It has been a couple of months since I was at Studio Faire. In that time, I have been thinking about how to convey what has made it important to me each time that I have visited. I am a three-time resident. I have enjoyed the walks by the river, the town, the lovely fellow artists, the pets, the remarkable company of owner/artists Colin and Julia…
In the center of all of this is identity. The experience of leaving one’s personal environment and entering new territory opens the mind and allows light in. In that light we engage in our work, be it a specific project or experimentation and exploration. Whatever the task and the outcome it is influenced by the ability to unwind and understand that as artists we are so lucky to be supported enough to feel the gates open.
In my everyday life I have often felt the challenge of time, of being the artist, of weaving through the mire in search of occasional clarity. Studio Faire is where the planets align and the universe feels accessible, where that clarity is possible, and actually where things matter less. It is the ease that speaks loudest and everything else falls into place.
I am so thankful to Julia and Colin for their ability to have made this their creative environment through grit and hard work, and to have applied their strengths in order to share with others what they do. This is what makes Studio Faire different from other residencies. There is an ongoing river of ideas and personal touches, sacrifice and generosity…all with a huge amount of humor and good spirit. The ripple effect follows us home and turns up in unforeseeable directions. I write this as an official Studio Faire veteran, and I possess a nugget of contentment and gratitude that I have a place that is rich in the sustenance that we all desire as creative people.
Deborah Whitney
www.deborahwhitney.com
Image top: Deborah Whitney by Colin Usher at Studio Faire
Image bottom: Deborah Whitney, Under the Big Top