The 360 XOCHI QUETZAL Artist and Writer’s Residency Program is located in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on the shores of the largest lake in the country where the perfect year-round climate and stunning lake and mountain views have long established the region as an international artist mecca. We now offer four live/work spaces. Residents will be inspired by the natural beauty, history and culture of this special part of central Mexico. Chapala is located 25 minutes from Guadalajara International Airport and 45 minutes from Guadalajara, one of the largest cities in Mexico boasting abundant cultural resources: museums, galleries, theatre and artist supplies. Xochi Quetzal is the Aztec goddess of creativity and fertility and protector of artisans. She is sure to inspire you during your stay!
MISSION: Our aim is to support artists, writers and musicians who would benefit from having uninterrupted time to devote to their creativity. By providing free housing and a generous food allowance, we hope that our residents can make artistic progress without the stress and distractions of daily life.
CRITERIA: National and International visual artists, photographers, dancers, writers, new media makers and musicians over the age of 23 are welcome to apply. We base our selections on artists who demonstrate artistic accomplishment, submit a well-conceived residency project, indicate that this residency will make a significant impact and provide evidence of the self-reliance required for a residency in the developing world. One of the live/work spaces is earmarked for a writer and one for an emerging artist. Two-person collaborative teams are also encouraged to apply.
JURORS:
Alice Fogel, Juror for Writers
Alice is the State Poet Laureate of New Hampshire (USA) 2014 – 2019 and recent winner of the Nicholas Shaffner Award for Music in Literature. Alice is the author of three poetry collections, most recently, Be That Empty (Harbor Mountain Press, 2007). She is also author of Strange Terrain: A Poetry Handbook for the Reluctant Reader(Hobblebush Books, 2009).Alice teaches creative writing and poetry at Keene State College, Keene, NH and Landmark College, Putney, Vermont. http://www.alicebfogel.com
Justin Lytle, Juror for Musicians
Justin R. Lytle is an artist, composer, and designer based in Seattle, WA. Justin holds a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts, and his work is found in various public and private collections. Justin is a classically trained pianist, and uses the medium of sound design as a foundational tool for his contemporary sculpture practice. He is the owner of Studio Arno, a small design studio, and he composes for the Seattle based music project Holy Cities. Justin was the second Resident at 360 Xochi Quetzel and has now joined us as the music juror. www.justinrlytle.com
Deborah Kruger, Juror for Visual Artists
Deborah is the founder of 360 Xochi Quetzal and a mixed media artist who exhibits internationally. Her work in mixed fibers and digital printing is in private collections throughout North America. View her work athttp://cobra.typepad.com/1/
STUDIO SPACE AND EQUIPMENT: We provide large work tables and wall space for visual artists. Each private live/work space has a desk and free wi-fi. We offer a professional easel for painters. Plein air painters and artists who draw have endless access to warm, outdoor beauty and can also work in the patio of our downstairs casita. Ceramic artists have access to our Cress sample kiln which can fire up to cone 6. Weavers have access to a 36″ floor loom and a technician who can warp it for you. Each live/work space has a private kitchen, living room, bedroom and full bathroom.
WHAT IS CHAPALA LIKE? In a word, charming. Chapala is a small town with a population of 22,000 (http://www.focusonmexico.com/). You will hear horses trotting along the cobblestone boulevard in the morning on their way to the stables. Cowboys ride by using their cell phones. Birdsong accompanies you throughout the day. In the winter, thousands of white pelicans entertain us on the lake. Trees blaze with psychedelic color year round. The mountains turn green during our 4 month rainy season (June – Sept). Vendors pass by during the day hawking fresh strawberries, bottled water, and ice cream.
FUN: All live/work spaces are walking distance to a park with a running track, pool, tennis courts and walking trails. We are also 5 minutes from the malecon, a park-like promenade that runs along the lake for a mile. The lake is surrounded by hundreds of mountains and you will enjoy spectacular sunsets almost every night. The weather is sunny 300 days a year with average daytime temperatures in the 70s. Other nearby activities include hiking, dancing and thermal springs.
COMMUNITY: Chapala and nearby Ajijic have dozens of cafes and galleries, art openings, and hundreds of artists to connect or study with. Everything you need is within walking distance and our bus service is frequent and inexpensive. This is a safe place to live, work and the residency houses are secure.
COSTS: This is a free one-month residency. Your residency offers you a private, fully equipped live/work space, free wi-fi, weekly maid service, a food stipend of $1,000 pesos plus all utilities. You will only need to pay for your laundry, local transportation, entertainment and additional food. International calls can be made via skype. You are responsible for your travel to and from Mexico. Depending on your arrival and departure times, one of our Program Administratorsmay be able to pick you up at the airport and get you oriented at the residency for $400 pesos. If we can’t coordinate our schedules, it is easy to take an airport taxi which will cost $400 – 500 pesos each way depending on the time of day you travel.
MISC: Although speaking a little Spanish will make your time here more culturally integrated, you do not need to speak the language to get what you need. Food is inexpensive in Mexico, typically costing about $20/week US. Eating out is quite affordable with meals costing $3 – 10 US. You are just a 5 minute walk from many stores and restaurants.
HOUSE RULES: Your spouse/significant other is welcome to join you and we have a surcharge of $200. Your children, guests and pets are not permitted (there are many bed and breakfast hotels nearby for visitors). Smoking and firearms are expressly prohibited.
RESIDENCY DATES: Our winter residency program runs December 17, 2014 – January 16, 2015. The Spring residency runs May 1 – May 31, 2015. Additional residencies will be announced to our mailing list. To add your name, please click on the box at the top of the webpage. You may also write to us in either English or Spanish at 360xochiquetzal@gmail.com
WINTER DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION:The deadline for the Winter Residency is Midnight Mountain Time on Sunday September 28, 2014. Applicants will be notified no later than Sunday, October 19, 2014.
SPRING DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION: The deadline for the Spring 2015 Residency is Midnight Mountain Time on Sunday January 18, 2015. Applicants will be notified no later than Sunday, February 15, 2015
APPLICATION GUIDELINES: You MUST submit your application through the CAFE website: www.callforentry.orgApplications without work samples will not be considered. Applicants can upload 3 images for Visual Artists, 1 -2 videos/audios for Musicians, and a 5-page writing sample for Writers. Please familiarize yourself with CAFE which is a great website with many other artist listings and opportunities (see specifications below for more details).
ONE-MONTH RESIDENCY APPLICATION FEE AND DISCOUNT: The application fee for a one-month residency is $36.00. Artists who are re-applying for one-month qualify for a $12 discount using our Coupon Codes. Only one discount will apply. For more information about Fees and Discounts Download FEES-DISCOUNTS-CHECKOUT-SPECS
NEW RENTAL PROGRAM (design your own residency): If our residency dates do not work for your schedule, consider renting one of our live/work spaces when we do not have residents. You do not have to apply through CAFE, just email us at 360xochiquetzal@gmail.com and let us know what month(s) you want to come and we will let you know about availability. For more information about our rental program Download XQ PERSONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM 7.26.14
APPLICATION SPECIFICATIONS: For more information about how to apply a Discount Code, How to Check Out and file specifications for video and writing submissions Download FEES-DISCOUNTS-CHECKOUT-SPECS
NON-DISCRIMINATION: 360 Xochi Quetzal encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, HIV status, marital status, disability, or veteran status.
Please join our mailing list at the top of our webpage. For more information about our program, write to us in either English or Spanish at360xochiquetzal@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on our Facebook Page: 360 Xochi Quetzal or follow us on Twitter @360XochiQuetzal
