PHOENIX - An award-winning Arizona State Parks artist residency program piloted last year continues this week at Oracle State Park. Bisbee-based clay artist Chloe Foster began a three-week residency at the park on April 20, 2025. 

The Arizona State Parks artist residency program is a collaborative initiative between Arizona State Parks and Trails (ASPT) and the Arizona Commission on the Arts (Arts Commission) and funded by the Arizona Community Foundation. 

Through the residency program, artists spend up to three 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 - hosted three artist residencies last year and will again host this latest residency. 

As part of her residency, Chloe Foster will open her studio to the public on Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Park visitors are invited to meet Chloe, learn about her artistic process, view pieces being worked on, and maybe even get their hands on some clay!

The program’s pilot year was recently honored with the Award of Distinction at Arizona Forward’s 43rd Environmental Excellence Awards. 

“We are so excited to continue 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?”

About the Artist

Chloe Foster is a clay artist currently living in Bisbee, Arizona. She is a ceramic studio technician and lover of firing kilns. Chloe’s sculptural work is abstract yet often reminiscent of beings of life that span ecosystems: termites mounds; mycelium; seed pods; weathered sandstone. Chloe is striving to shift her work locally by harvesting wild clay and firing it with wood. She is inspired by the ancient thread of potters who listened intuitively to the Earth and learned to create and fire vessels with it.

Fall Residency Accepting Applications

Even as Chloe begins her residency, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is accepting applications for a fall residency at Patagonia Lake State Park. The fall 2025 residency will span three weeks between October 29 – November 24, 2025, based on resident availability. In addition to on-site housing and workspace, the selected artist will receive a $7,000 stipend and $1,500 materials budget. The application can be found at https://azarts.gov/programs/arizona-state-parks-artist-residency/.

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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.