Help Fund My First Artist Residency!

My name is Sonja Petermann, I am a working artist living in St. Louis.

I practice perceptual art, recording visual information to gain an understanding and awareness of new impressions and to reflect on old conceptions. My objective is twofold: to visually think through my experiences, and to use my findings as a basis for conversation. Through drawing and printing, I physically respond to shapes I encounter in daily life, examining light and texture, layering sensitive marks, allowing my intuition to be restricted solely by process. I constantly rework my explorations to find truth in my observations. This visual meditation stimulates my mind, body, and energy-- my whole self. I become conscious of how I see, think, and feel; I realize my selfhood. The constant rediscovery of self allows me to discern a subjective relationship to my community. Though my process is personal, dialogue is essential to the vitality of my work. Discovering the variation of perceptions others have when studying my work is revealing and thrilling, and I believe sharing and discussing art is critical in the effort to understand one another.

I aspire to travel as an artist, documenting people and environments unfamiliar to me. Regional shifts introduce new shapes and textures to inscribe, encourage the development of a well-rounded viewpoint, and, consequently, strengthen my aptitude for identifying with others. In short, diversifying the cultures and environments I am not only exposed to, but involved in, will generate context in which I can empathetically engage in the world.

For these reasons, I am eager to accept a 4-week residency in April at the Vermont Studio Center. Residency programs provide time for reflecting, researching, and producing work in a space away from one’s everyday environment. This allows artists to meet new people, use new materials, experience a new town, immerse into another community in a meaningful way.

In some situations, such as this, residents must finance part of their stay. Though I received an Artist’s Grant as well as a Work-Exchange Award, I am still responsible for the remaining cost, plus transportation to and from Vermont, as well as some printing supplies. Here’s what the financial breakdown looks like:

-VSC remaining balance:

$2300

-Roundtrip flight STL to BVT:

$460

-Plates and paper supplies:

$240

Grand Total: $3000

So. If you’ve made it this far.. please consider supporting my first residency! Everything helps!

To see my work from over the last few years, follow this link: http://sonjapetermann.wixsite.com/artwork

Sending out the warmest thank you hugs!

-Sonja