Venus in VT- Krista's Art Residency

My name is Krista LaBella. I am a visual artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. I have been awarded an artist residency at Vermont Studio Center for August 2018! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to escape the city bustle for a quieter month devoted to my studio practice and creative exploration. But… I need some assistance in making it to VT! What do I do? I make artwork about women and the body using the fat female form. I am a sculptor turned photographer, performer, book-maker, painter, drawer. My most recent work is ceramic sculpture though I have also been creating digital and analog photographs along with some drawings with nontraditional materials. To read a more detailed artist statement, view my CV, and see my full portfolio please visit my website kristalabella.com . Additionally, my instagram @artistkristalabella  has studio updates and my most recent project of ceramic Venuses. Ceramic Venuses "Hair Down There" Artist Book "Judgement" Cast Bronze and wood "Dress I" detail of wedding dress with fiberglass insulation interior "Choices" Screen Print (framed) Why do I need your help and how will the funds be used? While I have been awarded with a small grant to cover one third of the residency, I am struggling to come up with the required funds to pay for the remaining balance and cover the other necessary expenses associated with this amazing professional development opportunity. In total, I am in need of $3,500 and it will be used as follows: $2700 - VSC Residency remaining balance $600 - Supplies and related fees (clay, glazes, cyanotype processing chemicals, paper, printer fees/ ink, film, kiln firing costs, etc.). $200 - travel expenses. These funds are needed by July 2018 in order to purchase materials, make travel arrangements, and pay the residency balance before my arrival at the beginning of August.

 What is the purpose of my residency? My Vermont Studio Center residency awards me four weeks of time (and studio space) to lose myself in my art making and meet other visual artists and writers without the pressure of everyday life. My goal for VSC is to spend the month working on a few different projects that have been in the back of my sketchbook for some time. I am interested in developing a new photo series- digital and analog- which will be a continuation of my Venus Selfies, documenting the body in the home and in nature (and related themes). In addition, I want to develop new ceramic sculptures and also begin some drawings with non-traditional materials - also  revolving around the female body, fatness, sexuality, and desire. This month in Vermont gives me the freedom to go on my next artistic adventure and I can only do it with your help! What does your support mean to me? Everything! Without generous lovers of art, patrons of art, and other people who believe in what I am doing, what I am making - there is no artist and no artwork! Anything you can donate will help me to achieve my professional goals. (And if you donate at certain  levels you will be rewarded with art and other handmade objects!) Thank you! Rewards for your amazing generocity***: $25- A handwritten/drawn thank you note! $50- A handwritten/drawn thank you note and a Venus Pin ! (Please specify color: sand, pink, or natural red clay and I will try to honor that request) ~~All the reward levels of $100+ come with a Pin and a Thank you note in addition to the art award!~~ $100- Unique instant art photo. Give me a word for inspiration and I will make a one-of-a-kind piece of art just for you! $150- "Control" Pink Vibes relief print (unframed) $250- "Choices" Hair Down There Vulva screenprint (unframed) $300- Cyanotype Venus art photograph (unframed) $500- Platinum / Palladium art photograph (close-up or full-body Venus) (unframed) $800+ --> Shop my studio! Pick any piece (or pieces) of art of approximately $800+ value! (Venus photos, mixed media sculptures, bronze sculptures, clay sculptures, limited edition prints, oil paintings, artist books, and much more!) ***Please note, if you would like to swap out a Venus sculpture for any 2-D reward of$100+ I am totally on board with that but I will need to invoice you and receive payment for shipping if we can't coordinate a drop-off/ pick-up situation as it is expensive to safely ship these! Thx***  YAY! My Venuses say: THANK YOU! Follow my instagram @artistkristalabella for live updates and use the tag #venusinvt when you share or comment on my campaign! See you in VT!