Justin M. Zielke Sculptor (2023)
The memories I made at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency will always hold a special place in my heart and mark a pivotal turning point in my artistic journey. The opportunity to spend time in the midst of such natural beauty allowed me to find inspiration, delve into my thoughts, and explore trajectories like never before.
The residency duration was perfect and allowed me ample time to reflect, create, and immerse myself in the new environment. Your generosity and dedication to fostering artistic growth are truly remarkable.
The residency duration was perfect and allowed me ample time to reflect, create, and immerse myself in the new environment. Your generosity and dedication to fostering artistic growth are truly remarkable.
Susan Chorpenning Visual Artist (2021)
The most notable thing about being a JTHAR resident was the utter absence of distraction. Full concentration - awakening in the morning and going straight into the studio, looking out at the sky and land as a source, the clear open space to be filled only with art, and going to sleep at night with dreams of projects.
Letting all else go, focusing full-time on the creative process, has been a tremendous gift. Home now, I have brought with me a resolve; I place the making of art as the most important activity of the day, making each day like the days I experienced at JTHAR, even while attending to the rest of life.
Letting all else go, focusing full-time on the creative process, has been a tremendous gift. Home now, I have brought with me a resolve; I place the making of art as the most important activity of the day, making each day like the days I experienced at JTHAR, even while attending to the rest of life.
Ca Conrad Poet (2021)
My time in Joshua Tree has been invaluable because I would have never created this new work anywhere else.
The band of coyotes that surround the house each night howling are my collaborators as much as the bevy of quail, chipmunks and lizards.
I am grateful to the program, everyone who makes it happen, and to the amazing people of Joshua Tree who have been very kind and generous. I know I will dream of this place after I have gone.
The band of coyotes that surround the house each night howling are my collaborators as much as the bevy of quail, chipmunks and lizards.
I am grateful to the program, everyone who makes it happen, and to the amazing people of Joshua Tree who have been very kind and generous. I know I will dream of this place after I have gone.
Bernard Ferguson Writer (2021)
Coming from the over populated landscape of New York City, in all honesty, it took me a while to adjust to the wide sky, to the desert's prickly but fascinating creatures, the overwhelming daylight and the overwhelmingly dark nights, and the dry dry heat. But eventually, thanks to my fellow residents, and to the warmth and kindnesses of the JTHAR board members, Joshua Tree became the place I was able to feel myself again after so long. My time there helped me reengage with my writing in a way I very much needed. It's a bit counterintuitive perhaps, but the barbed landscape eventually proved itself capable of holding me tenderly. And so I let it. And for that gift, I'm immensely grateful.
Rachel Maxi Painter & Sculptor (2021)
My experience at JTHAR was pure magic; I have never enjoyed my solitude more than I did here. The beauty of the surroundings was continuously enchanting: the quality of the light, the birds, the plants, and the soft colors of the desert in winter contrasted with the prickly textures of the plants, and of course, that starlit sky. The studio was gorgeous, light, spacious, and cozy. JB and Frederick were generous and supportive, and respectful of my space and time to work. I was able to really grow in my practice here, and came away feeling nourished, healthy and energized.
Bethany Johnson Collagist (2021)
I had an incredible experience at Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency, and I am so thankful to JTHAR for the support of time and space for my artistic practice. The facilities are top notch, the grounds and surrounding landscape are stunning, and the six weeks of uninterrupted studio time resulted in an explosion of new work that will be propelling my practice forward for the foreseeable future. Residencies supply critical creative focus in my practice, and my experience at JTHAR was professionally useful and personally unforgettable.
Dee Briggs Sculptor (2020)
My time at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency will prove to be seminal in the trajectory of my work - of this, I am certain. JTHAR gave me the time and space to focus, experiment and dive deeply into new work and new ideas. I was welcomed into a community of artists based in the Joshua Tree area and Los Angeles - eager to share their time, knowledge and resources. And the setting - the high desert, Joshua Tree National Park and the residency property - inspired profound contemplation, which I took full advantage of. I experienced there a place in myself that I will come back to again and again.
