Still and Troubled Waters

Artist residencies may be required for most artists' CV but are hard to come by. In my somewhat short career I haven't been accepted to many. Still I get the chance, every few years, to stay and work in a place that has a studio, and at least enjoy my vacation, or even discover new ways to enhance my art making (like that summer in Trelex, Switzerland, I told about it here and here).
This year it's France, assisted by the honorable Daniela Belinga Agossa, artist and - since last year -also owner of Espace d'Art Contemporain Les Thermes, in the distant town of Bourbonne-les-Bains.
I spent a magical two months working mainly on one project.

Daniela's crazy colors
watercolor

The general theme was abandoned houses, of which there are many in the neigborhood as well as adjacent villages and towns. France seems to be in the whirlwind of abandonment while everyone is fleeing unemployment and boredom and recalculating destination Paris.
So there I was. Apart from admiring the natural beauty and serenity, I didn't have a clue. It started with some difficulties; I felt I did not get the spirit of the place; was walking every day for hours looking for ideas and wondering if I will forever make cute sketches of green pastures.

Park near the studio

Staircase, residency/house entrance hall

And then - I saw it.
It was a shattered glass in a bus stop, that remained intact and was not replaced; through it I could look at the residency itself, as well as - just opposite - a beautiful old abandoned hotel owned by the city.
I sat there to sketch, then took some photos and got back to it every other day, inspired more and more to understand this breakage as a focal point and a key to the life in this small town.
The following weeks I did a lot of drawings and watercolors of the scene with and without broken glass.
The glass already was present in my life and it continues to fascinate me, and now comes the time to make friends even further.

pastel



charcoal

Eventually I made a small wood panel too:

color pencil

On the longest day, June 21, I went out and saw a vision - beautiful setting sun rays hitting the glass with blinding splendor.

pencil

The last drawing below, as well as the first one, I made on glass. It happened that I miraculously found two glass shelves in the trash somewhere, took them to the studio and made two drawings with glass pens I brought with me. They are about 20x44 cm. 

Daniela is planning an exhibition to mark the first summer of residencies (four artists, all women), on August 24 and I will be there.
There's a lot more happening and I will keep you posted, the journey is not over yet and Haifa too is starring in this extraordinary year.