TJ Smith served as the twelfth Mesa County Libraries Artist in Residence at the 970West Studio. The dates of his residency were January 13 - April 20, 2020. During the residency, he kept open studio hours on Thursdays from 2-4:00 pm and Tuesday from 5-7:00 pm, allowing him to showcase his art and creative process for Mesa County residents. He also gave four public, educational programs (another program was canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic):

RECORDING MEMORIES ON PAPER (Thursday, February 6, 2020, 6-7:30 pm) (Monument Room)
This program was also held at the Palisade Branch (Saturday, February 22, 2022, 2 pm) and the Fruita Branch (Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 2 pm)
Event description:
Learn the basics of layout and composition, as well as collage and printmaking techniques to create a handheld memory booklet. Participants are encouraged to bring in photos, ephemera, and/or found objects from a particular event or moment in time to use in creating that personal booklet of remembrance.

MAKE A BOOKLET (Neighbors Read program) (February 20, 2020, 6:30 pm) (Central Children’s Center)
Event description:
Kids and families learn the basics of collage and printmaking to create a one-of-a-kind booklet.