Newberg, Oregon (June 28, 2022) – A to Z Wineworks welcomes virtual attendees to a lecture with their current Artist in Residence, Nieko Giancarlo McDaniel.
The “Sack Lunch Art Talk” will take place virtually on Tuesday, June 29th from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, streamed directly from the winery. The lecture will include an overview of McDaniel’s experience creating installations, his process and inspiration using recycled materials, and his tenure as Artist in Residence
As A to Z’s Artist in Residence for the 2021-2022 season, McDaniel has had unfettered access to the facility’s resources and operations. He began the program working a full harvest season in 2021 to get hands-on experience and insight to the winemaking process. From there, McDaniel has continued to observe different stages of winemaking over the course of the year, incorporating his experience in his body of work as well as into its physical manifestation. Repurposing materials that he finds around the winery has enabled McDaniel to craft pieces that offer a tangible expression of the beauty, grit, and art of winemaking.
McDaniel, with an MFA from American University in Washington, D.C., is an Adjunct Art Professor for North Carolina’s Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Southern California’s Palo Verde College and began his A to Z Wineworks residency in November of 2021. Growing up in Southern California, McDaniel was influenced by an urban lifestyle of graffiti, street art, hip-hop, and rap. Using repurposed materials, McDaniel makes work about identity and escapism influenced by literature, music, movies, comics, television, and video games. Three of McDaniel’s “Yarn Bombings” are installed in the production areas of the winery where they enliven space for staff members.
Applications for A to Z Wineworks’ fourth Artist-in-Residence are being accepted. The 15-month immersion program offers the opportunity to work and respond artistically over the course of a full vintage. The Artist-in-Residence initially joins the seasonal harvest crew that A to Z recruits each year, now boasting 269 alumni from 18 countries. Following the initial harvest, the Artist-in-Residence receives support from A to Z and access to staff and properties for a year of artistic reflection and creation. During the residency’s second harvest, time is split between winery and artistic work. The residency concludes with a public showcase of some of the year’s work through a gallery showing, lecture, reading, and/or performance. For information on the program, prospective applicants can email Michelle Candelaria at michelle@atozwineworks.com.
About A to Z Wineworks
A to Z Wineworks captures “The Essence of Oregon” by carefully blending wines true to their variety exclusively sourced from Oregon vineyards. The family-owned company sets the standard for cool climate, food-friendly Oregon Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. In 2014, A to Z Wineworks became a certified B Corporation, earning recognition as a ‘Best for the World,’ top 5% B Corp every year since. For more information visit www.AtoZwineworks.com.