Sungjae Lee Installation Artist (2019)
Living in Los Angeles, I had a longing for a quiet and peaceful environment to fully focus on my work, which needs patience and concentration. I was stunned to see the studio at JTHAR; the clean and organized walls and lights made the best conditions to enhance the details of my installations. It was a true joy to be amidst nature itself; rabbits, roadrunners, and diverse birds visit the front yard to sip water. It was my first time seeing real road runners, not the cartoon character. Joshua Tree is a welcoming community with decent and warm-hearted people, whom it was a pleasure to meet and share ideas. When I had my open studio show, I realized JTHAR has gotten international attention as there were multiple guests from Europe who came to see my work. I would like to thank James and Frederick for their compassionate support, which broadened further possibilities of my practice. There was a lot of laughter and understanding between us and I immediately felt a part of the residency as soon as I arrived.
Erin Currier Painter (2019)
My six-week residency was an extremely significant and memorable experience on so many levels. I imagine that every human being throughout history, who has had the great fortune to set foot in Joshua Tree, has been enchanted by its unique natural beauty. I am no different. My jaw remained daily dropped as I wandered the Mojave marveling at its wonders; and, by night, I was newly awed by its seeming proximity to the stars, planets, and galaxies. Yet what inspired me most of all was Joshua Tree’s human dimension—its brilliant and eccentric individuals who work their magic there. I encountered an entire community of fellow “Trash Artists” inspiring me by going above and beyond what I imagined possible with the medium, and, at the same time, forged lasting friendships that I feel certain will continue for many years to come.
Annika Bowker Visual Artist & Designer (2019)
JTHAR instilled in me of the value of community. The founders, board members and supporters of the program are a group who consistently make space for artists, and in-turn have created an alive and expanding creative community. They shared their homes, their stories, and their knowledge of the desert. Generosity is their way of life. Ruth and Steve, my hosts, have created an idyllic place to live and work, one that is incredibly responsive to its environment. This was an inspiration to witness and be a part of. There is an inherent tension that exists in the process of making your own work with such intense focus. Through the difficult and the stellar days, the desert landscape became a powerful place for both reprieve and celebration. It was a time of hard work, self development, listening, watching, and intense gratitude for life.
Rae Delbianco Writer (2019)
It’s impossible to describe my time at JTHAR without words that sound hyperbolic, but they’re all true. Beyond unprecedented access to a natural landscape like none other, the Joshua Tree Highlands Artists Residency brought me into a community of artists and neighbors who will never cease to inspire me.
When I told a friend about my work in the desert, she gave me this advice: “be the most wild version of yourself.” In an environment at once challenging, wondrous, and limitlessly supportive, JTHAR was the gift to chase the wildest, most fulfilled version of myself and of my art.
When I told a friend about my work in the desert, she gave me this advice: “be the most wild version of yourself.” In an environment at once challenging, wondrous, and limitlessly supportive, JTHAR was the gift to chase the wildest, most fulfilled version of myself and of my art.
Ben Hamburger Visual Artist (2019)
JTHAR provided me with time and space to not only explore my own artistic practice but learn about an entirely new ecosystem and engage with a rich artistic community. The unique landscape of Joshua Tree is deeply inspirational. During breaks between working on large studio pieces, I would go outside and just paint what I found around me. These observational studies kept my painting muscles strong and ended up influencing larger works. This balance of having the studio, the landscape, and the community at my fingertips made the experience truly profound. My time at JTHAR was extremely productive and will remain influential as my painting career continues.
Justin Gibbens Illustrator (2018)
In a day and age when our connections to nature and the environment are becoming increasingly distant and mediated, a residency at JTHAR during a ‘super bloom’ proved to be one hell of an antidote to this predicament. The desert landscape of the Mojave is punctuated with a multitude of rugged inhabitants, some of them prickly and most of them elusive, that all served as terrific source material during my six-week stay. I’m certain that memories of my time in the Spring of 2019 will haunt me in delicious ways for months and years to come
Maxim T. Loskutoff Writer (2018)
JTHAR is a clearing in the forest of the world. A place where long-held ideas crystallize onto the page or canvas. In the stillness of the desert, walking under the stars, I found new purpose and clarity in my work.
Dimitri Staszewski Filmmaker & Photographer (2018)
Like any experience, you get what you put into the JTHAR. Seven weeks is a long time, but it goes quickly. If you're prepared to start early, make work when you feel like you don't want to, and fully dedicate yourself to your practice, I couldn't recommend an experience more highly.
