engaging the land in ecocentric art and science projects engaging the public in new ways to experience the land
Misty Hollow Residency
Upcoming Public Events
Saturday August 22nd, 2026. 1-5pm. Performance runs from 2-2:45pm. Sound and Reiki Energy Experience (performance free) by Artist in Residence Marisa LaGuardia
Performance Description
The performance will accompany the Wild Clay: Timeless Ceramic Art class by Eberle Studios. To participate in the fee based 6 week course, or to learn more, please click the link below. If you would like to attend the performance only, which is free, please email mistyhollowartistresidency@gmail.com for details. This experience will feature a restorative sound bath with Tibetan singing bowls. Marisa is a Reiki Master and will be administering Reiki during the performance simultaneously.
Course Description (link to register or learn more)
Wild Clay: Timeless Ceramic Art
6 week course, every Saturday. August 22 - Oct 3 (no class Sept 5)
In this course, you will learn how to harvest and process your own clay the way humans all over the earth did before the convenience of industrial mining and clay processing. The class begins with a field trip and guided meditation at Misty Hollow Residency in Ellwood City, PA. Taught by Dusty Williams and Marisa LaGuardia, this six-week class includes harvesting and processing clay, exploring hand building and surface decoration techniques, and concludes with a pit firing gathering that you will not want to miss! Wild Clay is designed for artists from novice to advanced who want to enhance their practice or try something new! You will gain appreciation for our planet Earth, and feel ownership of your ceramics process from start to finish.
Week 1: Mindful Extraction. August 22nd, 1-5pm
Instructors: Dusty Williams, Marisa LaGuardia, Jonathan Eberle
We will have a 1pm lunch and begin meditation and extraction around 2pm at Misty Hollow Residency. Come out for the day to dig up some natural clay. Learn what to look for when extracting materials and get dirty collection clay yourself.
Artist Residency
Misty Hollow is a private artist residency on the Slippery Rock Creek, close to McConnell’s Mill State Park, Moraine State Park, Camp Allegheny, and the Monastery of the Transfiguration. Residencies support cross disciplinary work in the humanities and the sciences by providing space for artists and other disciplines to engage the land and its resources collaboratively through the creation of material/natural projects on the property. Misty Hollow provides unique opportunities for the public to experience the land through invite only or event based projects off site. Residents receive financial support, rustic living accommodations, connections to regional experts and organizations, use of natural resources, general mentorship and help. Open to 21+ emerging artists and professionals. Misty Hollow is not wheelchair accessible.
Current Artist in Residence
Two artists and their teams of collaborators are working on their residency projects now. Marisa LaGuardia and Emily Elliott. To see their projects and to apply for the 2027 season please follow the link below.
Land Lab
Misty Hollow is a space for experimental land use projects. Artist in Residence projects that consider and employ the property resources sustainably are just one of the many experimental projects. Some of the other projects include: land care and restoration, sustainable off-grid housing, and erosion and drought control.
Misty Hollow is working with Slippery Rock University professors in art, environment, and engineering, The Hoyt Center for Arts and Education, New Castle Public Library, PennOhio Clay Guild, and certified arborist Jen Senchak of Restoreth Roots, LLC. These generous supporters provide programing, educational opportunities, creative consulting, and environmental consulting for the artists in residence and ecocentric projects on the property.
The Land of Misty Hollow
Misty Hollow is a privately owned property of 25+ wooded acres. At one end of the property is a residence where the lead artist and founder Asia Ward lives with her husband and two cats. Ward and her husband fell in love with the property’s ecosystem and natural beauty and purchased the property with the intent to start an art and science residency. In 2024 Ward began a three year research project, opening the property to art and science projects that would help shape the formal residency planned to launch in 2027.
The landscape of Misty Hollow is a steep three sided hollow with a stream and multiple springs running through it, connecting to the Slippery Rock Creek and its valley. The property has two waterfalls, a glenn, wildflower meadow, views of the valley, and some cliffs. Creatures range from bear and bobcat to salamanders and ring necked snakes.