Each year, selected artists are invited to live in a small, modern cabin on Ben Ure Island (located within Deception Pass Sate Park) and spend a four-week residency practicing their medium.
The AIR program is open to a wide range of artistic mediums and offered in partnership with the Deception Pass Park Foundation and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s (WSPRC) Folk & Traditional Arts Program.
Applications open April 1 for the 2023 residency.
2022 Residents
Nina Vichayapai
Mid-July to Mid-August
Nina Vichayapai uses fabric as a language to reveal how surroundings embody humankind. Her work explores physical spaces as expressions of the many people who shape them. Through hand stitched textiles her work addresses the important role of homemaking in establishing belonging within the American landscape.
“As the artist in residence at Deception Pass State Park this summer I am thrilled to dive deep into the park’s history while exploring its beautiful settings. I hope to weave stories from the past and present together to create artwork that will showcase the park’s rich cultural heritage, from its natural beauty to the many people who have made the park what it is today.” – Nina Vichayapai
Michael Torkildsen
Mid-August to Mid-September
Michael Torkildsen was introduced to the arts at an early age thanks to his grandmother and mother, both artists. From an early age they put him into art classes where he learned the basics of sketching and painting. Later his mother opened a one-hour film processing lab where he worked. This provided Michael with unlimited access to film and film processing.
Armed with his grandfather’s SLRs and point-n-shoot cameras from the family camera store, Michael began to take snapshots of the world around him, occasionally making some decent images. While his hobby continued and as his portfolio grew, his dissatisfaction with the corporate life did as well eventually leading to a break from the 9-5 and pursing photography full-time.
Today Michael lives in a travel trailer, touring the U.S. and taking photos.
“My photography style is natural. I emphasis composition over photoshop. I’m picky about my subject, the (natural) light conditions, and how it’s composed. I’m old school like that. I believe that it’s the last 5% of effort that you put into composing a shot that really turns the photo from good to great. The PNW is where I really got started in photography and it is an honor and a privilege to return. I can’t wait!” – Michael Torkildsen
To learn more and apply, visit our Artist in Residence information page.
