http://www.signalfirearts.org/">Signal Fire is pleased to announce our 2012 programs and Call for Applicants. We are now accepting applications from all creative disciplines for the 4th annual Outpost Residency and the 2012 Overture Backpacking Retreat. Applications are due March 15, 2012.

Signal Fire was formed in 2008 by activist Amy Harwood and artist Ryan Pierce in response to the urban demand on working artists. We bring artists to the farthest stretches of our remaining wild and open places, crafting experiences that instill self-reliance and catalyze new creative energy. We utilize public lands to advocate for the access to— and protection of— these places in order to enrich and sustain society.

This year’s http://www.signalfirearts.org/the-trailer">Outpost Residency will host eight artists for two separate one-week sessions in Eastern Oregon’s remote and breathtaking Wallowa Mountains. The selected artists will live and work in studio-size canvas wall tents. Signal Fire organizers provide food, lead optional hikes, and have wilderness medical training. Applications are due March 15th and will be reviewed by a guest jury comprised of writer Matthew Stadler, musician M. William Helfrich (mbilly), visual artists Anna Gray and Ryan Wilson Paulsen, and filmmaker Julie Perini. The residency period is July 14-20 and July 22-28, and is free to selected applicants.

From June 30- July 6, Signal Fire offers http://www.signalfirearts.org/workshops">Overture, a backpacking retreat in Mt Hood National Forest near Portland, Oregon. This will be out third guided backpacking retreat, returning to the same ancient forests and pristine waters from last year’s popular http://www.signalfirearts.org/first-spark/2011">Love Triangle Hike. This trip is offered at-cost to participants. Free applications to both Outpost and Overture can be found on our http://www.signalfirearts.org/">website.

Next autumn Signal Fire will also be organizing http://www.signalfirearts.org/afloat">Afloat, a canoe trip on Utah’s Green River. This program is by invitation only, as a trial run for open-application river trips in coming years.

The http://www.signalfirearts.org/other-coordinates">growing list of Signal Fire residents includes a wide spectrum of visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, curators, performers, and creative agitators. We are committed to keeping our programming low cost or free.

Thank you for helping us spread the word!
http://www.signalfirearts.org/">www.signalfirearts.org

Photo by 2011 resident Kyle Riedel.