artist in residence
Calder Kamin
Artist residency through July 21, 2023
“Nature Never Wastes. That’s Why I Reuse!”
Artist Statement
Trash is everywhere. Man-made substances litter roads, fill oceans, and exist in the tissue of all living things. Humans transformed nature to make our lives more convenient, only to leave a massive mess for the next generation. What are the steps to solve this crisis? My contribution for radical change is to shift society’s perception of trash. Through art,education, and an enduring optimism, I am out to empower others to see potential in by-product materials and themselves.
Taking time to be still in nature and observing bird behavior had a major impact on the materials I choose to use in my work. Nature’s endless ability to reuse and adapt motivates me to eliminate waste and reimagine it as sculpture, animation, and installations for audiences of all ages. Like the scavenger animals I sculpt, I collect a variety of waste materials from my environment, extended community, and network of Creative Reuse Centers. I see rubbish as a resource for developing beautiful textures such as fox fur or flower petals.
With only my hands and a hot-glue gun, I’ve encouraged others to act. This exchange has profound meaning to me. We are capable of being a part of the transformation.
Biography:
Artist, educator, and advocate, Calder Kamin transforms trash into beautifully crafted creatures, and inspires others to be creative and courageous about the future.
Kamin’s recycled art and public workshops have traveled t museums across the states including The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The American Museum of Natural History, The Doseum, the Contemporary Austin, and Women & Their Work.
Kamin will appear on a segment of Craft in America this fall and is preparing for her first permanent commission for Austin Art in Public Places. She holds a double Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute.
Meet + Create with Calder!
Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights
Every Thursday, starting May 25 | 5 to 8 pm
Attend free workshops with Calder during Art After Work. All guests are invited.
Creative Studio: Free Second Saturdays
June 10 + July 8 | 10 am to 2 pm
NH residents can enjoy free admission and fun creative studios with Calder!
Making Art Accessible
Tuesday afternoons | 1:30 pm
For adults and teens with developmental disabilities, contact CLyford@currier.org for more information.
Art of Hope
Select Mondays | 6 to 8 pm
For families with loved ones suffering from substance use disorder, this private evening program uses art as a conduit for connection and healing. Contact CLyford@currier.org for more information.
Expressions Through Art
June 8 + July 6 | 4 to 5:30 pm
An Art & Wellness program for adults affected by cancer, and their loved ones and caregivers. Contact CLyford@currier.org for more information.
“See it Saturday”
Special public tour on Saturday, June 24 | 1 to 1:30 pm
Join Calder as she leads a tour through a selection of the Currier’s collection. Tour included with general admission.
Summer Camp Week (ages 6 to 14)
Starting Monday, June 26 throughout the summer | Advanced registration required
Summer Block Party
Saturday, July 15 | 4 to 9 pm
Free for all to attend, join us for our annual community celebration outdoors with art activities, food trucks, live music, performances, and more!
Calder’s culminating community project will be unveiled at Block Party.
artist in residence
Our Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program invites artists to live and work at the museum. While in residence, artists consider the collection and community, and refresh our perspectives on the role of the museum. The program is central to the Currier Museum’s mission of connecting our audiences with art and creative thinking, whether of the past or the future. We hope to learn from our visiting artists – and be surprised by their perspectives.
Artists working in all media participate in the AIR program, which has three main components: 1) an open call to support emerging artists making socially engaged art; 2) an invitational through which artists are selected to develop special projects, commissions, or exhibitions; and 3) artist-led, community-centered public art projects in the city of Nashua, NH.
Open Call for Artist in Residence Applications
Our annual open call is currently live from October 1 – December 1, 2022. Artists who share the museum’s goal of positively impacting communities through the transformative power of art are encouraged to apply to this residency.
upcoming exhibitions
past exhibitions
Archived material on past exhibitions can be explored further here, and recent past exhibition catalogues are available through the museum shop.