Residencies

Our Residency Program is a one-of-a-kind experience!

We strive to create an environment that is both professional and personal with great respect for the creative process of each artist.

Read on to learn more about why artists from all over the world have come for a residency at Zea Mays Printmaking.

Residencies at Zea Mays Printmaking are designed to fit each artist’s unique needs and desires. In addition to our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, we offer residents the opportunity to enhance their experience with one-on-one instruction with our expert faculty. Dig into a new printmaking technique, receive guidance and feedback on your works-in-progress, or learn to apply Zea Mays Printmaking’s sustainability methods to your existing practice. Our instructors are experienced teachers who live and breathe printmaking and who are eager to help you make the most of your time in the studio. Private instruction must be arranged ahead of your residency and costs $75/hour.

Artists-in-residence are welcome to explore our Flat File and our huge archive of prints for inspiration. We also have an extensive library upstairs, which members and residents are welcome to browse during studio hours.

Your time in the studio is your own, and you are encouraged to socialize as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Members and staff often eat lunch together in the Members’ Studio, and residents are always welcome to pull up a chair and join the conversation. If you are interested in sharing your work or talking about your process, we can arrange an open studio for members during your stay. Our Instagram account, @zeamaysprintmaking, has 5000+ followers and growing, and we are happy to collaborate on posts and stories to share your progress.

Types of Residencies

Details

• Residencies are 2-12 weeks in length and are offered in two forms, Private Residency and Community Residency. All residencies begin on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
• Artists can apply as individuals or as a pair willing to share a workspace.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed by the studio director, Liz Chalfin, residency coordinator Kaye Carroll and facilities manager Sheldon Carroll.
• Residencies are self-funded by the artist and their supporters.
• On-site accommodations are provided in the 2^nd floor apartment at the studio. The apartment includes two private bedrooms and a shared kitchen, bathroom and living room. Other occupants of the apartment during your residency might include another resident, a faculty member or a workshop participant.
• Upon arrival Residency Artists will receive an orientation to the studio and equipment. All chemistry used at the studio must conform to Zea Mays Printmaking’s safety and sustainability standards. Chemicals brought in from outside the studio must be approved ahead of time.
• Technical instruction and/or feedback/critique from our faculty is available as an add-on at $75/hour and must be arranged in advance.

The Environs

Zea Mays Printmaking is located in the village of Florence, in the city of Northampton, MA, home to Smith College. We are tucked in a quiet neighborhood in a repurposed factory building, and our neighbors include a Vietnamese restaurant and a cozy bar with billiards tables. Downtown Northampton, with its hundreds of restaurants, shops, galleries and music venues, is a 5-minute drive or a 15-minute bike ride away. We are also within driving distance of 20 different museums, including MASS MOCA and all of the Five Colleges art museums.

Northampton and its surrounding towns boast a number of hiking, walking and biking trails, well-maintained parks and clean rivers and lakes. Many of our residents and members are inspired by the local flora and fauna. Birdwatchers may especially like to visit us in June, when the chimney swifts nest in the smokestack across from the studio. And of course, visitors who come in the autumn months will be dazzled by the lovely colors in the trees.

The Apartment

The Artist Apartment at Zea Mays Printmaking is located on the second floor, right next to the Member’s Studio. The apartment is designed to house two residency artists at a time. Each bedroom has a locking door, an XL full-sized bed (the width of a full/length of a queen), a 2’x4′ work table and chair, lamp, shelves and hooks. Bedrooms are individually climate-controlled, and several guests have commented on how comfortable the beds are!

The shared kitchen is fully equipped with a gas stove, microwave, full size refrigerator, table and chairs. Dishes, pots and pans, cutlery, coffee maker, kettle are all provided. The sitting room is furnished with a sofa, easy chair and tables. The bathroom has a shower, sink, toilet, and shelving. Linens are provided and there is a washer-dryer in the apartment for residents to use. There is an additional ½ bath (wc) in the hall outside the apartment. The entire building is heated and air-conditioned, and equipped with WiFi throughout.

Meet Our Team

Liz Chalfin, Founder & Studio Director (she/her)

The artist who started it all! Liz’s vision for a safer, more sustainable world of printmaking is the heart and soul of the studio. At the start of your residency, Liz will be the one to orient you to the studio space and equipment. She’s also the one to talk to if you have technical questions, want to arrange an open studio during your residency, or are interested in setting up some one-on-one training, either with Liz or one of our other terrific instructors.

Sheldon Carroll, Facilities Manager (he/him)

The face of the Residency Program, Shel is probably the first person you will meet when you arrive. He maintains our Guest Suite and will be there when you check in, and is here to help you settle in and get comfortable in your living space. He’s also the one to ask for restaurant and brewery recommendations if you’re planning to explore the local area. Shel goes above and beyond for our residents, and is a big part of why some artists come back every year.

Kaye Carroll, Director of Membership, Media & Marketing (they/them)

If you’ve received an email from Zea Mays Printmaking, chances are it was Kaye who wrote it. They hold things down in the office and are responsible for scheduling residencies, writing contracts and handling all the nitty-gritty clerical details that keep the studio running smoothly. They also handle ZMP’s social media accounts, so reach out to them if you’re interested in doing some collaborative posting!

Angela Zammarelli, Shop Technician (she/her)

Angela wears many hats around the studio, including faculty member, mentor, studio monitor and contributor to the Flat File and many of our exhibitions. As our Shop Technician, Angela maintains the presses and equipment, takes care of inventory and helps set up our Teaching Studio for workshops. A lot of her work takes place behind the scenes or when the studio is closed, but is a huge part of what makes the studio a safe and comfortable place for artists to create.