Karen Krolak (’18) has forged an interdisciplinary practice rooted not only by her primary medium of dance, but through the community she builds with others by making work that addresses grief and trauma, building awareness of these feelings that oft aren’t celebrated. While the complexities of these emotions stem from her own experience through her work they take on new form—like choreography, a publishing project, and the occasional knitting pattern—to allow others to connect to themselves, to find space to find validation and modes of expression alongside the artist. That mutual exchange is at the heart of Krolak’s work, which is often collaborative, and extends into her roles as a mentor, board member of organizations, and founder of a dance space that lifts up the work of others.
New Mexico-based artist and researcher Nina Elder joined the faculty of Sierra Nevada University’s MFA-IA program this January just in time to teach at her first residency. While New Mexico is in her roots, Elder’s projects take her all over the United States connecting with people, place, and environment.
The MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts (MFA-IA) at Sierra Nevada University is thrilled to hold the Winter 2022 residency in-person along the stunning shores of North Lake Tahoe, taking place January 3-12, 2022.
We welcome a new faculty member, Nina Elder, to teach a section of Focused Studio Practice. Focused Studio Practice is a special topics studio course designed to take advantage of a particular vision and expertise of the teaching Visiting Artist or Scholar, who expands our sense of community from the Tahoe Basin outward.
There are a few spots still available to start in Winter 2021. Please get in touch with Julia Schwadron immediately should you have an interest in attending this winter.
Priority deadline has been extended for summer 2021 residency! Apply by February 28, 2021. Apply here.
It is with deep sadness that we must acknowledge the passing of artist and teacher Matt Freedman this past Saturday, October 24th. Matt was integral in the construction of our MFA program and its interdisciplinary curriculum. Having taught as a visiting professor with us since our very first residency in the summer of 2015, the class that became “Matt’s class” is called simply “Interdisciplinary Practices”. Within it, he challenged our students to drop their preconceived notions of the expectations of a working artist in favor of a practice of asking questions. These questions would be radical and tricky, and all in the interest of what he called, “the messy process of opening up and questioning everything you hold dear.” As he reminded us in the course as well as outside of it, this is a big job, and time is precious so we have to get to work.
Upside Down Church + “An Acoustic Gospel Hour with Jenni & Jesse of Dead Winter Carpenters.” Located in Virginia City, Nv. on the site of an old tailings pile, the opening will take place on Sunday, May 27 at 1 pm.
There are a few spots still available to start in Winter 2018! Please get in touch with Julia Schwadron immediately should you have an interest in attending the MFA Interdisciplinary Arts residency this winter.
“Emerging from the human psyche and showing characteristics of abstract expressionism, minimalism and Russian constructivism, graffiti removal has secured its place in the history of modern art while being created by artists who are unconscious of their artistic achievements.” – The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal
“We see on our shelves, in Handsome Volumes, the Works of old Authors who lived and wrote before the invention of printing; but how few of us ask ourselves the questions: Where are the originals of which these books are the copies? And what authority have we for the genuineness of the text?” – William Forsyth
Neon. Flowers waiting in an ice bucket. A swan made from your bath towel to greet you. Mary Grace Tate captures the landscape of life we take for granted, transforming each space she enters into an appreciation of the hidden lines around us every day.
![Low-Residency MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts [MFA-IA]](https://interdisciplinaryarts.org/files/2020/12/mfaia.png)
