The Caumsett Foundation’s Artist in Residence Program (Caumsett AIR) was instituted in 2023 with the aim of connecting artists of diverse backgrounds and disciplines to our park and community. Participants are required to hold open studio hours and offer a public program while at Caumsett, which plays an important role in the Foundation’s annual programming. The Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve’s historic, environmental and ecological significance create a rich experience for our artists.
APRIL AND MAY 2025
Samuel Ezra Fisch
When I was a child, I dreamt the most amazing dreams. I also had the most amazing pair of pajamas. One evening, while I was wearing these fine pajamas, my little sister Kaela whose birthday is on my half birthday and vice versa, said: "when I was you, I wore those pajamas." Everyone laughed in disbelief of her past life, but I kind of understood. My dreams are still vivid as ever, so when I am awake I wonder about the space I perceive between pajamas. Artistically I make the kind pajamas that might help you remember something important. During the residency program I want to work on paintings and sculptures inspired by the natural environment of the preserve. I have a series of lenticular paintings on burlap that employ nature as metaphor. I also want to keep myself open to experimentation and inspiration from the environment of the residency.
JUNE 2025
Erwin List Sanchez
My work explores the vibrant tradition of Mexican cartonería within the context of my experience living outside of Mexico. I am fascinated by how culture travels and adapts, transforming and enriching itself in new environments. My creations are primarily inspired by the natural world and its creatures. These fantastical animals, born from the intersection of my Mexican heritage and my present surroundings, become a reflection of my perceived environment. They embody the interconnectedness of our imaginations, demonstrating how we carry our cultural roots with us, allowing them to blossom and evolve in unexpected ways. Through cartonería, I sculpt the hybrid creatures of my imagination, where the familiar forms of Mexican folklore intertwine with the new realities of my present, creating a bestiary that is both rooted and reinvented.
This 4-week residency at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve will explore the park's natural beauty through Cartoneria Creatures, sculptures inspired by the environment and crafted using traditional Mexican cartonería (paper mache) techniques. The project includes open studio hours and alebrije workshops, engaging the community with the art and Caumsett's unique ecology.
