Mark Ragonese

Mark's residencies are specifically designed for each situation, using a wide variety of materials to make objects that illustrate and tell the story of the residency. He stresses the importance of individuality, membership in a community, and the significance of a handmade object. Some residencies may result in a permanent installation. Mark also collaborates with performance artists to make sculptural stage sets for their productions. His work in schools is fun and energetic and designed to give students a chance to make meaningful objects that have relevance and nurture their individuality as they contribute to endeavors larger than themselves.

Being a maker of things, my residencies are most often aimed at getting my students hands and bodies busy in the process of building. Art as a verb rather than a noun.  In an age when so many children's hands touch primarily plastic objects, I design residencies that put  hammers and nails, drills and hand saws,  shovels and rakes, paints and brushes into their hands. We touch wood, stone, cloth, paint,  in essence, the physical world with our  hands, our hearts our minds and we create meaningful objects and experiences that connect the objects to their intention. We tell stories with our creations. We reinforce the value and strength of doing things and making things.