The Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona State Parks and Trails have partnered to pilot the first ever Arizona State Parks Artist in Residence Program at Oracle State Park!

Through the residency program, artists will spend up to two weeks residing and creating art in an Arizona state park. Oracle State Park, a 4,000-acre wildlife refuge in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains, approximately 35 miles north of Tucson, will host the initial cohort of artists.

“We are so excited to begin this program with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Oracle State Park,” said Arizona State Parks and Trails Deputy Director Sarah Webber. “Nature is an inspiration to so many, and spending time in nature can help with physical, mental, and spiritual health. What better way to blend the two than showcasing this inspiration through art?”

Three Arizona artists have been invited to participate in the pilot year of the program:

• Koryn Woodward Wasson, April 14 – 19, 2024
• Wesley Fawcett Creigh, April 27 – May 11, 2024
• Tatiana Crespo, fall 2024 (dates to be determined)

“We are excited to work with Koryn, Wesley, and Tatiana in the pilot year of what we hope will become an ongoing program,” said Delia Ibañez, Artist Programs Coordinator at the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “With their distinctive artistic modes and methods, each will provide a unique perspective and valuable feedback on the residency experience as we work with our partners at Arizona State Parks and Trails to develop the program.”

Koryn Woodward Wasson is a teaching artist who lives and works in Phoenix with her husband and creative collaborator, Roy Wasson Valle. Together they create large scale interactive installation public artwork. Independently, her work in watercolor and ink centers around storytelling, regarding her everyday interactions with the natural desert world and her relationships with those around her. (https://fireweatherstudio.com/)

Wesley Fawcett Creigh is a multi-disciplinary artist based on the land currently known as Tucson, Arizona. In 2008 she completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Prescott College in the self-designed major of Public Art with an Emphasis on Social Impact. Employing animation and multimedia installation for her creative projects, she explores modes of visual storytelling using a collaborative approach. (https://wesleyfawcettcreigh.com/)

Tatiana Crespo is a Costa Rican singer-songwriter who has called Phoenix home for the past 8 years. With her accordion and guitar, Tatiana explores the themes of human and animal migration, and is deeply inspired by migratory patterns of birds. (https://www.taticrespoarte.com/)

For more information about the artists and the Arizona State Parks Artist in Residence Program visit https://azstateparks.com/oracle/things-to-do/artist-in-residence.

About the Arizona Commission on the Arts

One of 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the United States, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is a 57-year-old agency of the State of Arizona and a leading force in the creative and professional development of Arizona’s arts sector. Through robust programs, research initiatives, and strategic grantmaking, the Arts Commission catalyzes arts-based partnerships that strengthen Arizona communities through the arts.

We imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.

About Arizona State Parks and Trails

Arizona state Parks and Trails serves the communities of Arizona through stewardship, partnerships, and conservation, and acts as an economic driver for the state. The agency manages and protects more than 30 parks and natural areas and oversees the statewide trails program, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the Arizona Family Campout and statewide Off-Highway Vehicle programs. The agency administers more than five outdoor-related and historic preservation grant programs and manages statewide outdoor recreation planning.