I had many false starts trying to figure out how to explain, or at very least, describe this past week. I was at an Artist Collaboration that felt like an adult art camp. Saying it like that falls flat. How do you, with words, convey a spark of childlike joy that was fanned into a bonfire?
Let’s start with the basics; there are a few “Artist Collabs” around the world. I heard there’s one in France that’s similar; one in Emma - Saskatchewan, Canada; Frogwood (outside of Portland); New Zealand (which may not happen again for a couple of years) and then, the one I was invited to, in Kona.
Tai Lake and his amazing family have a beautiful piece of property above Kona in Holualoa. It might be three acres (I’m not sure) but it’s large enough to have areas big enough to accommodate the different modalities of creation and their tools. There’s the “Tiny Shiny” area (the jewelers), the Forge (how cool IS it to watch metal being heated and hammered at?), the glass area, wood shop (and all THOSE power tools) and the Fine Art area which also included the textile people. All totaled there were 40 of us.
For almost an entire week we commiserated on projects, shared techniques and created some AMAZING pieces of art. (I reposted a reel on Instagram that showcased some of them.)
Each morning I was greeting by the sounds of machines whirring and sanding, hammering of metal, snippets of music that different areas had playing, laughter and chatter.
During the days we were fed breakfast, lunch and dinner. Time to sit with each other, bond over ideas and banter about life and art. Everyone was so forthcoming with their expertise. The information was so free flowing that, even though I ended up writing notes at the end of each evening, I still missed a lot.
It’s the feeling of the week that stays with me. The wonderful people I met. It’s a camaraderie that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. The excitement had my heart beating, not fast but with force! The strength of it pushing my juices with such drive that my senses were acutely activated.
I am usually alone in my studio and I love it. I listen to music and try to tap into that stream of consciousness where creativity resides.
This was the polar opposite of that and I fell in love with that too.
It was truly an experience that has changed me as an artist . . . . as a human.
