The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) selected three artists for its inaugural “Montgomery County Artist Residency” program. Alyscia Cunningham, Jasmine Adams and Liliane Blom will undertake year-long residencies with the goal of supporting civic dialogue within the County’s East County, Mid-County and Upcounty regional services areas.
Through a series of artistic engagements and community convenings, the three artists will facilitate conversations around topics their communities identify as important, such as identity, resilience, vitality, economic development and financial security, housing, transportation, healthcare and food access and education. The conversations will occur many times throughout the residency and will include a creative engagement activity that aligns with the resident artist’s own practice.
“Creativity is a vehicle for building healthier communities” said Suzan Jenkins, CEO of the Arts and Humanities Council. “It has the power to amplify diverse voices, develop community identity, build cohesion and much more. Our hope is through these residencies, we will help strengthen relationships between the regional service centers and their communities.”
More about each artist:
Alyscia Cunningham. Assigned to UpCounty Regional Service Center.Alyscia Cunningham is an award-winning author, filmmaker, tactile artist and photographer who has contributed to the Smithsonian, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and AOL. After the success of her first book, “Feminine Transitions,” a photography book with portraits of raw feminine beauty, she produced “I am More Than My Hair,” a book and documentary film. It includes interviews with women who have experienced hair loss due to a health related condition and their journey of self-empowerment to see beauty beyond the media’s standards. With the completion and direction provided through fellowships, labs and workshops with Stowe, Sundance Institute and Women of Color Filmmakers, Alyscia has written and directed horror and thriller films.
Alyscia is the founder of Her House Media a media company that produces documentary and horror films by and about women of color.
Alyscia is the founder of Her House Media a media company that produces documentary and horror films by and about women of color.
Jasmine Adams. Assigned to East County Regional Service Center.Jasmine Adams is a Montgomery County-based painter, photographer and digital artist who seeks to unveil the controversial journey one takes to discover their identity. Fueled by images from her imagination and everyday life, in practice she creates imagery that allows the Black American experience to speak on a grand scale through portraiture. Adams has exhibited in JELMA Museum (2021) , the Truro Center for the Arts (2022) and Gallery CA (2024).
Liliane Blom. Assigned to Mid-County Regional Service Center.A cultural nomad with many roots (French, Norwegian, German and Costa Rican), Liliane Blom has lived her life at the intersection of cultures. She has made her home in Rockville, where she now lives and creates art.
An award-winning photographer, classically trained painter and innovative installation artist, she describes her fusion of painting and photography as “digital painting.”
In the last decade, she has been transforming her images into interactive and immersive environmental installations. Her installations are multi-sensory experiences, that engage the viewer with sound/touch and light. Playful, they unapologetically appeal to our sense of wonder and invite the viewer into a contemplative space.
Liliane is engaged in the arts community in the greater DMV and has served on a variety of boards. She is a founding member of ArtWatchDC, a group of social-activist artists with whom she frequently participates in art actions.
An award-winning photographer, classically trained painter and innovative installation artist, she describes her fusion of painting and photography as “digital painting.”
In the last decade, she has been transforming her images into interactive and immersive environmental installations. Her installations are multi-sensory experiences, that engage the viewer with sound/touch and light. Playful, they unapologetically appeal to our sense of wonder and invite the viewer into a contemplative space.
Liliane is engaged in the arts community in the greater DMV and has served on a variety of boards. She is a founding member of ArtWatchDC, a group of social-activist artists with whom she frequently participates in art actions.
