South Guilford News

Creative Greensboro has selected artists for the 2024 residencies in GROW, the Greensboro Residency for Original Works. GROW is supported by a Spark the Arts grant from the North Carolina Arts Council in the amount of $58,800 over the course of two years. 

Residencies have been awarded to the following artists: 

Sharon Graeber will offer sessions, beginning in January 2024, to improve the general public’s understanding of what architects do, and to create large-scale artwork based on her experiences of growing up in east Greensboro.

Rae Cozart will research the connections between gentrification, homelessness and neurodivergence and use fiber arts, sculpture and printmaking to share what they learn, beginning in February.

Julya Mirro will facilitate discussions and workshops to help community members find and share their voice, develop a script, and work collaboratively to produce a final performance piece during her residency starting in March.

Alexis Armstrong will teach 11-17 year-olds the basics of digital photography from mid-April to mid-June with a focus on the effects of social media and how it impacts self-esteem and body image.

Akiba Byrd will host poetry writing and live performance workshops in June and July.

Gail Cooper will engage sound, painting and meditation to create artwork and develop therapeutic art practices, beginning in late July.

Kimberly Harper will explore storytelling through fiber arts during a series of art-making sessions from late August through September where participants will create and exhibit story quilts about their own life experiences.

Sasha Woods focuses on art through fashion with a series of workshops on modelling, sewing, hair and makeup, upcycling and sustainable fashion, fabric swaps, and fashion art exhibits during the month of October.

La’Toni Cromes will invite participants in November and December to unplug during art workshops to foster creativity and imagination and lessen screen time and technology usage, leading to a community-curated showcase at the end of the residency.

GROW is a flexible creative space, managed by Creative Greensboro, the City’s office for arts and culture. Compensated residencies of up to eight weeks are awarded to Guilford County-based creative individuals and organizations to produce new and original works that encourage visitation and engagement by the public. Each residency includes at least six hours of weekly programming that is offered to the public free of charge. This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/GROW.

Original source can be found here.