An artist-in-residence is a big deal. It's usually someone famous, out there doing the incredible work. Whether it be performing, composing, painting, dancing, you name it.
And a college, university, or conservatory serves as the residence, the place where the artist-in-residence can work with students.
But let's pick the term apart, shall we? That's the kind of show we run around here.
An artist. Well, anyone can be an artist. If we define "artist" as someone who creates something that changes someone.
Your kids are artists.
The waiter at the restaurant with the silky smooth voice is an artist.
I'm an artist writing this blog post right now. Even if the change I create in you is the desire to hit the "unsubscribe" button. Please don't, though? It's been a fun ride so far.
Okay. So, we've established that anyone can be an artist.
Now, let's take a look at "residence."
I think most of us define "residence" as home.
"In residence" it turns out is its own term - "engaged to live and work at a particular place often for a specified time" (Merriam-Webster).
So really, when a college hosts an artist-in-residence, they are hosting a "famous artist hired to live here and work with students."
A traditional artist-in-residence is revered. Rightfully so. They have made the sacrifices, put in the hours, and committed to the process of refining their art. Their work changes people, and we can learn from them.
But, the term can also be divisive. An artist-in-residence is usually held in higher esteem than regular faculty who are working with students day in and day out, year after year. As if the artists-in-residence are the ones doing the "real work."
Now that we broke the term down, though - you can be your own artist-in-residence. You are an artist. You have a residence. Boom. You're an artist-in-residence. Feel any different?
You have art worth sharing with the world. We all do. We just need the courage to put it out there.
Fancy title or not.