Letter to our Community: From Austin Coudriet, Artist in Residence
Dear CAC community,
Actually let me rephrase that...
Dear family,
Wow. What a whirlwind of a ride my residency at CAC has been. Truth be told, there have been a lot of ups and downs in my time here both at work and especially in my personal life… but, I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world. I love New York, I love CAC and I love the community of family I now forever have here.
When I moved to New York two years ago (wow i mean where does the time go?) I was in a pretty rough spot personally. Burnt out from school, in a failing long-term relationship and leaving all of my family and friends behind to go live in the craziest place in the world for a Nebraska guy… New York. It was one of the most difficult times in my life and for a while I felt alone and burnt out, but that all changed when I began to meet each and every one of you. The staff, my co-residents, my students, the artists, you all took me in. You showed me around New York, brought and made me wonderful meals, shared art, skills and techniques with me, and genuinely cared about my well being. I was overwhelmed! I have been part of a handful of studios in the past but nothing like CAC.
CAC community, the last two years you have been my family. You've pushed me to grow and expand in the ways I create, while also teaching me how important rest and self care is. You have fed me literally hundreds of times if not thousands over the last two years and I can truly say I now know what good food really tastes like. You have all shared so much of your life, and resources with me.
At the end of this month I will be moving to Missoula Montana to start as a resident artist at the Clay Studio Missoula. I am excited to continue exploring the country and learn more about myself while doing so! In my residency at Missoula I will focus less on teaching and more on creating. In particular - large scale outdoor sculptures and they have a 8 foot kiln. So I mean really large scale!!
In my time here I tried my best to meet and communicate with as many of you lovely individuals as possible, forming friendships, teaching new and innovative things to my students and leaving CAC better than when I found it. It has been my absolute pride and joy to have worked so closely with so many of you over the past two years. I'm truly going to miss you and the wonderful community that thrives here. Thinking about leaving CAC feels a lot less like leaving a job, and a lot more like leaving a home. This makes leaving much harder than I had ever anticipated but bittersweet because no matter how far you move away from home you always come back to visit - so you better bet I’ll be back around!
If you ever need to reach me, my personal email is acoudge@gmail.com and I would be more than happy to hear from you all! You can also send me an email if you want to join my mailing list for updates of my life in Montana and upcoming shows/sales! Thank you all for pouring into me and my work the past two years - you are all a huge part of the artist I am today! You are my family, and I’ll love and miss you all!
Until I come back to visit, stay safe and keep creating!
Your grateful second year Artist In Residence,
Austin Coudriet
See Austin’s work in the Shop at Clay Art Center
View Austin’s recent Artist in Residence exhibition