MONTICELLO — As the spring Artist-in-Residence program continues at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, applications are being taken through April for the fall season.
Artists who would like to spend between two and six weeks to explore their ideas and create amongst the beauty of Allerton are encouraged to apply at https://allerton.illinois.edu/fall-artist-in-residence-program/.
Allerton Assistant Director of Annual Fund and Programming Mindy Brand said plans are to limit the fall session to one artist, and that is pretty much open to all artistic interests.
“Unlike this (spring) residency, which had more of a focus for particular communities, this one is going to be wide open again,” Brand said.
Potential applicants can include sculptors, photographers, painters, printmakers, installation artists videographers, writers and poets and performing artists.
Artists who are selected receive living accommodations for their stay at Allerton, a stipend, studio space and assistance from Allerton staff as needed.
The Artist-in-Residence program beckons back to the early days on the Allerton estate, where Robert Allerton encouraged artists.
Allerton Program Coordinator Olivia Warren said it is gratifying to get back to those roots.
“When Robert lived here, that’s what he did. He brought in artists into his home and provided space for them to create and provided acreage for art. Getting back to that is what I’m most excited about,” Warren said.
Brand said it also allows the park to showcase its extensive artwork, from the Formal Gardens to the Sun Singer.
“Allerton obviously has all this artwork that’s free and open to the public, so this is a way to expand on that and offer more ways for the public to come out and experience art,” she said.
Potential artists have until May 6 to apply for the fall Artist-in-Residence session.
Allerton’s In-Residence Program, made possible by Joan and Peter Hood, and Dana Brehm and Larry Baumann, aims to support and highlight the meaningful work of creators, educators and researchers, making their professions more accessible to the public, while bringing awareness to unique characteristics of Allerton.
Spring artists continue
The busy spring Artist-in-Residence season also continues at Allerton. After hosting St. Louis-area artist Simiya Suddoth and University of Illinois graduate and jazz guitarist Jose Gobbo, there is still plenty left on the park’s agenda, including the following:
— Barber, an artist from Chicago who is striving to repair “racially impaired perceptions of the body” in his work; and
— Creative writer and researcher Nicole Anderson-Cobb and theatre maker and University of Illinois professor Latrelle Bright. The Champaign residents will collaborate to research, create and perform a series of short theatre pieces.
All three will arrive April 17.
