With each week into the residency at Kala art Institute, we became a part of the community of local and international printmakers working there. I have taken part in various artists’ residencies in the past ten years, and find the one at Kala to be one of the most welcoming environments with the most friendly community of artists I have ever experienced. Printmakers in general, I have always found, to be amongst the most accommodating and selfless of people. Perhaps because of the type of equipment needed to make prints, artists are used to working outside of their studios in shared communal spaces, where being aware of others’ working around you is paramount to a creating a happy, workable space. All of the staff and members of Kala, as well as those attending weekend workshops, were thoughtful and interested in our collaboration. They were all generous with their knowledge of both Kala as well as printmaking studios, galleries and supply stores around the Bay area. I felt so welcomed and comfortable in the community of artists working at the studio. It was unexpected but so wonderful to experience.
