The winter of 2022, I was fortunate to attend the Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency in Orquevaux, France. This was my first residency, and

I had no idea what to expect. My experience was completely transformational, moving, and inspiring. I will never forget it. Everything about the residency was perfect: the romantic well-worn chateau, the gourmet food, the cave a vin, the cold-cold stables studios, the dark snowy evenings. My fellow residents were wildly talented, sensitive, kind, and respectful humans. We still support and communicate with each other.

I am very grateful to know them all. 

 

Being a sculptor, I knew I couldn’t bring my usual tools or materials to the chateau. I had been thinking about “Impermanence” for a while and the realization that making a piece of art was sometimes more important than the final piece. I wanted to experience “making” without the burden of having an object to deal with after the process was over. I wanted to make something out of natural materials and then give it back to the land when

it was complete. 

 

This residency was the first of three where I brought only small hand tools, white glue, hemp twine, and toothpicks to use as fasteners. I spent several days gathering branches from the chateau’s grounds to build a large, arching structure. On the final day, I dismantled it and took it out to the edge of the forest. I left it there while I mourned, cried, and celebrated the experience.  

 

"...You spent so much time explaining yourself, your work, to others -

what it meant, what you were trying to accomplish, why you were trying

to accomplish it, why you had chosen the colors and subject matter and materials and application and technique that you had - that it was a relief to simply be with another person to whom you didn't have to explain anything..." 

- Hanya Yanagihara, A little life | page 34

 

Chateau d’Orquevaux Mission Statement

Our mission is to create an international environment where all artists are welcome. A safe place to explore, contemplate and share ideas. A place without judgement, where all artists are free of explaining themselves.

We aim to empower the creative spirit in its many forms, which in the process, has created a vibrant artistic community. 

 

The Chateau d'Orquevaux Artist Residency emphasizes the human experience and the creative process. The residency creates an environment for the artist in their quest for personal growth and artistic expression--while reinforcing that the end product is not necessarily

the principal focus.

 

We believe life is a creative journey and consider every moment a part

of the process.