Last 3 weeks

I’ve now found myself beginning the last 3 weeks of my stay in Pont-Aven. Since I have been here, my time has been occupied by teaching, teaching preparation, traveling, creating a life at “home” and making/exploring new work. All the while, my work has gradually transformed into the art of finding the next job/residency. It is an interesting experience when my artwork has become packaging my artwork. On my way here this evening I stopped by to say hello to the owner of one of my favorite restaurants in town who talked me into staying long enough for a drink, some French conversation, and a discussion of a few images from her art collection. This is what I love about this small town. The people are very warm, the place is small, so everyone is considered, and there is a great appreciation for art. On top off all those things, the weather and light here are different than all the other places I have lived. It is something to consider as I contemplate my remaining weeks of this semester and look forward to the next few weeks  of the holidays in the UK. Until then—and afterward—it will be a return to the marathon of research and application. I’m looking forward to a bit of a break.

Write, Print, Send, Repeat…

Besides teaching and preparing for classes, I’ve been spending the majority of my recent free time applying for jobs and residencies. Since my last post, there has been a bit of a reprieve in that cycle. The school took the students on a study trip to both Paris and Berlin. 15 students, 4 facutly, and 2 significant others. Luckily, we also had a week of free time afterward … and travel was mostly by plane and train this time.

This was my second trip to Berlin, though it was only for a few days. We were in Paris for Halloween—not too many people in costumes and those with costumes weren’t very interesting—and in Berlin just a couple of days before the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. It was an interesting time all around.

Now that I am back in Pont-Aven, we are planning for what happens after the end of the semester. First will be a holiday trip involving a couple of weeks in the UK. Afterward, I am looking into Ethiopia, Rotterdam, Ireland, a return to France and/or the US as possible destinations. At this point plans are still unresolved. I will give an update when I know where the next few months will be spent.

Along with all of the teaching, preparation, travel, and applying I’ve been doing, there has been little time for art. Fortunately, Barchael has created two new projects that will be realized over the next few months. These are beginning as more installments in the Barchael trans-Atlantic artwork series—with Mike in Boulder while I’m in France. I have had a few discussions about possible venues for these works, but once again, I will have to give better updates when the details have been solidified.

From here, I have 1 month left here at PASCA, so I will have to do as much work as I can while I still have time and space to work. I hope to get back to blogging a bit more as well during that time.

a tout a l’heure tout le monde