Artist in Residence


Artist in Residence Hannah Martin holding a cat

Hannah Martin

Artist in Residence Hannah Martin

Hannah Martin is a local ceramic artist from Grand Junction, CO. Hannah started working on her art career after watching the behind-the-scenes documentary of Lord of the Rings when she learned about Weta workshop and all of their artwork that they put into the movies. She started working with clay in 2014 and in 2019 she received her BFA from Colorado Mesa University with a concentration in ceramics, graduating with Honors in Art and Design under Professor KyoungHwa Oh. Since then, she has made artwork for the 2022 Mesa County Libraries Comic-Con and sells her work at local art markets. Hannah's work is about how we explore nostalgia and language, through the lens of pop culture and whimsy.

Learn more about Hannah and her work through her website and be sure to check out our events calendar to view or register for programs she plans to offer.

Hannah's weekly Meet & Greets are scheduled every Tuesday from 2:30-4:30 in the 970West Studio located just across from the Central library at 502 Ouray Ave. Everyone is welcome to stop in during these open house hours to chat with Hannah, ask questions, and see what she's working on.


Artist Room 1

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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 $1000 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 Fall 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.