I had the good fortune to spend the month of December at the
Vermont Studio Center, a residency for writers and artists. Every month, a new
group of about 50 artists and writers take over the campus and make some
incredible art.
We each have our own bedroom and studio space and we share all
of our meals together at the Red Mill. I must say—it felt a bit like being back
in college, especially considering my New England alma mater!
The weather was
perfectly wintry, with straight snow the first two weeks. There’s nothing like
the silence of snow draping the land. My studio looked out onto the Gihon River
so I could watch the chunks of ice float down the river whenever I need
inspiration. Certainly a far cry from my tropical world back home!
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| My studio |
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| View from my studio |
I loved getting to know my fellow artists and writers.
I connected with several fantastic writers, many of whom are also working on
family-related projects. It’s been intriguing getting to know the visual
artists and picking their brains about the work they make and the thought
process behind it.
Many times, I feel like they’re speaking a whole different—and
fascinating—language. This time has made me connect further with myself as a
writer. Not only have I had so much time to devote to my practice and connect
with other writers, but being surrounded by visual art and visual artists makes
me understand deeply that words are my craft. Still, it has been incredibly
inspiring to spend the last month with people who spend their life in the
pursuit of truth through art.
I can now say in earnest that I’m working on a memoir. It’s something I’ve never done before and the learning curve is huge, but it feels good to chip away at it every day, learning by way of the process. This experience has been a creative exchange, one that
has invigorated me as a writer and an artist.
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| winter solstice |
Happy New Year!!
