Give yourself the gift of time this holiday season. Whether you go for a few weeks or a few months, the artist residency experience is a valuable opportunity to gain some perspective on your work and meet some other interesting folks. Here are my picks:

• Art Omi International Artists Residency is a three week Residency Program for visual artists in upstate New York. Art Omi provides artists with a studio, living quarters and meals at no cost to the artist. Artists pay for their travel and art materials. Artists may apply for one of our Fellowships to help with costs for travel and art materials.
Deadline: Jan 15, 2007.
For application information, click here.

• University of Southern Maine is offering two residencies (Spring 2008, 2009) available in B.F.A. program. Responsibilities: Teach a course and/or involve students in a project for credit; complete a work for the permanent collection; present a public lecture; residency for a minimum of seven weeks between January and May. Artist receives $10,000 stipend and $4,500 for materials.
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2007.
Send 20 slides, CD, or appropriate documentation, cv, artist statement, supporting materials, and brief proposals including project, course and/or student involvement, and SASE for return of materials. An exhibit at the USM Art Gallery is usually offered to the VAIR.
Send to: VAIR Search Committee, Department of Art
University of Southern Maine
37 College Avenue
Gorham, ME 04038.

• Anderson Ranch hosts several residency periods throughout the year. Located high in the Rockies, this is an opportunity everyone should consider. Each studio is fully equipped and beautifully maintained. The chef is fantastic and the staff are as nice as people get. Must be that mountain air. Definitely the best place I have visited for an art getaway. The residency program is intended for independent artists who are adept at the use of equipment and processes in the areas in which they choose to work. Studio areas supported by the program include: ceramics, digital imaging, furniture and woodworking, painting and drawing, installation, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Unfortunately, all this goodness does have a price, as this is not a funded residency.
Deadline: Feb. 16, 2007
For more information, click here.

• Hall Farm Center grants residency fellowships of up to one month to emerging and established artists working in a variety of media, providing them with the time and space to explore their craft and create new work. I have heard great things about this place. The two sessions for this year are June 1 – July 20 and August 1 – September 23. Artists in residence are provided with private housing, studio space, meals and uninterrupted time in which to pursue their creative endeavors.
Deadline: Feb.1, 2007 (postmark)
Application fee: $20
For more information, click here.

While you are taking care of the business side of being an artist, here are a few exhibition opportunities to consider as well:

• “All Day Snacking” is a juried, multi-media group exhibition relating to relaxation and consumption in America today. Submissions in all media including video as well as proposals for installation and performance will be considered.
Deadline: Jan. 25, 2007
Submit up to 5 images on a CD (300 dpi, 1024 x 768 pixels) titled with your name, title of the work, and
dimensions. Submissions should be sent to :
RAKE Art Gallery
ATTN: All Day Snacking
325 NW 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
For questions, please contact alldaysnacking@gmail.com

• Maude Kerns Art Center invites artists living in OR, WA, and ID to submit proposals for permanent indoor artwork to be installed on one or both of two lobby walls of Crescent Village, a planned urban community in Eugene, OR. All materials and techniques will be considered. Budget maximum is $10,000 per lobby wall. Each proposal will be reviewed based on artistic merit and time and materials costs.
Deadline: Feb. 28, 2007
For more information, click here.

• REMINDER: Be sure to apply for Do No Harm vs. Step Up, hosted by NAAU and curated by Jacqueline Ehlis. For submission guidelines, click here.