Peter Roux Art

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Baer show, heading home...

I'm sitting in a flat in Reykjavik on Thursday evening, June 27, after a lengthy bus trip from the north. I left Baer late this morning...the first of the five artists-in-residence to leave. Not a badge I wear by choice, but a necessary distinction, as my flight for home leaves tomorrow at 5:25pm, and coordinating all of the bus trips (2-3, depending) to make it to the Keflavik airport from Baer on Friday allowed no room for error. I decided it would be more prudent to leave a day early, plant myself in Reykjavik for the evening, and head out the next day with plenty of extra space-time.

The downside, of course: I left Baer today. Reluctantly. While the prospect of heading home to see the people (and three-legged dog) I miss is an exciting one, I leave behind a place, and group, responsible for an experience unlike any I have had. More about that in a bit.

Last night we showed our work, together, at an Open House/reception...the culmination of the month's art-making efforts. These shows are held at Baer at the end of each residency month, and are well-attended by so many in the area. Last night was no different. Lots of people came to the Art Center to view our work, placed and hung in both our studio spaces as well as the large barn gallery at the end of the building. The work looked great, and this was our first, and only, opportunity to see it all together in one sequence of spaces. now it all travels...to Germany, Denmark, and three separate locations in the US (maybe more!)

We spent the day preparing, and the evening socializing...and then celebrating. We met some great people, both from the area( farm families, fishing families, friends of friends of friends) as well as a few artists-in-residence at other programs nearby (yes, for a sparsely populated part of a sparsely populated country, there are four artist residency programs within an hour or so...none as good as Baer, of course:)).

It was an evening of good conversation, new friendships, and great feedback. A warm collective to end our month. After the throngs departed, the core group- we five artists, the folks who work at Baer, and Steinunn and her husband- all sat down for a few hours of wine and wind-down. I hit the bed at...I don't know...3am? Still light out, of course...

The crew around 11 or 12 midnight:

This morning was melancholic: packing, goodbyes, final look-rounds at the wonder of the area. A heavy morning wind, accompanied by drama-laden skies, gave me quite a stage for goodbyes. As is often the case with meaningful experiences, there is a potent mix of sadness and joy upon leaving it. That's today's theme. I feel it, as I sit in Reykjavik. I know we, the artists and Steinunn, will stay in touch. I will also be seeing Steinunn in October when she comes to Boston for a conference. And, I intend to return: to Iceland, and to Baer. It's now, in some tiny but significant way, in my blood.

I've now caught the artist residency bug.

More, please.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Baer no.4

Baer no.4
2013
oil on canvas
8x8"

edge of the farm- Baer

edge of the farm- Baer
2013
charcoal on paper
30x53"
(plus detail)

show going up, trip winding down...

It's Tuesday, June 25, 10:00 am. As the end of my month-long residency here at Baer draws near, our group of five artists are preparing to hang a show of our work in the gallery area of the studio building. This Open House show takes place tomorrow night from 8-10pm., and Steinunn has listed the event in a local publication, and posted announcements in the area. Each Baer residency group shows their work in this fashion, and these events have caught on quite well, so we are all looking forward to meeting more neighbors, friends and visitors in the area.

With the show looming, I am on a final push to finish a larger-scale drawing in time to hang my work. I'll work on it through today, and cross my fingers that I can get it to a resolved state by tomorrow morning. This may be the one time where the midnight sun, and the sleepless nights it facilitates for me, may work to my advantage. It won't be the first time I've stumbled into my studio at 3am to draw, paint...or just stare at my work.

I cannot begin to describe this experience...so I'm reluctant to even make an attempt. This is the first artist residency I've ever done...but after this, I'm hooked. I want more. I've been warned by the other four resident artists- all veterans of residency grants- that this particular one has set the bar quite high...it's been one of the best each has ever experienced. They've cautioned me to not expect them all to be like this! But, I don't care. The time and space to work, in a unique environment- away from the familiar...that's what I've loved the most. Posh, rustic, large, small...bring them on. I've loved how this experience has changed the way I see, and think...and that can happen when you can focus, uninterrupted with no distractions, on your work. I crave more. My work demands it, I think. Where to next...?

Our final group excursion: We spent Sunday morning on a boat, touring the local coastline. A beautiful day. We were able to see the Art Center and this entire now-familiar-to-us area from a different perspective. The epic nature of the space, and the islands just off the coast, came into clearer view from this vantage point. And, basalt rock formations abound.

We spent some time circling the small, isolated islands off the coast...including Drangey Island, a favorite for birds in the area. So much so that one side (the northern side) is bleached with white- specks of white as well as large swaths of whitewashed rock. The specks are birds...the whitewash: bird poo.

Upon our return swing back to the Harbor in Hofsos, we encountered what we had hoped to see, but can be fleeting to the eye: whales. In the distance at first, then alongside our boat for a brief moment.