This line: “the long winged arrows of thought”
and this phrase: “heroic clutter”
and this: ”there are stories in the air as thick as birds.”
all come from the book Mink River by Brian Doyle. I wrote them down while reading so that I could come back to those thoughts while working.
I’m in Japan, having just finished a four week residency. Studio:Kura has three houses with studios in Itoshima. We were in House One. There were five of us: Ruby Silvious, Lucy Zhang, Nancy Yoshii, Caroline Kampfraath and myself. Each day began with a walk through the surrounding rice and vegetable fields. Then several hours of drawing or stitching in the studio. Lunch with fellow artists, another hour or two of work, then sunset at the beach. Ruby took on the role of chef each night, I was sous chef. Every so often we would go to the grocery store a couple of train stops away, or do some sightseeing with some local friendly guides. Other than those occasions we were all working artists.
My studio with the beginning of the paper scroll. The final scroll measures about 15 feet.
The isolation gave me the perfect opportunity to practice working without forethought in an environment that challenged my usual habits. Nothing was familiar. I felt detached, wandering. I spent the time not thinking about the day to day, not planning, not trying. My focus was on responding to what was around me. I was actively engaged in the process. I let fleeting images become concrete. I abandoned the sewing machine that was available to concentrate more fully on a paper scroll. In the end I could have packed all the supplies I needed in a small case. Needle, thread, some bits of fabric, a pen, and a paper scroll.
The bird at the top of the boulder was there every night during the sunset. Every so often he spoke to me.
The residency ended with a gallery show. This video shows the works of four of the five artists that lived in the same building. We had a great turnout.
I’m still in Japan, now touring Dasaifu and Fukuoka and the surrounding towns. The shrines, the food, the clothing, the graphic design aesthetic all pile up in my mind. I eat fish and rice. Sleep with new dreams. The stories in the air are as thick as birds.
