Internationally acclaimed artist collaborative Fallen Fruit (David Burns and Austin Young) was hosted through partnerships with Pelican Bomb and Newcomb Art Museum to create Fallen Fruit of New Orleans. Throughout 2017 and into early 2018, Fallen Fruit made a series of five 1-2 week residency visits to work in New Orleans on a project to reach socioeconomically, racially, and culturally diverse populations via the values of generosity and collective action – planting/providing 300 fruit trees in honor of the tricentennial of the city’s colonial founding. Working specifically with residents and organizations in the Lower 9th Ward through a partnership with the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development and in Gentilly through New Orleans Parks and Parkways, Fallen Fruit designed community orchards and public events to delight and engage those living, working and playing in these neighborhoods. Some of the concurrent activities included free snoballs and portraits on Father’s Day, a public pickling and the “Fruit For All” day in conjunction with their exhibition, EMPIRE, at the Newcomb Art Museum.

“ASITW was an incredible resource that provided both the physical space and time for the residence that guaranteed the success of the project from concept through completion. What is most important is the support and guidance of all of the staff. Collectively, everyone on team was invaluable in terms of unconditional support in helping nurture the project along at various stages of development. This has transformed my work as an artist and has created a holistic shift in understanding what is possible in terms of artist / residency / institutional collaboration in making great works of art become a reality. Thank you ASITW for being excellent and visionary. The capacity to embrace open ended outcomes is rare and essential in creating collaborative works that impact community and institutions equally.” – David Burns

“I’m from Los Angeles and coming to A Studio In the Woods – time seemed to slow down. I felt like I could melt into the environment. We watched the season change. The frogs and other inhabitants of the woods at times made a white noise that was pure magic. The beauty of this place had an impact not only on my work, but on my wellbeing. The oak tree pattern we made is a direct inspiration from being in the woods. The way the light can seem almost green in the morning- the beauty of this place and the staff made this a very supportive environment to create art. Anything we needed during our residency- the staff worked hard to figure out what was needed to make it happen. This is the best residency I have been a part of. ” – Austin Young