Artist in Residency (AIR) 2025
Earlier this year, the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County (AAYC) and Recology Western Oregon announced the launch of the first-ever Artist in Residence (AIR) Program. Our new partnership supports local artists who create with recycled and discarded materials from the McMinnville Transfer Station, sponsored by Recology Western Oregon.
We introduce the inaugural AIR artists, selected from a talented pool of applicants across the Yamhill County area. Each artist receive a four-month residency, including a $1,000 monthly stipend, studio space, and full access to salvaged materials.
Their work was showcased at a public exhibition and Pop-Up Gallery during Art Harvest Studio Tour in McMinnville, with 20% of all sales supporting AAYC’s mission to expand arts access and advocacy throughout the region.
We look forward to continuing the AIR program next year — applications for the 2026 residency will open in February 2026.
Meet the 2025 AIR Artists
Blaine Niehus
Blaine Niehus is a welding artist whose work fuses industrial strength with organic beauty. With a background in metal fabrication and a creative mindset, Blaine transforms raw steel and recycled materials into expressive pieces that are sure to grab your attention.
Jessica Husvar
Born and raised in Oregon, Jessica didn’t begin pursuing art seriously until college, where a spontaneous interest led her to teach herself watercolor by painting her way through an encyclopedia of owls. Her work has diversified, but to this day continues to be inspired by animals, landscapes, and the quiet beauty of wild places. She has traveled across the country and around the world, always taking her art with her—selling original paintings and creating murals that reflect the spirit of each place.
Exploring Recology and Safety Training!
