Roswell Artist-In-Residence Program: An Anecdotal History

New Mexico is widely considered a center for the visual arts, but one of the lesser-known features of its art world is the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program (RAIR) in southeastern New Mexico. Begun in 1967 by patron Donald Anderson, this program has been known by artists as the "Gift of Time." Artists whose forms include painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and other media work without distraction for six months to one year. RAIR provides studio and living space, along with a monthly living stipend, and artists with families are encouraged to apply and attend.

In celebration of RAIR's fortieth anniversary, Ann McGarrell, whose husband was one of the artists-in-residence, has written an anecdotal history of the Roswell program. In a town known for its UFO landings, Roswell's Artist-in-Residence program provides a contemporary counterpoint to the Southwest's traditional art forms. Additionally, RAIR has provided inspiration to many of New Mexico's most prominent artists, including former attendees Luis Jimenez and Robert Parke Harrison.