When I moved to Whidbey Island several months ago, I had no idea that creating a studio from a garage would involve more than the sum of the tasks required to produce a workable space. My plans for the studio were simple: paint the garage walls, install good lighting and put in a garage door composed of windows and voila! A studio.
But I discovered that when I moved my studio from one state to another, I did more than shift my workspace, tools and materials. I also removed the root system within which my studio existed. All my artist friends, galleries, local museums and fellow artist studios nourished the life of what made my studio a creative, productive and inspiring space.
Social media just doesn’t cut it. Nothing can replace the deep sense of communion that occurs when two people look at a piece of art work together, or share a pot of tea.
So how to grow new roots? I’ve been lucky. The process of starting new networks took place as a consequence of transition. After moving, I had to travel back to Davis, both for work and family reasons. Each time I returned, I scheduled time with at least 2-3 artist friends. Before I moved, my times with other artist friends seemed a bit hurried, with the sense that each of us had many miles to go before we slept. Now, when I come back, each meeting is a reunion; a place to talk about ideas, art books and current shows. Good food and drink and sharing words satisfy a need so deep within me, I didn’t know it was there. Moving increased the value of these meetings for me, and I think, for my friends as well.
My roots here in Washington have begun to grow, fed by the love from these conversations. They grow also as I seek to create an artist community on the island. I have names and I’m hoping for the time to call some of these artists and invite them to tea at the little cafe in the woods.
Finally, there’s nothing like spending time in the studio to establish my own practice. As I get to know my new space and tinker with it, I toss things that I no longer need and pin up images that will perhaps guide me in a new direction. Stay tuned.