My First Artist Residency is in France!
I’m so excited to finally share this: I was accepted into my first artist residency… and it’s in France!!
It still feels surreal to say this out loud, but it’s happening - like now! The residency officially begins on Monday :)
I received my acceptance last year, and after the house sold, it pushed me further into the idea of living a little more nomadically for the first half of this year. What started as a big transition has slowly opened new doors to further peek my curiosity and the reality of exploring life as a nomadic artist. I’ve been following this art residency for years, and getting the acceptance email was the best damn confirmation I could have gotten!
Nearly 30 artists and writers attend this residency at a time, coming from all over the world and working across many creative disciplines. The program is centered around a historic French château and the surrounding village, essentially a fairytale setting for artists to live and work together.
One of the most common questions I keep getting from friends and family is: What exactly is an art residency?
The short answer: an artist residency is a program that brings artists together to live and work in a new environment for a period of time. Residencies exist all over, and each one is unique. But the goal is usually the same, which is to provide dedicated space and time for creative work while building community among artists. (so I hear...this is my first time 🙂)
Artist residencies can last anywhere from a few days to several months/years.
Chateau d’Orquevaux
My first residency will be at Château d’Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency, where I’ll be living onsite for three weeks. Residents have dedicated time to focus on their creative practices, but there are also optional community events like life drawing sessions, open studios, writing workshops, bonfire hangouts, shared meals, etc.
I feel like the heart of the experience for me will be connection and creative exploration. Meeting artists who are all exploring their own ideas, mediums, and creative paths while we share a common living space. It all sounds incredible and I can’t wait to see all the work that comes from this magic space!
If you’re curious about what daily life looks like at the residency, I highly recommend following the Chateau d’Orquevaux’s Instagram stories. They often share little glimpses of the daily rhythm of the château and the artists. I’ll be posting along the way as well.
A Week in Paris
Before heading to the countryside for the residency, I decided to spend a week in Paris. Wine not!
Bonjour from the city!
I arrived early in hopes of pushing through jet lag and minimizing the number of days where I’ll need to step away from work once the residency begins. The jet lag is still lingering, but the museums, long walks, and 60-degree days have been right on time.
And the food… well, the food is trying to give me a run for my time and money. Clearly I should not eat and drink everything in sight, but alas…what is a girl that loves snacks to do!
I often enjoy traveling solo. A new friend pointed out that you often meet more people when you’re traveling alone, and I think that’s true. When you’re dining solo or wandering through a neighborhood, conversations happen more naturally. With caution of course, but there’s an openness to traveling solo here and there that I really enjoy.
I dropped into the Musée National Picasso–Paris, which was lovely. The museum houses an incredible collection of works by Pablo Picasso: paintings, sculptures, ceramics, sketches, and pieces that span his entire career. Seeing the evolution of his work and experimentation is incredibly inspiring before heading into a residency dedicated to creative exploration. There’s also pieces from his personal collection. Did you know Picasso and Henri Matisee where buddies? What a duo. Its a great museum and a nice contrast to the Museu Picasso Barcelona - each curation feels complimentary to the city. Picasso Paris feels like a slow poetic stroll, and I remember Picasso Barcelona feeling a bit more theatrical or punchy - in the best way. Both are must sees!
Next on my list are the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Musée d’Orsay! Two museums I’ve been excited to checkout. And of course the architecture cannot go unnoticed. As y’all know, I love historic buildings and places layered with colors and textures. Paris is the first stop on this French, old world itinerary, and she’s showing out!
I’m trying my best to stay present this week. Wandering streets, lingering in cafés, taking in the creative inspiration that Paris museums and the magic that historic cities share. But there’s much anticipation and nerves building as I’m getting ready for the residency!!
The French countryside is calling me (soon) to meet new creative friends and push my artwork, so I’ll say it again because it still feels surreal: I’m here in France, about to spend three weeks surrounded by artists and writers from around the world who are all here for the same reason - to make new creative work!
“First of all, move me, surprise me, rend my heart;
make me tremble, weep, shudder, outrage me!
Delight my eyes, afterwards, if you can...
Whatever the art form, it is better to be extravagant than cold."
- Denis Diderot: Artist, Writer, Philosopher and frequent guest of the Château (1713 - 1784)
(Yes… I’m smiling and maybe crying a little.)
Creative Field Notes
Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing little glimpses of life at the château: studio moments, creative experiments, walks through the village, and conversations with artists from around the world.
If you’d like to follow along as I explore life as a nomadic artist and gather inspiration from this time in France, you can check back here on the Curiously Creative blog and on my Instagram stories
More soon from the French countryside.
Au revoir!