Julie Benda, Windgate Foundation artist in residence at Arkansas Tech University for the spring 2024 semester, will host an open studio night on Thursday, March 28.
The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. at the studio and shop located adjacent to the ATU Department of Public Safety, 716 N. El Paso Ave. in Russellville.
ATU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the community are invited. Attendees will meet the artist, see the woodworking process and make a tree ring block print. Admission will be free and refreshments will be provided.
According to biographical information published to her website, Benda is a writer, illustrator and visual artist with a practice in print, sculpture and public art.
She grew up on the upper peninsula of Michigan. Her artwork has been featured in Make MN Magazine, MN Original, Hyperallergic and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.
Benda is the recipient of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Next Step Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and the Jerome/MCBA Mentorship.
The artist in residence program at ATU is made possible through a grant from the Windgate Foundation. Additional financial support from the Windgate Foundation over the past five years has allowed Arkansas Tech to establish a summer professional development program for K-12 art teachers, develop enhanced opportunities for ATU graduates to attend medical school, purchase equipment for Arkansas Tech nursing students and establish a need-based scholarship fund.
Benda is the sixth artist in residence in Arkansas Tech history. She was preceded by Manami Ishimura (spring 2019), Tiffany Black (spring 2020), Jade Hoyer (fall 2021), Andrew Malczewski (spring 2022) and Haylee Bolinger (spring 2023).
Learn more about the ATU Department of Art at www.atu.edu/art.
