Fiber Artist & Farmer Residency

Mission

A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm is a woman owned and operated farm looking to empower and collaborate with emerging female fiber artists and farmers.

The Residency

This is a dynamic farm, flock, and fiber art residency program that enhances and nurtures the whole artist and future farmer from the ground up. Focused on collaboration, learning, and experimentation, the resident artist will have the opportunity to work closely with the farm’s artist exploring a multitude of creative genres including felting, dyeing, botanical printing, knitting, spinning and more.  As well, the resident will work hand in hand with the farm manager to learn how to and take responsibility for managing a farm and caring for a flock of sheep.  Dive into this six month long farmer, artist journey and explore the full circle of fiber.

Criteria

The Artist: Our ideal candidate has a passion for natural fiber and the art it involves, a curiosity for learning, and a spirit of experimentation. The right individual will be open to collaboration and self motivated to create a body of work in the fiber arts of her choice. We are interested in supporting an emerging fiber artist with enough practice and skill to teach classes, contribute to the creative conversation, and showcase work, while still wanting to learn and grow.

The Farmer: Our ideal candidate has an interest or curiosity for the beautiful sheep that make fiber arts possible.  She will be interested in learning about restorative farm management practices and animal husbandry. Applicant will be working on the farm in all farm tasks and should be able to lift 50 pounds and maneuver around a farm with ease. The Person: Our ideal candidate will have good communication skills, be kind, respectful, and responsible. She will be a conscientious person, wanting to live in community on a beautiful, rural farm. She will be goal driven in her career with creative ideas for time spent in residency, and be able to work independently as well as on a team.  This residency is designed for single females, not families or pets.

More About the Artist Residency

Artist In Residence will receive from and contribute to the farm community in the following ways:

• Approximately 20 hours a week of dedicated solo studio time (in the shared studio space) with access to (see attached equipment list).
• One day a week of learning, collaboration, production and experimentation with artist Marty Elkin in the studio.
• Opportunity to build a body of work.
• Contribute to the farm and your portfolio by teaching workshops
• Opportunity to participate in a local weekly farmer’s market, learn about markets, help run the booth, sell your own creations, 10 – 20 Saturdays May-October.
• Opportunity to participate in and help at least one major agricultural fair – Common Ground.
• Opportunity to learn farm and flock management with Mary Ann.
• Opportunity to take full responsibility for the farm and care of animals while owners are away and live the farming lifestyle.
• Opportunity to connect with a larger artist and farmer community through visiting artists, workshops, field trips and connections.
• Opportunity to create a legacy project with A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm that will expand the artist’s curiosities and talents and leave a mark for future residents and visitors to enjoy.
• Mostly private housing: enjoy a beautiful one room space that provides wifi, storage, shared kitchen and bath and easy access to the studio space below.
• A modest monthly stipend in exchange for an average of 15 hours per week of farm work.
• Access to community meals, farm grown meat and vegetables as harvested.

Areas of Learning

Curriculum with Marty and Mary Ann. Emphasis to be determined with applicant.

• Farm: Farm management, record keeping, permaculture, regenerative agriculture, gardening vegetables and dye plants
• Flock: Record keeping, animal husbandry, (Add two months to your residency start time to include lambing and early lamb care)
• Fiber: Shear, skirt, wash, card, spin
• Art: Needle felting, wet felting, weaving, spinning, knitting, natural dyes, botanical printing, acid dyes, production of fiber products

Artist in Residence Application

Click this link to download a PDF file of our application or copy and paste the text below into an email to info@awrinkleinthymefarm.com.

For more information please email info@awrinkleinthymefarm.com. Thank you for your interest in our artist in residency program.

Terms and conditions and a liability waiver will be required of all participants.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.