The Value of Artist Residencies

By Kwoya Fagin

The word stanza is an Italian word, and it literally means “room.” A poem may contain several rooms, each with similar connecting ideas, but each possessing a sense of individuality. Because of its beauty, precision, and original concept, the Marcel Breuer House at Pocantico could be called a poem. Each room is a separate entity and possesses its own influences and ideas. It makes perfect sense that an artist would enjoy living and creating within a work of art.

Having access to the gardens and art collections of The Pocantico Center offered a constant source of inspiration. In particular, I was drawn to the fantastic sculptures, and during long walks I enjoyed turning a corner to find an awe-inspiring piece of art. These sights and images have made unforgettable impressions in my memory.

Focusing on one’s art is hindered in daily life. As an instructor at a liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama, I often find myself starved for the time and mental space to enter a place of keen concentration that is required to create poetry. Before my residency I had been researching my current project for a year. However, I still had not begun the work of writing. The Pocantico residency allowed me an opportunity to pursue ideas I’d been daydreaming about. These thoughts went from ideas to 40 original poems—an amount of work that would ordinarily take me about six months to complete. In the environment of The Pocantico Center, I flourished as an individual as well as an artist.

It is always a privilege to be recognized for what you create but it is an honor to be given the time and space to make art, whether it be poetry, visual art, music, or dance. Artist residencies and communities allow artists to flourish and be the truest and often best forms of themselves. During my residency, I felt like I was the person I wanted to be. The artist I was meant to be.

Kwoya Fagin was the Cave Canem artist-in-residence at The Pocantico Center from June 27 to July 7, 2011. Cave Canem, a grantee of the Fund, is a national organization committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of African American poets.

The Pocantico residencies support artists in their creative process. Residents stay at the historic Marcel Breuer House and have the opportunity to experience and learn from the remarkable natural, architectural, artistic, and intellectual resources that the Pocantico setting provides.