In the world of art, where innovation and tradition often collide, a new residency program in upstate New York is set to ignite a spark of creativity. The Lite Brite Neon Studio, renowned for its collaborations with artists like Glenn Ligon and Jeffrey Gibson, has joined forces with the Walker Youngbird Foundation to launch Native Neon, an artist residency program dedicated to Indigenous artists exploring the medium of neon. This initiative is not just about supporting artists; it's about breaking down barriers and democratizing a notoriously expensive and technical art form.
One of the inaugural recipients of this residency is Sarah Rowe, an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and of Lakota descent. Rowe's work, which emphasizes light and scale, is a perfect fit for the program. Her recent projects, such as the immersive Water Ledger exhibition and the monumental Starseeds mural, showcase her ability to transform spaces and challenge perceptions. Rowe's fascination with light and neon is a driving force behind her art, and the residency provides her with the opportunity to explore this medium further.
The residency, which comes with a $50,000 award and a $10,000 stipend, will allow Rowe to create a 'liminal' space that represents the 'realm of the trickster' in Lakota tradition. This theme, a recurring feature in Rowe's work, will be brought to life through neon, challenging perceptions of color and light. Rowe's approach to art is one of curiosity and experimentation, and the residency offers her a unique platform to explore these ideas.
Lite Brite Neon, founded in 1999 in Brooklyn, has moved its primary fabrication operations to a 15,000-sq.-ft facility upstate. The studio seeks to democratize neon, a famously expensive and technically specialized material. Reid Walker, founder of the Walker Youngbird Foundation, sees the residency as a way to demystify the process and provide Native artists with a new tool for their artistic expression. Walker's experiences on the National Gallery of Art's collectors committee and the Tate's North American acquisitions committee have highlighted the persistent gap in the representation of Indigenous artists.
The collaboration between the Walker Youngbird Foundation and Lite Brite Neon is a testament to the power of art to drive social change. By supporting Indigenous artists like Sarah Rowe, the program aims to bring about a more inclusive and diverse art world. The residency program will begin in September, and the finished work will be exhibited in either an indoor or outdoor space in the nearby area, offering the public a chance to experience the transformative power of neon art.
