I can't believe it has been 3 years already since I finished my MFA degree in Florence Italy. The reason I first started this Buy Me A Coffee page on the insistence of dear friends who wanted to support my journey. Not only did the support buy me delicious Italian coffee but also much-needed art supplies. Sadly SACI Florence Studio Arts College International from which I graduated shuts its doors during the pandemic. The only USA study abroad program that ended up closing. Returning to Florence will never quite be the same without it.
My journey continues here in New Jersey. I had my first official show last month and will continue looking for opportunities for more shows. Being gone for two years and the pandemic shutdown creates a disconnect and void. It's my job now to network, network, and do some more networking. Now that I got a taste of Europe again I like that networking to extend globally.
Ukraine is still much on my mind and influencing my current body of work. I hope by the time I complete this series the war will be over and Ukraine rebuilding.
Toward the end of 2020, Rowan University reached out to me to teach as an adjunct professor. I also aided in getting the art department's media lab up and running again. Sadly due to the shut down their high-end inkjet printers became its casualty. Running the number on repair cost versus replacement it became clear the replacement was the most economical option for the department. They only had funds for one printer and the Canon Pro 4200 was able to hold us over until they get funds for a second smaller printer. The students have named it Leslie after Leslie Morgan. Leslie has served us well so far and created stunning prints. The lab now has a heat press, laminator, scanner, bottom maker, vinyl blotter, and Cricket cutter. A true creator space for the art students at Rowan.
Summer looks already busy with a drawing 101 course, a clay course, the Woodbury lot 323 art event, and creating my own work. My goal is to create enough income to focus more on creating my own work. Since Canon stopped supporting my older lenses I switched to Sony and am saving towards the replacement lenses. Nobody ever said art is cheap.
Those of you who continue to support living artists are making it possible for an artist like me to continue to create work.
You can now also find me on Mastodon. Twitter was getting a bit crazy and I found my new Social Media home on Mastodon. https://mastodon.art/@irisRichardson
Thank you!
Iris