2023 RAiR Foundation Board Retreat in Roswell

The RAiR Foundation Board of Directors convened in Roswell the weekend of February 17-19 for a working retreat. It was the first face-to-face get-together for several of the new board members as meetings normally occur on Zoom. Members attended from New Mexico, Denver, New York and Washington, D.C. In addition to honing the vision and mission of the RAiR Foundation, they toured the RAiR compound facilities and several of the artists’ studios, as well as those at the Historic Studios at Berrendo Road.

The weekend also included a Saturday night jazz concert at AMoCA featuring The James Emery Neo Trio and a book talk by author Alexander Heffner the following evening. In addition to being immersed in the RAiR collection at AMoCA, the board toured the Roswell Museum where they had a chance to see current RAiR artist Nima Nabavi’s solo exhibition as well as many former RAiR artists’ work on display there. Bone Springs Art Space also gave members the chance to see a an exhibition of Susan Cooper’s (RAiR 1972-73) work.

“It’s been a wonderful and bustling weekend here at the RAiR,” said Katelyn Krakauskas, executive director. “It was really special having our board, staff, and artists have the chance to get to know each other better after several years of zoom meetings. The program and its artists are the zest to who we are and what we do. I think I can speak for all when I say, we feel invigorated and excited for the future.”

The RAiR Foundation Board of Directors and staff, February 2023. (Front row, from far left, L-R) Katelyn Krakauskas (RAiR Executive Director), Nancy Fleming (Director, AMoCA), Aria Finch, David Anderson, Sally Anderson, Martha Strieby, Meryl Rosofsky, Cristina González, (Back row, L-R) Kyle Armstrong, Carolyn Madison, Dameron Midgette, Anne Midgette, Cymantha Liakos, Catherine de Maria, Larry Bob Phillips (RAiR Program Director), Andrea Hanley. (Board members not present: Sarah Anderson, Phillis Ideal.)

Nima Nabavi, (RAiR 2022-23) describes his process with the RAiR board at his solo exhibition Visiting during their visit to the Roswell Museum.

Wen Liu (RAiR 2022-23) discusses her art practice during a studio tour with the RAiR board at the RAiR compound.