Interview with Erynn Richardson and Tava Tedesco on the Site Space Residency Program

Erynn Richardson and Tava Tedesco are artists and recent graduates from Cal State Long Beach.

Both Erynn and Tava discuss the residency “Site Space” and their work.

The following interview was conducted via email from June 18, 2013 to July 1, 2013.

Mario Vasquez 6/18/13

To: Tava Tedesco, Erynn Richardson

For those who are not familiar, what is an art residency?

Erynn Richardson 6/19/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

An artist residency provides an artist with time and space to work. Sometimes a residency will even provide materials, facilities or professional services. Some residencies are more general, allowing an artist to further their body of work. Sometimes they are more specific and project based; perhaps the artist is doing a performance, making public art or creating a site specific installation.

Mario Vasquez  6/19/13

To: Erynn Richardson

Cc: Tava Tedesco

So have you done residency before? If so, what were your experiences with doing a residency?

Erynn Richardson 6/20/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

This will be my first residency. I have taken workshops and special technical classes before, but this is my first artist residency. This project will differ from the workshops and classes I've taken in the past in that this is MY project. I created it and I am solely responsible for bringing it to life!

Mario Vasquez 6/20/13

To: Erynn Richardson

Cc: Tava Tedesco

Talk to me about Site Space.

Tava Tedesco  6/20/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Erynn Richardson

Site Space is a unique residency, most notably because of its mobile abilities. Site Space is a vintage caravan that has been remodeled and established as a studio and gallery space. The idea of mobility allows for the artists to experiment with the concept and functionality of a shifting environment, to hopefully question and investigate what is around them and their work.

We are excited for Erynn to take part in Site Space's residency. She has proposed a project that will once again challenge us to open our door to a new location in California, Big Sur. We are intrigued with what potential findings Erynn will bring in from the environment and how she will apply her own artistic values in to the interior of the caravan.

Mario Vasquez 6/20/13

To: Tava Tedesco

Cc: Erynn Richardson

Before I get to Erynn's proposal, I am curious about the development and concept of the mobile artist residency.

What influenced the idea of the mobile residency?

Tava Tedesco 6/21/13

To: Mario Vasquez

There are a few components that influenced the creation of Site Space.

One of the most important influences was the need for an affordable work space. When the caravan was first purchased I was utilizing it as my personal studio, a place to take over for the year prior to graduate school, with a tight budget it seemed like the perfect fit. Though quickly I realized that the space would become used less and less as I would be starting graduate school and afforded a studio space in the program. The idea of being connected to so many artists and the potential that the caravan could have for these other artists started to formulate in my head. So, I spent that last summer before graduate school reforming the trailer to function as a blank studio and gallery space for the next artist to be introduced to its functionality.

Through this process the concrete details of the residency were developed. What potential does the space have for a visiting artist and what challenges does the space provide to the artist and their work? Though the thinking always revolved around the central theme of the "space's ability through mobility", which alone seemed to intrigue other artists. Since the start of the Site Space residency program, there has been a steady flow of interest from artists, each excited to submit a proposal because of its potential to add a new variance to their work or mindset. On the flip side, each artist in resident pushes and develops the Site Space residency as well and that is something I am very excited about.

Site Space is a unique residency, most notably because of its mobile abilities. Site Space is a vintage caravan that has been remodeled and established as a studio and gallery space. The idea of mobility allows for the artists to experiment with the concept and functionality of a shifting environment, to hopefully question and investigate what is around them and their work.

We are excited for Erynn to take part in Site Space's residency. She has proposed a project that will once again challenge us to open our door to a new location in California, Big Sur. We are intrigued with what potential findings Erynn will bring in from the environment and how she will apply her own artistic values in to the interior of the caravan.

Erynn Richardson 6/22/13

To: Mario Vasquez

While I can't speak for Tava I have noticed a recent trend of artists using the residency platform as a means to complete projects of their choosing or make their own opportunities. I knew a guy a who raised money to bring an artist over from Europe for a residency where she was going to stay on his couch and make performance pieces. The opportunity for her was to go to a different country and make art. The host got to meet an artist he admired and lay the ground stone for future residencies he could host.

I love the idea of artists making their own residencies because it's another way for us to promote our careers and empower our ideas.

