Imagine being able to work on your passion for an entire month. Breck Smith, associate professor of fine arts, has been accepted to Vermont Studio Center (VSC) for a four week residency from May 13-June 8, 2007 and has also received a Partial Fellowship.”I anticipate this will help me as a teacher by giving me a mid-career infusion of new ideas and energy,” said Smith. “As a teacher, it’s easy to fall into a routine, and one needs to shake up their routine periodically to stay interesting and relevant.” Smith sent in 16 slides of recent paintings done from 2002-2006. According to the award letter, Smith’s work was selected from a “very competitive pool of applicants.” VSC selects 50 artists (24 of whom are painters) and writers each month for residencies from a wide range of ages, nationalities and media. A resident is given a range of interactions with other professionals in his or her field as well as interaction with six distinguished visiting artists and writers each month. Smith particularly wanted to attend the Center during this time period because painter Lois Dodd, who has an international reputation and whose style is somewhat similar to his own, will be there for a week. The visiting artists offer evening slide talks of their own work and are available for individual studio visits. Smith will be provided with room, board and individual studio space. “I currently work outdoors a lot so I anticipate continuing that practice in Vermont,” said Smith.Photo- Breck Smith poses with his painting, “Into the Woods,” which was one of his landscapes that he sent to Vermont Studio Center.
Campbell University art professor accepted at prestigious studio center