Miami, FL - May 26, 2023 - Artists in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE), the South Florida-based non-profit organization that empowers artists to think critically about their relationship to the environment, celebrates the 2023 AIRIE X McKnight Fellow Gaylord Schanilec.

Schanilec is an acclaimed printmaker and book artist that will begin his AIRIE residency in July. With over 25 books published under his own imprint, Midnight Paper Sales, and notable commissions for The Gregynog Press and the Grolier Club, Schanilec has received numerous awards, including the Carl Hertzog Award for excellence in book design and the Greynog Prize. His work is represented in major book arts collections in the US and UK, and his archive is held at the University of Minnesota. As an Honorary Member of the Double Crown Club and an active member of the Ampersand Club and the Fine Press Book Association, Schanilec continues to push the boundaries of printmaking and book arts.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gaylord as the 2023 AIRIE X McKnight Fellow. We look forward to seeing how the unique environment of the Everglades inspires and influences his work during his residency. This fellowship program, supported by the Artist Communities Alliance and the McKnight Foundation, is a vital part of our efforts to provide artists with the resources and support they need to create impactful works that engage with critical environmental issues," said Cornelius Tulloch, Artistic Director.

The AIRIE x McKnight Artist Fellowship Program is supported by the Artist Communities Alliance’s (ACA) McKnight Artist Residencies Consortium. This consortium aims to support the development of residency environments where any artist can thrive. This partnership between ACA and the McKnight Foundation supports selected residency program partners in developing fair and just policies and provides McKnight Artist Fellows with residency opportunities at these partner programs.

“The McKnight fellowship brought to my work a surprisingly permanent deflection,” said Schanilec. Read his full statement here.

A press kit with Schanilec’s artwork, photo, and bio is available here.

About AIRIE

Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that empowers artists to think creatively and critically about our relationship to the environment with a mission of revealing new paths forward. AIRIE’s immersive residency program provides artists the opportunity to live, research, and create inside Everglades National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site currently listed as in danger of disappearing forever.

Through our programs, AIRIE brings art, environment, and racial justice together for a more sustainable and inclusive future. Since 2001, AIRIE has supported the careers of over 190 artists, writers, musicians, curators, and other creatives through full immersion in the park.

To stay updated on events and exhibitions sign up for our newsletter here. We invite you to connect with AIRIE on Instagram at @airieverglades.

About the Artists Communities Alliance

Artists Communities Alliance (ACA) is the international service organization for artist residency programs and artist-centered organizations. ACA's mission is to advocate for and support artist residency programs as a means of advancing the endeavors of all artists. Founded in 1991, ACA currently has more than 250 members in 50 U.S. states and 20 countries and works on behalf of 1,500 residency programs worldwide. Since 2004, ACA has provided more than $4 million in direct grant funding to artists and artist residency centers. As stewards of the ACA McKnight Artist Residencies Consortium, ACA facilitated placement for 35 McKnight Artist Fellows at 14 partner residencies in 2021, as well as developing and leading dedicated training for all participating residencies. Learn more here.

About the McKnight Artists Fellowship Program

Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 14 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently, the foundation contributes about $2.8 million per year to its statewide fellowships. Learn more here.

For press inquiries contact Angela Betancourt at angela@airie.org.