Richard Reitz-SmithThis year, Maine Media Workshops welcomed Richard Reitz-Smith and Valerie Carrigan as their first ever Book Artists in Residence. During their six-week residencies, both artists were given the opportunity to devote uninterrupted creative time to their hand-made book projects in the school’s newly renovated studio.

Valerie Carrigan created a limited edition of 35 folios and 25 books. Her book, The Walk, combines monotype drawings of the milkweed pods with her own poetry as well as excerpts from the journal of Swiss philosopher Henri-Frédéric Amiel that speak to the patient enjoyment of the mysterious and the unexpected. 

Valerie Carrigan“The residency at MMW+C was life changing for me,” said Valerie. “There are lessons to be learned from paying attention to our immediate surroundings and applying those experiences to our inner selves.”

Maine Media Workshop uses a Google Grant to help promote the program and fill enrollment for their Photography, Filmmaking, Multimedia, Writing, Book Arts, and Young Artist workshops, as well as their Professional Certificates and MFA program.

Read more about the Artists and the Book Arts + Design Program at Maine Media Workshops.