What’s Happening in My World

March 14, 2025

New Work & VCCA

I recently returned from a two week fellowship at VCCA (Virginia Center for the Creative Arts) in western Virginia. Below is the painting I created while at my fellowship. It is entitled, “Seed Repository”, acrylic on cradled birch, 30” x 40”. I compiled a short video on the evolution of this painting from start to finish, so if you want to see it, scroll down to the link.

During the first week, 22 of us were in residence: visual artists, writers, poets & composers from the US, Egypt, Thailand, Czech Republic and Canada. The interaction with my fellow creatives was really inspiring, supportive and I look forward to returning one day. I created the above painting during my time there, along with a couple of other small, to-be-completed works.

I created three short videos (with music) of my time at VCCA, including the evolution of Seed Repository from start to finish. You can see them by clicking below:

The first video is a sampling of my first week in residency. I know it’s a little fast…sorry ‘bout that! It is my first attempt at compiling a video so my editing knowledge is sketchy at best. The second shows still shots of the studio visits, prose and poetry readings and presentations by the fellows. And the third is of progress shots during the creation of my work.

****By the way, the links to those videos will bring you to Facebook. If you are NOT a Facebook subscriber, no worries. You will see a box superimposed on the video image, inviting you to join Facebook. Just click on the “X” in the upper right hand corner of the box to close it and you’ll be able to view the video. (You just won’t be able to comment on it). You can also view them on my Instagram page.

I highly recommend this fellowship! If you are thinking of applying and would like to know more about my experience there, don’t hesitate to email me. Their website is www.vcca.com.

Other Residency News

On March 31, I leave for my residency in eastern France, at Chateau d’Orquevaux, located in the Champagne Region near Chaumont, France. Packing for this will be a challenge, because I am traveling solo, there are no porters in the train station and need to be able to handle my bags myself. This means I have to scale waaaay back what I am bringing for materials.

While I was in Virginia, I learned that I was awarded a fully funded 2- week residency at KIRA (Kingsbrae Gardens & Amphitheatre) in St. Andrews, NB, Canada! I can drive to this so I don’t need to scale down like I must for the France residency. This will happen mid-September.