Day Two!

I would like to begin by saying that the colors on this stretch of coast are breathtaking! Each morning, I wake up to a vibrant fuchsia sunrise over a calm, reflective sea and bright white birds flying overhead. The grass is deep green with frost on the blades, and at night for the past few days, the moon has been bright, casting soft silvery light everywhere....

There's an ivory crescent
swinging low in the sky
by which the frost on
sleeping blades shimmers.....

Now to begin with the adventures of yesterday:

The Sunday of each residency is marked by a ceremony for the graduating class. In the morning, I watch artists make and share music, drawings, paintings and photography. We are invited to participate in their artistic processes in the form of group activities. These are the last group of final presentations before graduation. At 2pm, graduation commences. Each graduate is introduced in a beautiful, personal statement made by their advisers. I have a hard time holding in my emotion as each graduate thanks their families and advisers for their profound journey through this place.

The evening's presentation is given by visual artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken. I am immediately drawn to his way of speaking and his vibrant energy. He seems a deeply caring man, with a flare for people and community, which is clearly evident in his work. He describes his artwork as such: "I create my art to heal the hearts and souls of people/communities by evoking a positive spirit." Ta-coumba presents a collection of community artworks that spans a career of over thirty years. Each work has been, in some way transformative for himself and/or the people he serves through his art. It is immediately apparent that Ta-coumba has been fearless in trying new ways of working, and the amount of various materials, locations and collaborations that have come out of that fearlessness is amazing. He says, "Nothing beats a failure, but a try!" And I am inspired to be just as fearless. When asked how and why he makes so much art, he says, "When art threatens me, I get in its face." I love that. In looking at his paintings and sculptures, there is an intricate style about them that makes you keep looking back again and again, to see what you may have missed looking at it the first time. His use of both color and black and white seems intuitive, with a natural visual and energetic flow that is invigorating. I am grateful to have met this person, and experienced his work! I feel I have already learned so much from just a few hours with him, so I am SUPER excited for his workshop today!

~Cara