2012: AiR, Zoe Childerley

In 2012, the Museum of Friends launched its first Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program by welcoming UK-based photographer Zoe Childerley. Supported by Colorado Creative Industries and private donors, Childerley developed Where’s Walsenburg?, an immersive photography and community engagement project exploring the people, histories, and landscapes of Southern Colorado.

Her residency invited local residents into the creative process through portrait sittings, interviews, and interactive installations. By engaging directly with the community, Childerley examined how place, memory, and identity shape rural experience—and how art can illuminate shared stories that often go unseen.

Program Highlights:

Photography Workshop: Community members learned introductory photography techniques and contributed directly to the Where’s Walsenburg? project.

Exhibition: Portraits by Childerley and community participants were showcased alongside the companion exhibit Portraits from the Heart by Eudora Welty.

Artist Talks & Community Conversations: Childerley led discussions on photography as a civic practice, focusing on representation, rural storytelling, and the role of visual art in community connection.

Project Impact:
Childerley’s residency set the tone for MoF’s ongoing commitment to artist-led social practice and rural civic engagement. The project continues to resonate locally: several of the portraits from Where’s Walsenburg? are currently on loan to the 3rd Judicial District Justice Center as part of an installation titled Who's Walsenburg? This long-term placement reflects the project's enduring contribution to regional identity, visibility, and community pride.