I was accepted for an artist’s residency at the Museum of Loss and Renewal. The Museum is run by Tracy Mackenna as an art project designed to stimulate feelings and ideas and encourage participants to share. As a resident, I am proud to be considered a part of the Museum of Loss and Renewal. 

The residency was set against the stunning backdrop of the village of Collemaccia in the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, between Rome and Italy.

While there, I began to appreciate the meditative response to art, taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere as I explored the history and natural beauty of the surrounding hills. As I immersed myself in this experience, I was fortunate enough to reach a still point where I found a space to be quiet yet unaware of the passage of time and to empty my thoughts to clear away stress, while at the same time, be aware of the rythms within the natural world, remaining receptive to the sounds of buzzing insects, the crow of a cockerel, and to appreciate the shade in a place of great heat. While there, my diabetes ran out of control, and I had difficulty seeing. Maybe no longer relying on my vision opened my mind to the possibilities of just being. John Daido Loori, in his book The Zen of Creativity, refers to this as “The Still Point”. This silence gave me a new appreciation of my practice, as I created artwork and applied myself to projects in unexpected directions when I joined in some collaborative efforts.