OFAR Orientation Packet by Jon Henry

Hello, I want to again welcome you to the Old Furnace Artist Residency. I hope your stay with me will be filled with creativity, conversation, and contemplation. The residency is focused on fostering a space that intertwines, interrogates, and inverts the notions of art, life, and community. OFAR is an ongoing project whose trajectory orbits the principles around social engagement, relational aesthetics, and community arts practice. I usually select participants whose practices and interests connect with these aspects. My work through OFAR seeks to further these ideas through exhibitions, salons, lectures, zines, radio, performances, collaborations, workshops, dinners, seminars, etc. If there is anything that would help you in pursuing these avenues, then please don’t hesitate to ask. As a reminder, I do ask that residents leave behind some sort of art piece. This piece becomes part of OFAR’s archive and collections. It will be used in future exhibitions or presentations about the work, life, and art of OFAR. Please don’t stress out over this aspect of the residency. If OFAR does close, I plan to donate its collection to a regional art collection like one at JMU, EMU, VT, UofR, etc. The OFAR collection further develops our charisma, commitment, and credentials. If you have any questions during the course of your stay, please don’t be afraid to ask. Lots of folks don’t know how to cook on iron skillets! I look forward to living, working, and creating with you over the course of your stay. Best, Jon Henry Permanent Artist in Residency

General Rules & Guidelines: My main concern is retaining positive relationships with my immediate neighbors. Please do not smoke inside OFAR. There are no major living No-Nos at OFAR. Please respect the space. Drinking is permitted here in a responsible manner. I usually have a 6 pack of beer and a bottle of wine lying around. If you need a sober space, that can be arranged. OFAR is designed to be a safe space for you, any visitor, and me. I ask that we strive to not replicate systems of oppression and violence in our relationships, practices, and language. Transphobia, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc are not permitted or excusable in OFAR or its programs. If there are problems, we can check-in about these issues and work to overcome them. General guidelines of accountability are followed in case issues arise. As part of my ongoing graduate work at JMU, I am developing and funding OFAR. I regret I cannot offer more financial support to residents. However, I always try to hook them up with other local financial connections. If we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already talked about the monies, then please do. Within 48hrs of arriving, I like to have a sit-down conversation with each artist about OFAR and its role in my practice so there is no confusion about documentation, expectations, or process. I want your time here to be productive and conductive for the local community.

Basic Living Arrangements: You and I do share a bathroom so please try to keep it all clean and working. If there are any maintenance problems, please let me know ASAP. There is also a spare bathroom on the first level. I will try to cook all the meals during the course of your stay, but I am not always the best chef. If you are handy in the kitchen, we can always collaborate on meals. Let me know if you have any food allergies, aversions, or cravings. I try to source food directly from my family farm, local farmers, or general retailers depending on season, availability, and cost. Residents will have their own bedroom during the residency; this is your direct private space so use it as needed. There is a printer in there, but please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go overboard with the ink. There is a washer and dryer on the premise so you can do laundry as needed. The machines are a little tricky to start but I can easily show you them. Speaking of tricky machines, if you are using the oven, please remember to turn off BOTH dials. Neighborhood: OFAR is in a small neighborhood and we do our best to be kind to our fellow neighbors. They may be inquisitive about your presence or practice and ask lots of questions, which is GREAT! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep up a positive relationship with the neighbors has I rely on them to house sit, mow lawns, and attend our programming. We are located at the cross roads of a variety of major thoroughfares and communities. Please remember to lock all the doors for our own safety.

Harrisonburg has an extensive array of transportation options. If you need a ride anywhere, then let me know and I should usually be able to give you a lift. Downtown Harrisonburg is about a 10-15 minute walk from OFAR. There are bike lanes across the city but this is no guarantee of safety. There have been plenty of accidents involving crosswalks so please be careful; this is especially around JMU as many of their students text and drive. The City of Harrisonburg has its own bus system, which is free. The closet stop is on Old Furnace and Tower Street, about 3 houses away. The drivers are

very friendly and willing to help you find your way to a destination. I usually have their schedule laying around the house but it is also accessible online: http://www. harrisonburgva.gov/bus-service

OFAR Art Collection: Every resident is expected to donate a piece of art to the residency’s collection. This work will be utilized in future exhibitions like retrospectives about OFAR. Please make something thoughtful and considerate for the collection. Any type of ‘object’ is welcomed as long as it is reproducible for other exhibitions. Please do not stress about this component of the residency, as it Is suppose to be fun. Residents are also invited to submit a written reflection piece to SLAG Mag after their residency.

Guests: Some residents might find a love of their lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or a love for the nightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and want to bring them back to OFAR. This is totally fine as it is a sex-positive environment but you are responsible for the guest (and any damages that might ensue). If you forgot any supplies of your safe-sex supplies, I do have some to share.

Shipping Info: 854 Old Furnace Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 & if it needs to be something with a signature we can use my JMU address I have a CosCo Membership. If we need bulk items, prescriptions, or printing, then please feel free to ask. I love eating up their free samples.

Community Groups: Southerns on New Ground | Harriet Tubman Center | Arts Council of the Valley

Medical: Rockingham Memorial Hospital CVS Food: Farmers Coop Farmers Market Redfront Supermarket Food Lion

This is a living document. If you find or think of anything else that would be helpful for future residents, then please feel free to give me ideas and suggestions.