Mario Vasquez 6/23/13

To: Erynn Richardson

Cc: Tava Tedesco

So Erynn, tell me about your work and what you're proposing for this residency.

Erynn Richardson 6/24/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

My work centers around ideas of objects and collecting. I'm interested the narratives and stories objects possess. I select objects and, through visual observation, make labor-intensive line etchings. I print on thin mulberry paper, which I iron with beeswax; this causes the paper to become translucent. I then cut multiple prints into pieces, reassemble them into new forms, which I hand-sew to larger sheets of paper.

For my project with Site Space I intend to tow the trailer from Long Beach to Big Sur, collecting objects I find along the way and during my stay. With these objects I will build an installation inside the trailer that I will make drawings of. After my trip the trailer will be towed back to Long Beach where it will be part of a pop-up show; the trailer will be outside and the drawings will be in the gallery.

Mario Vasquez 6/24/13

To: Erynn Richardson, Tava Tedesco

As an artist (or artists), what are your hopes for this residency?

Erynn Richardson 6/25/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

While I usually rely on print-based elements and sewing in my body of work, I'm really hoping that this residency will allow me to focus on drawing. I find the process of drawing to be to so immediate and vulnerable; it's intimate and special. I'm hoping that the short time of my trip will allow me to explore my own process of drawing more.

I'm also interested in the installation aspect. I have an installation background but my practice has shifted to consist of mostly 2D work. I'm looking forward to stepping back and allowing the process to grow organically.

Mario Vasquez 6/28/13

To: Erynn Richardson, Tava Tedesco

What is the future of Site Space? How can people help develop this residency?

Erynn Richardson 6/29/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

I really can't wait to see what happens with Site Space in the next fews years. I see more and more artists being interested in designing their own projects around the trailer. I could also imagine Tava having multiple trailers for multiple projects. I could also see the trailer being used for education and public practice. The more artists that apply to Site Space the bigger it will become. I'm running a Kickstarter to raise money for my project, which will help with the cost. I'm hoping that more people will find out about Site Space through my Kickstarter and more artists will apply in the future.

Tava Tedesco

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Erynn Richardson

The residency program is still so young and we feel that with each proposal and each project there are lessons learned and a community developed that will help us define success. The model of mobility is something that Site Space would like to keep as a core feature, and to be able to do so with multiple spaces would be an amazing opportunity and an investment we would love to explore down the road.

As for now, the future of Site Space is yet to be fully defined which is something we embrace, knowing that each artist that finds a need for the space has individual assets and interests that we would like to cater to and further expand our capabilities. Our hope is that the community and connections established through Site Space continue to grow and benefit both the artist and the Site Space residency program.

We encourage artists to apply!

Mario Vasquez 7/01/13

To: Tava Tedesco, Erynn Richardson

So if someone is interested in the residency program or would like to donate, how would they get more information?

Erynn Richardson 07/01/13

To: Mario Vasquez

Cc: Tava Tedesco

You can apply to Site Space by visiting www.asitespace.com by sending in your proposal. If you would like to check out my project you can visit my Kickstarter page at:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1594627807/site-space-collections-a-mobile-artist-residency

You can also follow me on Twitter and Tumblr to get in progress updates: @erynnwithay and http://erynnrichardson.tumblr.com/

From Mario Vasquez
To: Tava Tedesco; Erynn Richardson

Thank you

Tava Tedesco is currently attending CSULB as a candidate to the MFA program in printmaking. Her work focuses around ideas of location observation, which has also impacted decisions of her practice beyond graduate school. While in pursuit of a MFA, Tedesco also generated a personal practice as the coordinator of Site Space. Both interests have grown to be recognized in multiple exhibitions, including Insights: an exhibition at UAM of CSULB, Come On In, We're Open, Da Vinci Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.You Are Here Projects, Merlino Gallery Long Beach, CA. and the Movin’ Around show, Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA.
Erynn Richardson received her M.F.A. from California State University, Long Beach in 2013. Her current work deals with concepts of collecting and the projection of longing onto objects; this body consists of two-dimensional works on paper, sculpture and installation. She has shown in several Los Angeles galleries and currently has a solo up at Bermudez Projects in Downtown L.A. She has worked as a lab tech and studio assistant for several universities including California Sate University, Fresno for their CSU Summer Arts program and has organized several print exchanges through Black Dolphin Workshop.