Summers of Artistic Growth Supported by Art In Motion Residency

[written by Montana Becker, MFA '26]

For the past seven years, the MCAD MFA Program has partnered with numerous arts organizations to co-sponsor “Launch Program” opportunities for our current students and recent alumni to produce new work. One of our generous sponsors, the Art In Motion Gallery and Cafe in Holdingford, MN, has offered two-week residencies to four MFA's during each of the past several summers. Located on the Lake Wobegon Trail, Art In Motion is an epicenter for the trails of bikers and artists alike. The organization's location and mission of supporting healthy living through the arts and movement make it an ideal place for artists to experience growth in their artistic practice.

Last summer's 2025 Art In Motion/MCAD MFA residency recipients included Graciela DeAnda (MFA’26), Riv Shapiro (MFA’26), Shimeng Wei (MFA’26), and Elizabeth Blackwell (MFA’25). Through a short interview process, DeAnda and Wei recently shared some details from their residency experience. Their accounts reflect the artistic transformation and growth that come with residency experiences, as they describe both the work that they created while on residency and the ways in which their work was impacted by immersion in the environment surrounding Art In Motion.

As we further expand our MFA Launch Program partnerships, we are so thankful for the many arts organizations and individuals who support our students and enable them to transform their artistic practices through residencies, exhibitions, curatorial opportunities, and more.

To DeAnda and Wei, we go!
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Graciela DeAnda, MFA '26

DeAnda and some of her work while on location at Art in Motion

How did you use your time at the residency?

“I used my residency time to create a new series of cyanotype pieces using a wide variety of organic materials, including flowers and plants gathered from the area. Along with natural materials, I also incorporated more personal elements such as my hair and my glasses into the exposures. I used lithographs of my own photographs as additional layers, placing them directly on the coated surfaces to merge imagery with natural forms. I experimented with printing on different surfaces such as bedsheets, wood, watercolor paper, handmade paper, printmaking paper, tea bags, and even tree bark. Most days I worked outdoors with the sun, coating my materials, arranging the plants, and allowing the sunlight to expose and develop each composition. I also stitched pieces together, created larger-scale works, and explored new ways of arranging the organic materials to highlight their textures and forms.”

DeAnda's cyanotype work in process at Art in Motion

What kind of work did you create during the residency?

During my time at the residency “I created an entirely new body of artwork. I worked in the studio every day from 10AM to 7PM to make full use of the strongest sunlight from my cyanotypes. The resulting work is a series that blends personal history, organic materials, and experimental techniques, all shaped by the specific climate and light of the residency environment.”

How did the setting of Art in Motion contribute to your experience and/or artwork?

“Art in Motion was the ideal environment for this project. The abundant natural light and open outdoor spaces allowed me to create large-scale cyanotypes and experiment freely with exposure times and materials. The atmosphere of the residency — calm, spacious, and supportive —encouraged risk-taking and exploration. The setting itself became part of the process, influencing the final works through its weather, light, and natural surroundings.”

DeAnda leading a workshop at Art in Motion

What was your favorite part of the experience and/or biggest takeaway?

“My favorite part of the experience was having uninterrupted time and space to experiment on a daily basis. Being able to work from morning until evening allowed me to deepen my understanding of the cyanotype process and push beyond what I had previously done. My biggest takeaway is how much the environment — sunlight, landscape, and daily rhythms— can transform a medium and shape new ideas. The residency reaffirmed the importance of experimentation in my practice and the value of connecting directly with natural elements.”

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Shimeng Wei, MFA '26

work by Shimeng Wei, MFA ‘26

How did you use your time at the residency?

“At the beginning of the residency, I was deeply attracted by the beautiful natural environment. There was a spacious garden filled with all kinds of flowers. I took photographs, spent time in the garden, and enjoyed the sunsets. In front of the garden, there was a small coffee house. On the first day, I explored the residency building, familiarized myself with the surroundings, and gradually settled into the space.

On the second day, I began working in the coffee house. Sometimes I sat on the bench outside and created watercolor paintings inspired by the building, plants, and animals. Most of the time, I used my iPad to develop my illustrations. I also rode a bike for about an hour each day to experience the landscape and breathe in the scent of the forest. After that, I would work in the coffee shop for several hours on my own projects. Then I would spend about an hour in the surrounding natural environment before returning to the garden of the house where I stayed during the residency.”

Wei's work in process at Art in Motion

What kind of work did you create during the residency?

“During the residency, I created two illustrations, which marked the beginning of a new project. I was reading a poetry collection, Sand and Foam, which I found to be elegant and graceful. One poem in particular, about how people must pass through darkness in order to reach light, deeply moved me. In my understanding, the path through darkness is not merely bleak; it is a road quietly illuminated from within. Along the way, glowing plants appear in the night, and a distant star shimmers on the horizon. In my own life journey, I have always felt that everything I experience becomes part of who I am. Some moments are sweet, while others are bitter, yet all of them eventually weave into my being. No matter what I encounter or go through, each experience is like a luminous flower blooming along a dark path, guiding me to search for myself in stillness.

Shimeng Wei's work from her Art in Motion residency

How did the setting of Art in Motion contribute to your experience and/or artwork?

“The most significant contribution was the ability to immerse myself in the stunning natural environment whenever I wished. Normally, I live in the city, where most of what I see is urban scenery, so experiencing a different landscape felt especially meaningful. The environment allowed me to breathe more freely and reconnect with nature.The flexibility of time was also extremely important to me. I was able to arrange my schedule and choose the moments that felt right for working. This freedom is essential for an artist, especially for me, as I often need time and quiet space to allow inspiration to emerge naturally.”