The Summer 2022 Artist in Residence is Shayna Strype.

What was the last thing you made?
I'm currently finishing up a multimedia music video that utilizes miniatures, puppetry, animation, and projections. The whole video takes place on a table top and plays with scale and perspective.

What was the last thing you read?
Words Are My Matter, Ursula K. Le Guin.

What was the last exhibition you saw?
I just went to the 60th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival and was so inspired by the range of experimentation.

Who do you most admire?
Artists who blend forms, innovate with materials, and use humor to delve into deep ideas. I think of Joan Jonas, Miranda July, Michel Gondry, Charlie Kaufman, and Tony Oursler.

How has your practice changed?
In the past two years, my work has evolved from primarily live performance to more film and video. I've been enjoying using theatrical language on screen and cinematic language on stage.

What motivates your practice?
The endless possibilities of creating whole worlds with basic, accessible materials. I am propelled by the freedom that comes with a playful, DIY approach and a childlike curiosity. I often think of Bruno Schultz's words: 'This kind of art, the kind which is so dear to my heart, is precisely a regression, a return to childhood... My ideal goal is to 'mature' into childhood. That would be a genuine maturity."

Your favorite artwork made before your lifetime?
Ah, it's so hard to narrow it down, but the first thing that comes to mind is Asparagus by Suzan Pitt.

Your favorite artwork made during your lifetime?
Right now I can't stop thinking about La Casa Lobo by Cristóbal León and Joaquin Conciña, but an all-time favorite is Alice by Jan Švankmajer