As we wrap up our summer season and begin our fall residency, we send off our outstanding 2017 summer staff team to their next adventures. Nine summer staffers joined us in mid-May and over the course of 15 weeks, they worked incredibly hard through six residency sessions and our busy summer program schedule. From art walks and artists talks, to workshops and the most successful Salad Days yet, we could not have done it without them. We look forward to seeing what comes next for these artists!
Stephen Aleckna
Stephen Aleckna, Chef
Where are you from? Philadelphia, PA
What are some themes in your work? Experimentation, unpredictability, surface treatment
What’s next for you? I’ll be returning to my position as Head Chef at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archeology.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Helping design and execute the “Last Supper” residency dinner for our third session.
Austin Bradshaw
Austin Bradshaw, Studio Staff
Where are you from? Kansas City, MO
What are some themes in your work? Nature, craft, family, minimalism, Scandinavian design, form
What’s next for you? I’ll be working in Kansas City, and then looking forward to a post bacc in Colorado next year.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Lighting off our own fireworks and fishing trips.
Emily Christopherson
Emily Christopherson, House Manager
Where are you from? Oak Park, Chicago
What are some themes in your work? Simplicity & Craft
What’s next for you? I’ll be returning to Chicago, and am planning to teach with the Art Reach program. I’ll also be making more new work in my studio.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Listening to Redd rap in the kitchen & overhearing kitchen shenanigans!
Sean Lofton
Sean Lofton, Studio Staff
Where are you from? Jacksonville, FL
What are some themes in your work? Planar relationships, minimalist architecture, monolithic structures
What’s next for you? I’ll be finishing my degree and applying to residencies.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? I’ve enjoyed taking group trips to the Rachel Carson Salt Pond.
Ken Lu
Ken Lu, Studio Staff
Where are you from? Currently studying in West Virginia (from Singapore originally)
What are some themes in your work? Geometry, functionality, chemistry, cubes, carbon trapping and manipulation of form
What’s next for you? I will be finishing the final year of my MFA at the University of West Virginia.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Seeing the Milky Way.
Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara, Dining Hall Manager
Where are you from? Sunny Southern California
What are some themes in your work? Garbage, trash, rocks, religion, play, and I guess aliens
What’s next for you? I’ll be moving to Syracuse to work as an assistant to Jeremy Randall.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Having no expectations in the studio – I can build and draw whatever the heck I want. Freedom has been my Watershed moment.
Adam Redd
Adam Redd, Head Chef/Problem Solver
Where are you from? Northern California
What are some themes in your work? Art for art’s sake, color
What’s next for you? I’ll be moving to Portland, Maine to pursue a culinary career.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Setting off our own fireworks for the Fourth of July!
Catherine Velazquez
Catherine Velasquez, Studio Staff
Where are you from? Baton Rouge, LA
What are some themes in your work? Playfulness, color blocking, full and hearty forms
What’s next for you? I’ll be moving to Boulder, Colorado and then working on applying for residencies.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Austin and Christina, our Salad Days Artist, randomly dropping a sorority girl squat on their way to the studio.
Laura Williams
Laura Williams, Office Assistant
Where are you from? Chicago, IL
What are some themes in your work? Figure, line, color, composition
What’s next for you? I’ll be returning to my lovely cat and partner in Chicago, teaching, and continuing to make.
What has been your favorite Watershed moment? Late studio nights, kiln pad discussions and meeting fabulous new people.
Thanks to our 2017 Summer Staff for a fantastic summer!