Chris Zickefoose Painter (2018)
I arrived in Joshua Tree at sunset on a spring evening, the desert golden and in bloom, a soft wind and a audible silence. I was greeted with the immediate sense of support and purpose. The serenity and vastness of the desert gave me immense clarity and focus. I was able to produce an entire body of work as well as forge lasting personal bonds with not only the board members, but also with the other artists and locals. The desert is a great place to discover art, and an even better place to discover one’s self. It might have been the most productive seven weeks of my art career.
Emily Quinn Painter (2018)
My residency experience with JTHAR went above and beyond my expectations. The residency is set up to provide the perfect balance of work time, explore time, and social time. I came to Joshua Tree looking to get out of my comfort zone in a landscape that was foreign to me and push my work forward through my experiences with Noah Purifoy's work at the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum. Spending time with Purifoy's work and learning about his life by talking to people who knew and worked with him was highly inspirational.
I was blown away by the generosity of the JTHAR board members and other members of the artistic community in the area. I developed relationships with several people who were willing to share their time, resources, connections, and deep knowledge of the desert with me. I can't recommend the JTHAR residency enough. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the residency possible.
I was blown away by the generosity of the JTHAR board members and other members of the artistic community in the area. I developed relationships with several people who were willing to share their time, resources, connections, and deep knowledge of the desert with me. I can't recommend the JTHAR residency enough. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the residency possible.
Lisa Marie Rollins Writer (2017)
My experience at JTHAR was unlike any creative opportunity I’ve experienced. The combination of solitude, interaction with my fellow residents, alongside the vast artistic and local historical knowledge of the board members was a wonderful mix.
Creatively brilliant - but personally, it changed me. During my time, I was able to shed all of the outside noise clogging my writing; I felt like I regained an authentic access to my heart and spirit I hadn’t felt in years. Tenderness, joy and a centered reconnection to myself. It is a rare place. It was a rare summer.
Creatively brilliant - but personally, it changed me. During my time, I was able to shed all of the outside noise clogging my writing; I felt like I regained an authentic access to my heart and spirit I hadn’t felt in years. Tenderness, joy and a centered reconnection to myself. It is a rare place. It was a rare summer.
Tom Birkner Painter (2017)
Between the people directing this residency; the places they give residents to live and work; and the region itself - nothing could have been better. I knew my time in Joshua Tree would be great, but it was greater than that. There were endless marvels in the Mojave's social landscape. Even more importantly, friends were made with people I hope to know for a long time to come.
Ryan Parra Photographer (2017)
JTHAR has been one of the most amazing experiences in my artistic career. I was constantly impressed by the quality and professionalism, yet it still holds on to that laid back desert vibe.
Robert Michael Jones Sculptor (2016)
The first day I arrived at the JTHAR, I was warmly welcomed by my hosts Steve and Ruth Rieman. By the end of the second day, I had settled into my beautiful desert cabin and had met the Joshua Tree community, many artists who call the desert home and the four other artists in the program with me. This entire network offered a great deal of support and encouragement which helped with the rush to complete a sculpture, video and photo series in seven weeks.
Despite all of this support, I was in large part left alone to interact with the glorious stillness of the desert in whatever way I chose. I enjoyed my stay, made wonderful friends of all ages and experiences and had unparalleled artistic focus to complete my work. I have been recommending this program to every artist I know.
Despite all of this support, I was in large part left alone to interact with the glorious stillness of the desert in whatever way I chose. I enjoyed my stay, made wonderful friends of all ages and experiences and had unparalleled artistic focus to complete my work. I have been recommending this program to every artist I know.
Lauren Cohen Filmmaker (2016)
Never have I felt such simultaneous freedom and artistic resource at my fingertips. My time at JTHAR may best be described as my four weeks in a constantly expanding, creative sandbox; anything and everything was on limits, and nothing could stop me.
Mojave Desert Land Trust
MDLT had the opportunity to work with Ruth Rieman, core member of the JTHAR Board of Directors on the Artists for the Monuments project. What a stellar organization. Your support will have lasting positive effects on the importance of protecting our beautiful desert, a place that inspires artists world-wide. These artists become desert ambassadors through the residency. The heath and vitality of the residency helps insure the health and vitality of our public lands. I just love how art and land come together here! Thank you Frederick Fulmer and Ruth And Steve Rieman and all who work tirelessly to connect the arts and the environment.
