Thursday night’s panel discussion from La Reunion TX and the Dallas Museum of Art was technically entitled “The Artist’s Studio as a Place of Work,” but it ultimately morphed into a conversation between audience and panelists on the mission of the artist residency. We go with the flow. Moderated by Fort Worth architect Mark Gunderson of AIA, the panel included La Reunion TX President Jessica Stewart Lendvay, the DMA’s Decorative Arts and Design Curator Kevin Tucker and architect Ron Wommack, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The discussion did indeed start by focusing on the studio. “For an artist, the studio is wherever you think it is,” said Wommack. Tucker raised the issue of studio environments that encourage socializing and collaboration versus the studio designed as a private fortress of solitude. From then on, the discussion centered on the former, and specifically artist residencies. Lendvay reiterated the conceptual emphasis on dialogue and sharing, speaking primarily about La Reunion, the soon-to-be-a-reality residency located on 35 beautiful Oak Cliff acres. The space will really belong to the community, not the artists, but then a residency is a temporary thing.

The evening was part of the Make Space for Artists competition, which has a Feb. 12 deadline. Sweetening the contest was an announcement of cash prizes for the top three finishers: 1st place – $500; 2nd place – $200; 3rd place – $100. For ideas to fuel your creative juices, check out Art&Seek’s Online Studio Tour.