Leesa Zarinelli Gawlik
Artisan of Textile assemblages
2017 Artist Residency
David Holub
Writer, journalist, playwright,
“My Willowtail experience — from conceiving a proposal to the actual residency to executing and realizing my project — was the catalyst for so many creative endeavors that did not exist nor would have been possible otherwise.”
David Holub
David, former Arts and Entertainment Editor at the Durango Herald and currently Editor of the new magazine weekly magazine, DGO. came to write a piece on bird watching with his father. He wrote a five act one person play in collaboration with Sarah Syverson. The dress rehearsal was in the Treehouse Gallery with many of David’s friends who are actors, musicians acrobats, writers and comedians. The play was then performed to a sold out audience at Durango Art center and the Sunshine Theatre in Cortez.
“David’s performance at Durango Art Center was fantastic! We raised over $570 toward a future residency. I think it also encouraged other artists to apply for this program and the partnership between Willowtail and DAC.”
Cristie Scott, Executive Director, DAC.
2016 Durango Arts Center Scholarship
2018 Willowtail Scholarship
Kim Russell, Painter, Teacher at Mancos Public Schools
2016 Durango art Center Scholarship
Judy Richardson, Sculptor from NYC,
2016 Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation Scholarship
Judy came to Willowtail as an extremely experienced, energetic and knowledgeable professional artist. As an already recognized sculptor, opera set designer, painter and teacher with boundless processes at her disposal. She was also very generous during her time here to teach a wonderful class at Mancos Library for children and gave a spectacular, successful presentation another evening. This was held in the beautiful Hanger outside Mancos owned by Tom Buffaloe. Many adults and children attended this presentation and were thrilled to share a glimpse into the life and work of this very established, talented and accessible women.
During studio visits with local community members, she eloquently and passionately spoke of the importance of maintaining the action and process of a piece, to keep it moving, without overworking the finished “product or work of art”. She stressed the life-source the process itself presents.
“I had expectations about my two week residency at Willowtail. I love the Southwest and looked forward to drawing, painting, and hiking in the high desert and canyon country.
When I got there I found a property in the hills with hand-built houses and a variety of gardens. My house was an old log cabin filled with antique furniture and every amenity I could have hoped for. The proprietress, Peggy Cloy, is effusive, helpful, and generous, always friendly and available. My studio was open, light-filled, and stocked with materials for my use. The property included a barn, garden house, and field house, all with lots of re-used materials and objects for my perusal. My time at Willowtail was a lot busier than I imagined, mainly because the surrounding area is so spectacular and filled with wonders, I felt an urgency to see as much as possible in the time I had.
The value of the residency to me is having the time to absorb the colors, textures, images and feeling of the place to reflect in drawings and sculptures, and to take with me for my work to come.”
Carol Meckling
3 Dimensional Mixed Media and Painting
“This was my first residency.The anticipation included “What if I don’t make good use of my time? What can I accomplish in a week?” However, the time immediately turned into a prolific, creative and exciting time.I already knew Willowtail was a special place, but I did not expect my work to grow and expand so quickly and easily. I still do not know exactly why this happens at Willowtail. The beautiful land? The energetic makeup of the earth it sits on? The nurturing hosts? The accumulation of creative energy collected over the years? A container is created for artists to create in ways they have not done before. One is filled with unimaginable creative freedom and energy to work.”
2016 Durango Art Center Scholarship
2018 Willowtail Scholarship
Suze Woolf, Seattle, WA. Plein Air Painter, Sculptor, Mountaineer, Scientist
Installation view of Twelve watercolors on torn paper. Trees are all from twelve national forest and national park burns
Epoxy resin and laser cut wood. from Lingua Larvae [Language of the Grubs] Series, inside book view
Laser cut wood , Max Block photograph, pyrography on wooden beads, linen thread, steel wire. Inside book view from Insect Killed pine beetle bored bark Series
Suze with charred trees at installation.
2016 Artist Residency
2018 Willowtail Scholarship (Collaborate with Lorena Williams)
2019 Willowtail Scholarship
suzewoolf-fineart.com