Mathew Tom Painter (2015)
“This was the first time in my life I had complete freedom and could be truly alone with my art. I am able to think about my painting in a new way now." I had attended six other residency programs in London, Manchester, Holland, Korea, New York and Oklahoma before coming to JTHR. I can honestly say in terms of facilities and support, JTHR was the most complete. The studio and home they provide is just out of this world. But the best part is the amazing atmosphere of Joshua Tree and the caring attitude the directors, Fred and Jim, provided. It is truly unique to find this combination of amazing setting, excellent studio and such wonderful support. At the residency, I was able to explore some new ideas in my artwork, even returning to abstraction. I think this was due to the peaceful setting of the program. It is an incredible feeling to look across the desert when you are painting. I cannot recommend JTHR enough.
Irene Imfeld Photographer (2015)
There were few overcast days during my stay in Joshua Tree. There was a light sprinkle of rain here and there, dramatic skies from the Lake Fire (about 20 miles away), and an endless array of clouds moving in the wind. The wall of natural boulders in my lodgings set the tone: outside under the big sky is where I’d find my new work. Surrounded by empty land outside my door, near the entrance of the National Park, I was perfectly positioned to explore the landscape. Although I was first attracted to the rock formations, I found myself mostly photographing desert plants and abstracting their curious forms. This was my first artist residency and it revealed to me what I could do with so much uninterrupted time to process and print new imagery. I left with a large and complete new body of work that I could not have done under other circumstances. The great support we artists received made this possible. The comfortable home, the right balance of group activity and privacy, the natural space and light, and the welcoming locals . . . all this has made me reconsider how I work and how I spend my time. Joshua Tree is a tiny town with an active art scene. Outsider art abounds. The four other artists at the residency, our sponsors, and local artists were friendly and helpful. I can’t think of enough good things to say.
Joe Devera Painter & Sculptor (2015)
I can say with all honesty that my stay at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency was one of the most memorable times of my artistic career, thus far. For any individual within the arts seeking time and place to work, I give this residency my highest recommendation. Appropriately, I also feel that a list of thanks is in order: First, I would like to thank Fred and Jim for granting me the opportunity and resources to work in such a unique and inspiring setting. Without their unwavering support for the arts, none of this would be possible. Second, I thank Steve and Ruth for not only giving me quarter in perhaps the most spectacular little cabin I've ever seen in my life, but for also allowing me to utilize a portion of their studio (and for not killing me as I turned one of their carports into a temporary lumber yard). Third, I thank my fellow resident artists, Devin, Allison, Irene and Chloё, whose company I will miss dearly. Fourth, I thank the Desert -- not so much for its grandiose topography, but for its limitless night sky, which is enough to grant serenity to even the most anxious of insomniacs. Lastly, I would like to thank that lonesome house atop Winters' road; where being 131 miles away from Los Angeles, 2670 miles away from New York, 5700 miles away from Berlin, 8270 miles away from Mecca (and most importantly, two miles away from any paved service road), unexpectedly became the crux of my venture.
Devin Symons Writer (2015)
You will be changed by your time here, spent in the singular landscape of the desert and the company of such warm and bright and welcoming people. "Joshua Tree is an oasis of arts and culture, and the Residency a vivid distillation of the same." For any kind of artist, the arrangement is ideal: you can be at once alone with your work in an environment of staggering beauty and scale, and close to a community of friendly, art-centered folk with whom you can share that work. The founders and board members make every effort to provide introductions to that community, and go out of their way to ensure that you make the most of your experience. In terms of accommodations and funding and available resources, you would be hard-pressed to find a more generous residency. Do not miss this chance to create something meaningful in a place rich with meaning and history. Apply. You will not regret it.
Chloe Iza Manasseh Painter (2015)
During my time in Joshua Tree, I feel that I experienced every attitude the desert had to offer! Rain, fire, blazing heat and a mixture of wonderful personalities -- Frederick, Jim, Sarah, Ruth and both Steves were incredibly generous with their knowledge of the desert, their time and what they offered on the residency. I stayed at the Bunny house, courtesy of Steve and Sarah, who were both so accommodating to my needs as an artist and a person!
The residency gave me the time and space I needed to develop certain ideas I had/have been working on, and with such a supportive network of both our hosts and my fellow artists, it was easy to take everything in my stride, and enjoy the wilderness that is the Joshua Tree landscape! I feel very lucky to have experienced the residency with Alison, Joe, Devin and Irene and have the privilege to not only make work alongside great artists, but collaborate with them, too.
