Japan Residency

I’ve had a love for Japan since I was a teen. This residency is something I never thought would happen. For two month I will be living in Japan, with a goal of completing a series for a shared exhibition with the other artists. I’ll be in Takeo, Japan in May and Itoshima, Japan in June. I plan to do a wall sculpture/painting series that explores the universal flaws (greed, hatred, gluttony, etc.) that is woven into our human spirit, and how these flaws are quickly unraveling our connection to nature. Another added layer to my art will be how food has helped me heal my body and my PCOS. And how our food system is corrupt and failing us. Using air dry clay, resin, acrylics, and gouache,  I’ll craft ornate framed pieces that express our disconnection through a fantasy lens. These frames will act as a portal into a different realm. Some works will be sculpted and others painted. Taking inspiration from my bike rides into the studio and any opportunity I have to travel, inside and out of the cities I will be living in.

Western civilization has grown increasingly disconnected from the rhythms of the earth. I wish to immerse myself in a culture different from my own, to see a possible difference. I feel the town’s surrounding natural beauty and deep cultural heritage will serve as a great guide as I explore how our flaws have distanced us from nature across all cultures. I imagine my work blooming and being inspired by the beautiful mountains, mossy shrines, and the slow living that I hope this residency embodies.

Ultimately, this project is about reconnection: to nature and ourselves. I’m hoping to leave this residency not only with a body of artwork, but with a renewed sense of what it means to belong to the earth.

I appreciate you even taking the time to read this and even considering donating. My hopes it be able to bring what I’ve learned and experienced back to my community. Whether or not it’s what teach in my classroom or just to help encourage other artist to apply for residencies out of the country. I want this residency to not only help me grow but to aid others in following their dreams.