative talents while sharing their expertise and skills with the community through scheduled presentations or workshops at the library.
Eligibility
Artists 18 years of age and older, residing in Mesa County, CO, and with a valid library card may apply. Artists selected for this program are at all stages in their careers and work in one or more of the following media: drawing, painting, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, video, music, fiction and nonfiction writing, and poetry. Artists working in other mediums are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on limitations of the studio. Applicants will be required to undergo a background check.
Selection Criteria
● Ability to teach and conduct workshops or presentations
● Readiness to engage with and benefit from the residency experience
● Artistic expression
● Dates of previous artists of similar items or topics
● Special needs, costs, or requests associated with space use or workshops
● Overall community interest
● Historical prominence or significance of the artist’s work
● Relevance to library programs
Process
Applications generally open up during the summer and will be posted at the top of this page. Residencies will be determined by the Art Committee members and additional library staff. All application materials must be submitted by the posted deadline. Work samples will be reviewed based on their technical aspects, and final residency selections will be determined by an interview process.
Artist’s Responsibility
While in the 970West Studio, Artists in Residence are expected to comply with the Library’s Code of Conduct. Additionally, each resident is expected to:
- Work with library staff to provide at least three library programs offered during his/her residency.
- Occupy the studio a minimum of six hours per week. A minimum of two of the six hours must be scheduled open studio time for community engagement.
- Provide a short presentation to the MCL Foundation Board about his/her residency.
- Allow the library to provide the following for its online catalog:
- A photograph (taken by staff, in the studio or at a library program) of the artist at work
- One digitized piece of the artist’s work
- A video recording of a brief interview between the artist and the library
The library respects all copyright laws and recognizes that intellectual property rights reside with the artist.
For more information or questions, please contact Jessica Geddes at air@mcpld.org or call 970-683-2418.