Ph.D. student raises crowdsource funds for artist-in-residence stay

[James Westwater] (http://www.jameswestwater.com/) , a Ph.D architecture student at Texas A&M and an award-winning artist, is [raising funds] (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1410648999/edgeponies-dublin-fire-station-studios-artists-res?ref=discovery) through a crowdsourcing site to finance his stay as an artist-in-residence March-May 2014 at a studio in Dublin, Ireland.

An artist whose paintings, lightboxes and abstract pieces have been exhibited in many venues in the United States and Europe, Westwater was invited to participate in the AIR program at [Fire Station Artists Studios] (http://www.firestation.ie/) in Dublin, an organization that supports professional visual artists with residential studios via a highly competitive selection process.

Westwater has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $3,000 by March 17 for transportation, living and art material expenses associated with the program. As of Feb. 21, he had raised $1,287.

In exchange for contributions, backers will receive original art by Westwater, ranging from small, framed paintings to sculptures.

During his stay in Dublin, Westwater plans to create new work in his “Edges” series, which investigates transitional boundaries — outer or far edges of nature, society and self.

“I will spend the first two weeks researching and making studies,” said Westwater. “The remaining six weeks will be spent completing a series of paintings on paper, wood panel and found materials.”

Westwater, scheduled to begin his Ph.D studies in the fall of 2014, is married to Texas A&M Ph.D architecture [student] (http://one.arch.tamu.edu/news/2013/6/7/healinggarden-designbook/) Naomi Sachs.