2007-2008 Voices and Visions Artists

Francisco Aragón
poet and non-fiction writer
South Bend, Indiana

“I will remember the stress-free sensation of being free to work at a pace I saw fit. I will remember the bike trail along the Mississippi River that provided needed exercise and fresh air. I will remember the town of Red Wing and the charming and warm cafés. I will remember my fellow residents and the vital and interesting work they are all doing.”

Reginald Baylor
painter and sculptor
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

“In the real world of work and family, paychecks and bills, there are not many opportunities to surround oneself with people who share a similar psychological make-up that significantly magnifies the need to create something under that massive umbrella called art.... If I would choose one word to describe my experience at Ragdale, that word would be ‘fuel.’”

Robert Farid Karimi
performance/interdisciplinary artist and activist
Minneapolis, Minnesota

“There are things I will never forget...and I will be unraveling these gifts for a lifetime because of the density of this residency. Every day since I have left Kohler, I have another memory, a thought, an idea. The factory is in my head, my skin. My interactions with the people of Sheboygan have left an indelible impression. I can’t wait for more memories to bubble to the surface.”

Cecil McDonald
photographer
Chicago, Illinois

“The residency allowed me ample time to complete a set of images. I worked with assistants for the first time; I led a crew in the making of photographs. My level of confidence in image-making was greatly enhanced and I learned more about working with children.... In hindsight, the residency was a launching.”

Tomiko Pilson
painter
Chicago, Illinois

Artur Silva
installation and mixed-media artist
Indianapolis, Indiana

“I think artists who haven’t done a residency yet are missing an important experience in their creative continuum. It is the entire experience that enticed a burst in creativity which I am still enjoying. Being outside my natural environment provided challenges that I believe added to my work. It improved my ability to change my creative process and adapt. Being able to work off-site with other artists improved my sense of community in a profession known for its solitude.... There is no way to know until you do it, but residencies have already become an integral part of my creative process.”

Thu Tran
sculptor, installation and mixed-media artist
Cleveland Heights, Ohio

“Residencies allow freedom to explore materials, space, thoughts, and techniques. I found it great in idea development – a blank piece of paper to start fresh.”