Temporary Island

June 26 – August 3, 2019

The 2019 SHIFT Residency Exhibition

Organized by the 2019 SHIFT Residents with curatorial fellow Frank Prescia

Pradeep Dalal
Matthew de Leon
Alicia Ehni
Nung-Hsin Hu
Patrick Rowe
Maya Valladares
Annette Wehrhahn

EFA Project Space presents Temporary Island, an exhibition that brings together new works produced during the 2018/19 SHIFT Residency. Over the course of the past year, seven artists came together to form a “temporary island” -- a self-imposed shipwreck on remote land; an organized resistance to survive New York City’s grind; and a floating collaboration on the fringes of busy schedules. SHIFT Residency and its de facto “temporary island” address the unique challenges of work-life balance facing a niche of artists who work over 35 hours per week in support of other artists (as arts administrators, curators, educators, and advocates). Many residents and alumni are caregivers outside of work or members of the “sandwich generation,” whose commitment to the residency underline SHIFT’s call to thrive

After 10 months off the grid, it’s time to leave the island. Temporary Island, a collaboratively organized show developed and produced over the residency year, features new work by Pradeep Dalal, Matthew de Leon, Alicia Ehni, Nung-Hsin Hu, Patrick Rowe, Maya Valladares, Annette Wehrhahn.

SHIFT Residency was launched in August 2010 to provide studio space and peer support for practicing artists who also work as arts professionals for organizations in New York City. This program honors these individuals with a unique environment to build on their own art practices. Six residents were selected based on their outstanding contributions to the art community plus their potential for artistic growth in a shared interactive environment. The unique nature of SHIFT Residency draws out unspoken challenges and considerations in the lives of its participating artists, who dedicate a significant portion of their time towards supporting other artists and the art community.