The residency gave me the time and space I needed to develop certain ideas I had/have been working on, and with such a supportive network of both our hosts and my fellow artists, it was easy to take everything in my stride, and enjoy the wilderness that is the Joshua Tree landscape! I feel very lucky to have experienced the residency with Alison, Joe, Devin and Irene and have the privilege to not only make work alongside great artists, but collaborate with them, too.
Alison Stigora Sculptor (2015)
The Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency far exceeded my expectations. This program has spoiled me for other residencies. The studio and housing were spacious, well designed, and enabled me to focus and create. The residency provided an excellent balance between focused studio time and opportunities to interact with other resident artists and the community. I was pleasantly surprised by the creative community in Joshua Tree, and was inspired not only by the incredibly stunning desert landscape but also local music and visual art. Frederick, Jim, and other members of the board were incredibly supportive of my work and provided every opportunity for me to thrive during my time at the residency. I formed strong bonds and was able to experiment and collaborate with my fellow artists - we also plan to continue pursuing future collaborative projects. While at JTHAR I discovered fresh modes of working and was inspired to begin a new body of work. I did not have an understanding of what it meant to live in the desert prior to this residency.... but this experience has left an indelible mark on my studio practice. In addition to studio work, we made multiple trips to explore Joshua Tree National Park (only 10 minutes away) and other incredible places. The forms, colors and textures of the Mojave still haunt my dreams.
Andrew Milward Writer (2014)
My experience at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency was wonderful, in that it was both incredibly productive and personally meaningful. After a busy semester teaching, in which my writing and reading time were usually the first things sacrificed, the six weeks I spent in a delightful little house called Luna Mesa were an absolute gift. I was able to complete a draft (and a full revision!) of my next book, Jayhawker, something I've struggled to find the necessary blocks of time to do over the past couple of years in the all-too-busy pace of my life back home in Mississippi. I also read more than 20 books, some of which were for sheer pleasure and some of which were research for future writing projects. In addition to the time and space to read and write, I also left Joshua Tree feeling impacted, changed even, by my fellow JTHAR artist-comrades and the location. The work of the other artists was inspiring to me, just as was the view of the mountain skyline from my writing desk, and both have stayed in my heart long after I physically left the beautifully mysterious desert highlands.
Jed Ochmanek Painter (2014)
Joshua Tree is an incredible place, where life must be lived with deliberate resourcefulness and geological time stands in bare contrast to our own fleeting moment. The Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency provides everything a great residency should, while avoiding the pitfalls of overly programmatic structure. One is given ample privacy as well as access to a knowledgeable and generously welcoming community; and the facilities (especially the new studio building I had the privilege of using) are exceptional. In our accelerated cultural climate, the space for contemplation and focus is essential for those hoping to make a meaningful contribution to the visual arts. Decades ago, Mark Rothko anticipated the impact that the exponential growth of the culture industry would have on artists with these prophetic words: “When I was a younger man, art was a lonely thing. No galleries, no collectors, no critics, no money. Yet, it was a golden age, for we all had nothing to lose and a vision to gain. Today it is not quite the same. It is a time of tons of verbiage, activity, consumption. Which condition is better for the world at large I shall not venture to discuss. But I do know, that many of those who are driven to this life are desperately searching for those pockets of silence where we can root and grow. We must all hope we find them.” The Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency is one such place. I give it my highest possible recommendation for anyone looking to immerse themselves in their work in the context of the spare, natural wonder of the Mojave.
Kyle Riedel Sculptor (2010)
I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to participate in the residency. It was an AMAZING experience for me. I come away with both a quantity and quality of work that I could not have produced otherwise not to mention an invaluable experience.
You have built a great community and program in Joshua Tree. It was a gift to stay with and get to know the Rieman's.
You have built a great community and program in Joshua Tree. It was a gift to stay with and get to know the Rieman's.
Greg Minah Painter (2008)
In the summer of 2008, I was fortunate enough to spend six weeks in the extreme light, heat and space of Joshua Tree, completing an artist’s residency. My time out West profoundly changed the trajectory of my work and my life. It was in Joshua Tree that I first started to explore the process-based possibilities of acrylic paint.
In "Shifting Ground," the gradual emergence of my current painting method can be traced back to my efforts in the Mojave Desert – an ongoing practice fueled by physical engagement with the medium and a formalistic approach to painting.
In "Shifting Ground," the gradual emergence of my current painting method can be traced back to my efforts in the Mojave Desert – an ongoing practice fueled by physical engagement with the medium and a formalistic approach to painting.