Casa de iedra

Casa de Piedra Residencia de Artistas is a collective construction and artist-run-space initiated in 2015 and coordinated by the Argentinian artists Sofia Tarditti, Roque Manzaras, and Matías Zelarayán in the municipality of Santa María, Catamarca.

The project aims to experiment with new ways of thinking and learning through the production and investigation of contemporary arts. Thus, contributing to the development of creativity, artists dialogues, artworks circulation, and empowerment of cultural production in the North-West region of Argentina, also known as NOA.

“The place is here, away from the centers, we are very interested in working with the land, especially with nature and the landscape, to place the artist's body within a very natural landscape, and to work with all the materials that one can find within this habitat,” indicates Roque Manazaras, founder of Casa de Piedra. 

The project takes place in an old rural house surrounded by mountains of the Andean Cordilleras and nearby the Rio Negro river in the district of San José, Catamarca, a region with enormous cultural heritage, history, arts, and crafts. 

The program is open to national and international young, emerging, mid-career, and established artists, ceramists, sculptors, land artists, and curators with transdisciplinary and experimental approaches. Artists can choose between self-directed, research, production, workshops, exhibition, or curated programs.

“What does matter is to create a human group working together and to be able to carry out a creative process during the residency,” adds Roque Manzaras.

Up to ten artists are selected each year for a month-long residency during which they will be hosted in a traditional house in shared rooms, as up to four artists may be in residence at the same time. In addition, they will have access to shared studios, a garden, sculpture and ceramic facilities, and tools for wood-working projects.

Artists will be given the opportunity to organize and take part in workshops, exhibitions, expeditions, publications, and open studios.

“The groups we set up are precisely to carry out these activities in the different spaces we have available. We are also interested in spreading some information that have to do with some issues of the area and the region, because this opens a much broader picture in terms of everything that has to do with research, thoughts and to develop different ideas,” confides Roque Manzaras.

Interested artists can apply all year long by sending an artist statement, a body of their latest artworks, and a project proposal.

“I learned so much, like how to assemble a logical model, in the way of working, being away from the comforts, it's like you put yourself to the test {…} Apart from the resources provided by the residency, there were talks with artists, ceramists, exchange with artists from the area, it was quite interesting to share two different scenes, like the local art scene and the scene in the city. Yes, I recommend it!” shares Julieta Lagoria, artist in residence.

The founders of Casa de Piedra also organize residencies in similar contexts in Amaicha, Tucumán, and Rosario.