Ever since I bought my house, I've had a hard time treating it like a normal house. Instead, it's slowly become a place where people gather to learn natural dyeing, collage, printmaking, and whatever other wonderfully niche obsession someone is excited to share.

With a strong preference for living alongside collaborative humans, I figured the basement - and it’s extra bedroom - deserved a promotion. Rather than becoming a shrine to forgotten exercise equipment, it's on its way to becoming a cozy Artist-in-Residence space for creatives passing through Ann Arbor.

The idea grew out of the many Couchsurfing experiences I had while traveling through South America. Strangers opened their homes to me, shared meals, stories, and local knowledge, and reminded me that hospitality is one of the most creative acts there is. My hope is that this space welcomes people who leave behind a little of their humor, wisdom, talent, and kindness before heading off to wherever is next.

The inaugural Artist-in-Residence is Jenneva Kayser, a writer, sculptor, and ceramic artist. She currently serves as the Arts + Culture Supervisor for the City of Novi, Michigan, where she oversees the artist residency program at Villa Barr Art Park. Jenneva earned her BFA from Kalamazoo College in 2010 and has worked in ceramics ever since, including as Studio Manager at Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona, and as an instructor at studios across California and Michigan.

During her residency, we hosted an art fundraiser at my home on May 30, 2026, raising more than $750 for a local immigrant rights nonprofit. It was exactly the kind of event I hoped this space could make possible: people sharing art, meeting neighbors, and supporting a good cause.

As the residency and offerings grow (and as I continue convincing the basement it's capable of a total glow-up), I'll announce future events on Instagram and in the Ann Arbor Observer.