AVA a-i-r

Currently in Residence : Anna Kaufman

Kaufman grew up in the Los Angeles area surrounded by the chaos of an urban environment, bustling bodies and bumper to bumper traffic. She found calm in her art. “Drawing and painting have always offered a voice for me where my own has failed. I could get lost for hours drawing, painting, sculpting, creating narratives through line and shape,” says Kaufman. Coming from a family of many artists, her maternal and paternal grandfathers and parents are all painters and writers by trade. They encouraged her to make art.

A recent graduate of Vassar College in upstate New York, Kaufman received a degree in environmental studies, exploring art as science, and science as art, two areas she’s come to believe are necessarily intertwined, breathing life into one another. A passion for environmentalism has deeply influenced much of her artwork, inspiring Kaufman to explore the intersectionality between activism, the arts, and sciences. Kaufman aims to use her residency to create work that reflects and draws attention to ecological issues and to create a dialogue between herself and others.


About AVA a-i-r

The AVA a-i-r Program is designed to encourage the creative, intellectual, and professional growth of local artists. One residency finalist will be chosen on the basis of merit by an independent selection panel of professionals in the arts and arts patrons. The selected artist will be provided with a studio in the Astoria Studio Collective building free of charge for the six-month residency period. Artists who have applied in the past are encouraged to reapply with an updated portfolio and statement reflecting updates and changes.

Next call for applications will be in May 2023.

Next residency dates: July-December 2023.

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General Information/How to Apply:

The disciplines and what to submit:

  • Visual art: Works that are primarily visual images. Submit three to five high-resolution .jpg digital images, including the title, size, and medium for each work, and a short statement about the work.

  • Film/video: Includes animation, documentary, and narrative work. Include a short synopsis of work, if it exists, and samples of work no greater than 20 minutes in length.

Eligibility: Local artists at least 18 years of age and living within the greater Astoria area (Clatsop and Pacific counties), will be judged on the quality and promise of their work and proposal. (AVA a-i-r does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.)

Requirements:  While no exhibition, publication, or performance is required of the selected artist, community responsibility includes weekend open studio events during Astoria's Second Saturday Art Walk at least twice during the residency.

Length of stay: Six months.

Aid: Selected artists will be provided with a small studio in the Astoria Studio Collective building free of charge. Some additional financial help with art supplies and drink/food vouchers may be provided.

Call for artists will be via local media, web posting, and social media.

Selection committee: An independent panel of working artists and supporters will serve as the selection committee.


AVA a-i-r Alumni by Date:

2022

Jan - June Roy Sanchez

July - Dec Lindsey Aarts

2021

July - December Kristen Nekovar / Blis

Nov 2020 - June Deanna Antony

2020

Jan-Apr  Denise Monaghan, Karen Ni Neill Bear

May-Aug Denise Monaghan, Kirista Trask

Nov - June 2021 Deanna Antony

2019

Jan-April Celeste Endlich, Sally Lackaff

May-Aug  Sally Lackaff, Kirista Trask

Sept-Dec  Oscar Nelson, Morrison Pierce

2018

Jan-April Stirling Gorsuch

May-Aug Jill Mulholland

Sept-Dec Lucca Dust, Melanie Steffl

2017

Jan-March  Terry Robinett

Feb-May  Andie Sterling

May-Aug  Andie Sterling

May-Aug  Tyler Little

Aug-Dec  Roger Hayes

2016

Jan-March  Annie Eskelin

Jan-March  Sarah Lippold

Jan-March  Blaine Verley

April-June  Rachel Jensen  

April-June  David Plechl   

April-June  Meghann Hanour

July-Sept  Erika Hawkins

July-Sept  Meghann Hanour

​2015

April-June  Sarah Hendrickson

July-Sept  David Coyne    

July-Sept  H. Elizabeth Koch 

Oct-Dec Kinzi Gordon  

Oct-Dec Liz Harris