ai weiwei-designed house to host indigenous artists and activists in upstate new york

the only residence in the US designed by ai weiwei becomes the base for the ‘forge project’, an initiative that supports indigenous leaders and communities working in the arts, food sovereignty, language revitalization, and more. originally called ‘tsai residence’, the house in upstate new york was realized by ai weiwei in collaboration with HHF architects in 2008, with a guest house addition in 2011. sold for $4.9 million earlier this year, the 3 bedroom dwelling is now known as ‘forge house’ and it will host a range of programs, serving as a forum for events and exhibitions, and as a workspace and home for four new forge project fellows.

image by alon koppel

forge house is situated in the hudson valley on unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands of an indigenous community called the muh-he-con-ne-ok. forge project encompasses four main elements: the fellowship program; a farming and ecological education program in partnership with sky high farms to combat food insecurity in the region; a lending collection of artworks from indigenous and hudson valley artists, which is on rotating view at forge project by appointment; and an alliance with the gochman family foundation, which provides direct monetary support to community organizations in the region.

image by alon koppel

the ai weiwei-designed house welcomes four inaugural forge project fellows: architect and founder of studio:indigenous chris t cornelius (oneida), artist and filmmaker sky hopinka (ho-chunk nation/pechanga band of luiseño indians), ecologist and researcher jasmine neosh (menominee), and language preservation activist and mohican language teacher brock schreiber (stockbridge-munsee band of mohicans). each fellow will be given $25,000 USD as well as the time and space to work at forge house. the fellowship will run annually, and successive classes past this inaugural cohort will be a bit larger.

image by thatcher keats

‘it’s an honor to host these brilliant artists, activists, and leaders at forge, and to support their powerful work,’  said forge project founder becky gochman. ‘we can’t wait to welcome this accomplished group, and to see what might come of their time here.’

image by thatcher keats

‘we’re thrilled to launch forge with these incredible fellows, and excited to see how the program continues to grow in the years to come,’  said forge project executive director candice hopkins (carcross/tagish first nation). ‘the forge project fellowship is only the first of several resources and initiatives being developed in support of indigenous communities, our partners, and our neighbors in the region, and we look forward to sharing more as forge project continues to develop and grow.’

image by thatcher keats

‘it is extremely exciting to be able to put together this fellowship program and house it in the mahicannituck river valley on the land of the mu-he-con-ne-ok. being able to bring together indigenous leaders is an honor,’  said director of education heather bruegl (oneida/stockbridge-munsee). ‘indigenous people are shaking up the world and making our voices heard now more than ever. being able to be a small part of that is what makes this job amazing. and to do it on the land of my ancestors is beyond humbling. it makes it possible for their voices to be heard again.’

image by thatcher keats

image by thatcher keats

image by thatcher keats

image by thatcher keats

image by thatcher keats

image by thatcher keats

project info:

name: forge project

location: ancram, new york, USA