Every year, the group chooses around 12 artists to join their residency initiative. The residency spans a full calendar month, during which the artists reside in a cabin located inside the Everglades National Park. Each morning, they witness the sunrise above the Everglades and enjoy the sunset. The intention is to encourage the development of something remarkable.
This season, AIRIE is marking its 25th anniversary. The celebration includes new content throughout the year along with an expanded residency program that features 18 fellows rather than the typical dozen.
We’ve also expanded in terms of the message we’re aiming to convey, which focuses on establishing a supportive environment for artists to interact with nature,” says Tracey Robertson Carter, AIRIE’s acting director. “We aim to promote the use of art in addressing the challenges we encounter daily in our cherished environment, especially in South Florida.
The latest AIRE open call received more than 500 applicants, surpassing any previous year, according to Carter. Although the selection process is long and challenging, the director acknowledges it’s also deeply motivating. “I enjoy reading about what the residency can offer in the applications,” she mentions.
Carter talks about an incoming fellow, musician Thandeka Mfinyongo from Cape Town, South Africa, who uses traditional instruments and sounds. “She’s bringing her ancestral instruments here and aiming to develop new sounds in our Florida setting. (Reading from her application) how this would affect the sound, what it could mean for her link back to her heritage, these kinds of projects are truly inspiring.”
Artists participating in the program are granted a one-month stay on the property located in the Everglades, with the liberty to create. They also receive a stipend for expenses and have exclusive access to the national park. Their main objective is to draw inspiration from their environment and incorporate it into their work.
We truly view it as a research residency,” says Cornelius Tulloch, global artistic director for AIRIE and someone who was once a fellow himself. “The artists’ only obligation is to be in the park, interact with the community, and present one public event, which might be a discussion, a tour, or another type of activity where we connect with the artists… we have no hesitation in letting the artists simply be artists.
Tulloch was a member of the 2022 AIRIE group and found the experience so motivating that he stayed on. “I believe that’s the charm of participating in AIRIE,” he mentions. “Regardless of what you thought you would gain initially, you end up taking away a lot more.”
Throughout his time with AIRIE, Tulloch has turned into a sort of Everglades expert, he jokes. He shifted from sharing images of art and fashion to talking about the national park. “I think for many people, it’s that straightforward issue of representation—how do I fit into this place?”
Tulloch’s social media updates motivated fellow artist and friend, Daveed Baptiste. The Haitian-American textile artist and photographer hadn’t previously felt at home in a setting like the Everglades. That changed when he came across Tulloch’s posts. He was encouraged and submitted an application to AIRIE. Baptiste will start his residency at the Everglades National Park in March 2026.
I recall watching clips for an entire month,” says Baptiste about his friend Tulloch. “He was sharing content in the Everglades, like the wetlands and paths.
Based in New York City, Baptiste was raised in Miami and mentions that he has been looking for a chance to return. “Miami is where I discovered art… I feel like Miami is the heart of my work.”
Regarding his stay, the photographer intends to conduct several photo sessions among the trees and water.
“When you search for the Everglades, you don’t typically see many Black people in the (attraction) videos or images. There’s a significant lack of representation of Black individuals. During my time there, I’ll be examining how visual culture influences our understanding of who is allowed to experience the Everglades… and I will be organizing stunning photo sessions with amazing Black families, friends, and LGBTQ+ individuals, showcasing this Black utopia amidst the river of grass,” says Baptiste.
Another Miami local and new resident is Lee Pivnik. The young artist has been submitting applications for the residency intermittently since 2016. His upcoming stay in September is a long-held aspiration. He has several concepts in mind for his one-month time in the natural setting.
I’m really excited about September,” says Pivnik. “I currently have two projects that are deeply connected to the Everglades and its inspiration. I’ll be reflecting on how the Everglades encompasses all these histories and stories of trauma, survival, neglect, and then renewal.
Pivnik states, “I’m hoping to genuinely utilize the experience to create resources and concepts that will keep supporting my work.”
Besides Baptiste, Pivnik, Mfinyongo, and Rook, this season’s participants also feature Ashia Ajani (Denver, Colo.), The Honourable Elizabeth A. Baker (affiliated with the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University), Shenny de Los Angeles (Kissimmee, Fla.), Sarah Doerfel and Vincent Scheers (Munich), Samuel Dominguez (London), Laurena Finéus (New York, N.Y.), Havîn Hât (Germany), Julius Karoubi (Oslo, Norway), Bex McCharen (Miami), Jewel Rodgers (Nebraska), Ackeem Salmon (Detroit), Jean Shin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Sheherazade Thénard (Miami), Coco Villa (Queens, N.Y.), and David Rahahę•tih Webb (Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina).
Board president Zoë McKenzie has been part of AIRE for two years and views her position as a link between the organization and the local community.
The individuals in this group have already started to combine their perspectives, experiences, and influences with those of their peers,” says McKenzie. “They are in the process of creating an impressive legacy and network that will extend from South Florida, from AIRIE and the Everglades, and further.
If you go:
WHAT:Residents in the Everglades (AIRIE)
WHERE: Everglades National Park, Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 40001 State Highway 9336, Homestead
INFORMATION: (305) 209-0177 or airie.org.
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