CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Claremont MakerSpace is excited to announce textile artist Berkley Heath was selected as the Spring Artist in Residence, taking the baton from photographer Jeff Dietrich, who just completed his winter residency.
Dietrich’s closing exhibit was April 19 and demonstrated his new skills making pieces of his digital collection physical by using wood and metals, digital fabrication, and manipulation of the prints themselves, to create a second layer of meaning.
“This residency gave me the incredible gift of uninterrupted focus with time to learn and play; I could make a daily habit of my photography while learning a wild assortment of new things. And I got to do both alongside a community of makers who are friendly, passionate, skilled, and so generous with their knowledge,” said Dietrich.
The AiR program is designed to empower New Hampshire and Vermont based artists with tools, training and space to create compelling new work. For Dietrich, the weeks flew by — learning the laser cutter, wood working, calibrating a new photo printer, running a photo club critique, welding, all while building traditional and experimental frames for his photographs.
“My connection to my practice is deeper, my excitement for my work is revitalized, and I deeply value how the residency connected me to the broader culture of making here at CMS,” he added.
One highlight of Dietrich’s residency was working with David Putnam to create the frames for landscape painter Albert Bierstadt’s butterflies that are on exhibit this quarter at the Claremont Visitor’s Center.
He is excited to switch to regular membership, continue his work, and see what the next AiR will make. He will also become the co-lead of the new photography studio, with fellow member Kevin Tyson. You can view Dietrich’s online work at jeff-dietrich.com.
“CMS is excited to continue the focus on photography that Jeff started, while exploring new fibers practices with Berkley,” said Felicia Dalke, CMS executive director. “There is so much talent in this Twin State region and the MakerSpace is eager to support artists to help them develop from emerging to established artists.”
Heath is a natural dyer and printmaker fascinated by the sources and history of art materials. With a formal education and work background in ecological design and organic agriculture, she began growing dye plants nearly 10 years ago and since then, has cultivated a dye garden every year, processing the plants throughout the season into dyes, pigments, and inks to use in her work.
“Natural dyeing is an incredible confluence of so many of my interests, from plant biology and organic chemistry, to design and ethnobotany, and I am passionate about sharing this craft with others,” said Heath.
Grounded in seasonal processes at her home in Claremont, she spends time seeding, tending to plants, harvesting and making art materials, as well as studying and experimenting with traditional surface design techniques with natural dyes on cloth. She believes that physical interaction with the landscape facilitates a sense of place, wellbeing, and stewardship of our natural world.
“I’m really looking forward to connecting with the community through my work at the MakerSpace,” Heath said. “My work is informed by studying ancient, traditional methods of applying color and pattern to cloth with natural dyes, and I’m excited to integrate some of the modern tools and technology at CMS, both to expand my practice and to make printmaking with natural dyes more accessible to others.”
She teaches workshops at craft schools and farms across New England, and besides teaching at CMS this spring, she will also be teaching at Dancing Bear Farm later this summer. You can see more of her work at berkleysierra.com.
Come meet Heath, see some of her prior work, and learn about her residency plans this spring. A Meet the Artist event is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Claremont MakerSpace, and it is paired with an Open House for tours of the facility; details are available on the CMS events page.
The CMS Artist in Residence Program launched in 2018 and provides an opportunity to showcase the creativity of local makers and artists, as well as the versatility of the Claremont MakerSpace.
Each artist in the program receives $1000 towards the creation of new work during the residency, three months of unlimited membership, a dedicated studio space and training to use new tools. In return, the artists teach public classes and work with local students.
“Without the financial support of the NH State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, there would not be an AiR program at CMS,” said Dalke. “As the state of New Hampshire pursues defunding its Arts Council, it is important that residents voice their support of the arts and contact their state senator before the May budget vote.”
TwinState MakerSpaces, Inc. is the parent company of the Claremont MakerSpace, and it is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. For more information about the Claremont MakerSpace or to schedule a tour, visit claremontmakerspace.org. The Claremont MakerSpace is located at 46 Main Street in Claremont, New Hampshire.
