The Residency

Fortnight is a residency opportunity in the gorgeous high-desert environment of southwestern Colorado. Come and spend two weeks following your creative goals, inspired and uninterrupted. Currently, the residency is for tapestry weavers and includes support from Rebecca, as detailed below. We can provide additional opportunities for other fiber artists, visual artists, and writers. If you are an artist working with a medium other than tapestry and would like to be considered for a residency, please contact us.

Schedule

The typical residency is 2 weeks, from Saturday afternoon to Friday morning. When filling out the application, please indicate which dates you are interested in. We occasionally offer 4-week residencies; if this is your preference, let us know on the application.

In true artist residency style, the time is yours. There are suggested check-ins with Rebecca, but they are optional. You are responsible for feeding your creative soul, whether that means visiting local National Parks, hiking or snowshoeing, sitting on the patio and watching the light on the mountains, or working and weaving in the casita or studio. We encourage you to nurture your practice.

To be clear, this is a self-directed residency. Though you can use some one-on-one time with Rebecca to discuss your goals and to talk about tapestry in general, there is no teaching agenda. There is no curriculum. This is a self-guided experience, and you have to be ready to navigate it. If you’re not quite at that point, please consider one of Rebecca’s week-long retreats.

Support from Rebecca

Rebecca offers the following support during your residency. How much or little of this you use is up to you.

• Prep meeting.
  We will have a Zoom meeting a couple weeks before the residency to answer questions and talk about any goals you might want Rebecca to help with.

• Two meetings during the residency (optional)
  These are to help you get past any sticking points or work through technical or design questions that might have come up. Generally we’ll do one early in your stay, if you need some help with initial ideas. A second check-in meeting will be mid-way through, as needed. Rebecca won’t necessarily give you advice, but she will act as a sounding board and do her best to help you clarify your direction. These meetings are intended for beginning and intermediate tapestry weavers. If you’re a professional and don’t need this check-in time, we can go get coffee and chat about tapestry weaving!

• Library.
  There is a small library of tapestry and art books in the casita for your use. There are also books about local places to visit, geology, archaeology, etc.

• Tools.
  Weaving tools may be borrowed. If you are flying and do not want to bring a loom, you can borrow a Mirrix Big Sister. There is a Schacht Ladybug spinning wheel available for people who want to explore spinning for tapestry. There is a 48 inch Macomber 10-shaft loom in the studio which can be made available with notice.

• Hospitality.
  We can offer suggestions for local adventures, restaurants, groceries, etc.

Location

The Fortnight residency takes place at Luna Mesa, the home and studio of tapestry artist Rebecca Mezoff. The residency details are managed by Emily Haire. During your residency, you’ll be living and working in the casita, a small straw bale house located adjacent to Rebecca’s home and studio. In addition to the casita, a 300-square-foot studio space is available.

Luna Mesa borders Mesa Verde National Park, with the park’s visitor center being less than a mile away.

If you are interested in the mysteries of the Colorado Plateau, this is a magical place to spend some time creating. There are scores of other archaeological sites within easy driving distance, including Canyon of the Ancients, Hovenweep, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, and Chaco Canyon National Park. We are also situated near several native reservations, including Navajo, Ute Mountain, and Southern Ute.

The high peaks of the La Plata Mountains are visible from your front door, to the east near Durango; and Mesa Verde is visible from your sitting room window to the west. Mesa Verde is a dark skies park, making for stunning night skies. From the big windows of your lofted bedroom shines the glorious Milky Way. You will hear coyotes serenading you if you relax on the chaise lounge to watch the stars circle overhead.

The local town of Mancos is a tight-knit creative hub for the area and hosts many arts events throughout the year. It is also home to Mancos Common Press, a letterpress studio that hosts community classes and events. Fortnight is held 40 miles from Durango, home to Fort Lewis College, where the Center of Southwest Studies museum features an impressive textile collection.

Pricing & PAYMENT

The cost of a Fortnight residency is $3,200.

A $300 deposit is due upon acceptance and will reserve your residency dates. The remaining balance of $2,900 will be due six weeks before the residency.

Please be aware of the following cancellation terms:

• If you need to cancel altogether, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit, if we can fill your vacancy.

• If we cannot fill your cancellation vacancy in the three weeks prior to your residency date, you are eligible for a 50% refund.

• Alternatively, if you would prefer to reschedule, we will credit the total of your deposit + balance to a future date.

The following Fortnight dates are currently available:

• February 15 - 28, 2025

• March 29 - April 11, 2025

• June 14 - 27, 2025

• September 13 - 26, 2025

• November 1 - 14, 2025.

Apply for the residency

We require an application for Fortnight. This helps ensure that the residents are a good fit, both for the setting and for their work. The application must include a letter of motivation and sample photos of your work.

Please click the button below to fill out the residency application. In terms of your experience level in tapestry, all levels are acceptable! If you’re looking for a time away to really focus on your current work, this residency may be for you.

The Place

The Land

Rebecca, Emily, and the Tapestry Studio acknowledge that this Place occupies the traditional lands of the Pueblos, Ute, and Diné, their predecessors, and their heirs. We respect their elders, both past and present. We are temporary stewards here who wish to honor the beauty of this Land and tread lightly upon it. Guests are asked to be mindful of our shared histories and futures together.

the casita

The casita is a 575-square-foot home located just next to the main house. It includes a full kitchen, 3/4 bathroom, and a lofted bedroom, which is open to the living space below and accessed by staircase. The casita is constructed of straw bale and finished with natural plasters. Straw bale construction ensures that the house is very well insulated, staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There is no air conditioning. In the summer, you will need to adopt the habits of desert-dwellers by opening the windows at night and closing them during the day to trap the cool air.

