Chateau d'Orquevaux Artist Residency

At the chateau waiting for yet another great group dinner!

In 2019 I have been awarded The Denis Diderot [A-i-R] Grant towards a 2 weeks residency in France from 2-16 of May at the Chateau d'Orquevaux. My work has become part of The Chateau d’Orquevaux Permanent Art Collection.

As the residence’s website states: Château d’Orquevaux traces its history to the Denis Diderot family which always had art in mind, and they proudly continue that tradition with the artist’s presence as part of this legacy. In Diderot’s words: "First of all, move me, surprise me, rend my heart; make me tremble, weep, shudder, outrage me! Delight my eyes, afterward, if you can... Whatever the art form, it is better to be extravagant then cold." -Denis Diderot: Artist, Writer, Philosopher and frequent guest of the Château (1713 - 1784)

Diderot's way of seeing art has influenced all art critiques to this day and led the way in the modernization of art by emphasizing the value of the artist as an individual, their passion and creativity. The Château d'Orquevaux Artist Residency encourages personal experience and the creative process. The residency provides an environment for the artist in their quest for artistic growth and personal expression.

Below are images of the beautiful grounds surrounding the chateaux and it’s interior.

I choose to take a studio at the old stables. That meant I had my own cart to roam around with, which I loved speeding with and a fireplace. You can see the smoke coming out of the chimney top, that is me adding logs to make it warm, May was a bit damp there. I brought a few recycled materials with me from London, here you can see the creative mess in my studio and of course beautiful peonies.

I’ve made several works during my two week stay. Here is one, based on the colours code of the chakras. It was the first time I worked this way - straight on to the wall and using nails.

With one of my works I was lucky enough to have a frame done in a shape of a diamond ♦️. It was a brilliantly done job and I could swing it as I made my mark on cloth with a charcoal from an burned out tree.

One of the main works I had in mind to accomplish during the residence is the ‘Vocal Vortex’ - an installation I intended to weave out of yarn 🧶 to represent the finding of ones voice.

First I made the installation inside the studio but the forest near by that I walked almost every day in has made a much better setting for it and with help of Ziggy Attias, director and owner for the chateaux we moved into a new spot.
There my ‘Vocal Vortex’ took a new breather and came alive with my first ever performance. A bit nerve wrecking but exciting…It still there to be used by all life to speak their truth and for the forest to be their witness.

I made great connections and enjoyed performing the most!