The casita is drenched in sunlight, with huge windows that allow you to bask in the sunshine on cold winter days. Open those windows in the summer to catch the breeze at night or regulate the temperature any time of year.

The Studio

The residency includes use of the shed studio. This 20 x 15 foot studio workshop is just across the driveway from the casita; it has heat and air conditioning to maintain a comfortable work space.

The shed studio is 300-square-feet and includes a work table, comfy chair and reading light, shelves to store your supplies, a spinning wheel, a 48-inch Macomber loom you can use if you arrange this with Rebecca, and a view of the La Plata mountains.

Weather/climate

Luna Mesa is at 7,000 feet elevation in a high-desert area near the four corners of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. You will need to consider elevation and climate as you prepare.

Elevation
The high elevation can be a big change for some people. Your body will need to make extra red blood cells, and that can take a few days. Some people are not affected at all; some people feel a bit slow or headache-y for a few days. The best thing you can do before you arrive is to drink a lot of water in the week prior. Continue to do that when you get here, even in the winter.

Winter
If you come in the winter, there are groomed ski and snow-show trails nearby, including inside Mesa Verde National Park.

We do get snow storms between December and April each year. Some years have lots of snow, some not so much. It is possible, though highly unlikely, that we would be snowed in. The driveway is 1/4 mile long and is cleared by a private service with plow and snowblower. In especially bad weather, it can take a day to clear it. Montezuma County is responsible for plowing the county road from the end of the driveway to Highway 160, about 1/2 mile total from the house.

Summer
Summer days can be warm here, but summer nights are usually cool in this high desert environment. Straw bale is a wonderful insulative building material, and the casita will remain cool during the day if you take care to open the windows at night to allow any heat build-up to escape. Shutting the windows and drawing the blinds in the morning will keep the air inside cool throughout the day. The shed studio has a mini-split system with heat and air conditioning.

Health care
Should you have a medical issue while here, Durango’s Mercy Regional Medical Center is the nearest large facility, 40 miles east. A smaller hospital with emergency services is in Cortez, 9 miles west.

Amenities

• Full kitchen including cookery, utensils, coffee maker, kettle, toaster, microwave, gas stovetop, and mini-oven. The mini-oven is a small countertop oven. There is no full-sized oven. There is no dishwasher.

• Bathroom includes hair dryer, towels, basic toiletries.

• Bedroom includes bedding, extra sheets, medium-firm mattress, queen frame, lamps, bedside tables.

• Wi-fi is provided through Starlink. It is usually quite fast, and you will be able to stream movies and use whatever bandwidth you need. You do need to bring your own computer equipment. There is a small television that receives basic channels.

• Outdoor patio table, chairs, and chaise lounge if you want to lie back and watch the stars.

• Cold weather heating in the casita is a thermostat-controlled propane fireplace.

• There is cellular service. The Verizon signal is good and other providers work here as well.

Getting here

You will need to arrange your own transportation to Luna Mesa and throughout your Fortnight. There is no public transportation that can get you to the casita. There are several private transportation services.

If you are flying, you have a few options. Fly to Albuquerque, rent a car, and take the 4.5-hour drive from the Albuquerque International Sunport to the property. You could also fly to the Durango-LaPlata County Airport, which is a 55-minute drive from to the residency. And if you are adventurous, you could take a very small plane to the Cortez Municipal Airport, which is the closest place to fly and about a 15-minute drive to the property.

The nearest Amtrak passenger train station is in Gallup, New Mexico, from which you may rent a car for the 2.5-hour drive north to Luna Mesa.

FAQ

what about Food/supplies?

Luna Mesa is 7 miles west of Mancos and 9 miles east of Cortez, Colorado. Mancos boasts several excellent dining choices, a brewery, a cidery, a bakery, a few coffee shops, a book and wine store, a small grocery, and a natural food store. Cortez has several full-sized supermarkets, lots of restaurants, a yarn shop, a quilt store, and other retail stores for general needs. Durango is the nearest large town, 40 miles east. They have big box stores, several full-service and specialty grocery stores, restaurants, and Maria’s Bookshop, which is Rebecca’s favorite bookstore anywhere.

You will be responsible for all of your own food and other material needs during your residency. We recommend bringing any specialty items from home.

Is there laundry?

The casita does not have a washing machine or dryer. There is a private service in Mancos; self-service laundromats are in Cortez and Durango.

What are the Smoking rules?

Luna Mesa is a non-smoking environment. Absolutely no smoking of any kind is allowed in the casita or anywhere near the two homes on the property. There will be a $500 fine if we discover you have been smoking in the casita, and you will not be considered for future retreats or residencies. (We’re serious. Please, no smoking.)

Can I bring my cat/dog/hamster?

Guest pets are not allowed at Luna Mesa. We do have two miniature dachshunds, and their enclosed yard is just outside the casita, separated by a gated wall and walkway. We attempt to keep them from barking, but sometimes it isn’t possible to keep them from replying to the neighborhood dog or coyote chorus. They are inside or otherwise with us most of the time. They are allowed in my studio. If you are allergic to dogs, please let me know so we can hold our meetings in the shed studio or outside.

Can I bring my spouse or companion?

We are happy to talk to you about how this might work and the space currently available. The bed in the loft is a queen and the sofa bed downstairs is a narrow full bed. We have no objection to one other person coming with you on your residency. However, please consider how having someone else there might impact your work. The additional fee for a companion is $550. Though we love kids, we do not allow residents to bring children to the Fortnight residency.

Gallery

The views from your casita are astounding and ever-changing in the light. It is a marvelous place to sit still and watch a day and night pass around you. Let go of your time-structured habits and find creativity simply in being here.

Click on the photos below to enlarge, arrows to scroll, and hover for captions.