Altars & Artists: Osiris Zuñiga, Jake Bamford, Hsiaochi Chang, Amanda Hudson, Liu Yen Cheng, & Danny Getzoff
Interview 06: reflecting on the Fall Into Focus Residency at Arteles Creative Center
Welcome to Altars & Artists, a monthly interview series divining the poetry of artists' spaces. Inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s book "The Poetics of Space" and Virginia Woolf’s extended essay "A Room of One’s Own", Altars & Artists delves into the creative spaces of contemporary artists to reveal the intimate worlds they operate within.
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Please welcome our November Altars & Artists guests
Recently I went to Finland for my first residency. While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet and work alongside other writers and artists from around the world. Each of them inspired me greatly, their unique perspectives on craft and artistry illuminated by the soft autumn sun and infused into their practice. It is my pleasure to share their wisdom with you now.
Joining us today, is:
Osiris Zuñiga, an artist based in Los Angeles. She was born in Cali, Colombia, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Zuñiga studied sculpture at Pratt Institute and visual arts at SUNY Purchase. She creates artwork using sculpture, mixed media, and video/installation techniques. Her art has been featured in several notable publications, including Forbes, Galerie Magazine, California Home Design, and Design News Now.
Recently, she participated in an exclusive artist residency in Finland. Prior to that, she spent a summer at the Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency as a fellowship recipient. Zuñiga has also been nominated for the Star of Design award in the artist category by the Pacific Design Center
Jake Bamford, a one-man creative army, making games, illustrations, stories, voiceovers, films and many more. Blending entertainment and education, his mission is to engage players, readers and viewers in something meaningful that will enrich their lives and improve the world. His favourite stories are those with a balance of whimsical fantasy and thought-provoking philosophy - because why shouldn't we explore the challenges and joys of life with haughty elves or disgruntled aliens?
Portfolio | Facebook | Instagram | Store
Hsiaochi Chang, a picture book artist currently based in Taipei, Taiwan. After illustrating published books for other writers, she started to author her own books. Her production of picture books is whimsical and playful. She is often inspired by the humorous situations she encounters in daily life. What drives her to create is the desire to play and express emotions. And, she loves black tea lattes.
Amanda Hudson, a mixed media artist and printmaker who lives just north of New Orleans, Louisiana. Elanora is a spirit, and she is Amanda’s muse. Each of Amanda’s paintings portrays different scenes of Elanora’s life through the centuries.
Her paintings are bold, vibrant and big, and each painting holds many parts of the story with hidden messages and nuances. There are intricate details and techniques used to create an interesting depth and a sense of movement and flow. The message from Amanda’s paintings is, that where we are right now is far from being the only space we’ll hold.
Liu Yen Cheng (Leooo). The core philosophy of Leooo’s artistic practice centres on the ideas that "nobody has no body" and "everything is material." It explores themes of existence, nihilism, chaos, sustainability, reality, and illusion over the long term. The creation process is rooted in the concept that as long as people are alive, they have a body, and with a body comes movement.
Danny Getzoff, a Los Angeles-based writer, performer, activist, and non-profit sector worker. On two blog sites, he’s published 90 essays about experiencing (mostly) Red-State America by bicycle, riding 10,000 miles over 3 solo treks across the continental USA. (A compilation of these is a burgeoning memoir, Handlebar Confessional). His first published fiction piece appears in 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42, award-winner in the “Fight” chapter. As a playwright, he’s been called “an unmistakable talent” by LA Weekly and that his “writing grapples with the eternal midnight of the soul” (Backstage West). His first novel, Nicknames for Harold, is upcoming.
Handlebar Confessional | Blog | Instagram
Thank you for tuning in to this special issue of Altars & Artists—grab your favourite hot drink, nestle into a chair, and enjoy our final instalment for the year <3
Questions & Curiosities
Osiris Zuniga
What drove you to apply for the Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
OZ: I had been yearning for a residency, the last one I attended was almost 10 years ago. I saw that Arteles was in Finland, I looked at their Instagram page and they had posted a picture of an Amanita mushroom, at that time I was painting amanita mushrooms in a painting and thought that was a sign to apply.
How have the new spaces you’ve worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
OZ: I am heavily inspired by my surroundings. Going on walks in the forest gave me so many ideas. I started painting mushrooms and including them in all other media. Being around other artists while making work is also something I haven't done in a while. It was a great feeling to have the artists engage with my paintings and tell me their thoughts on them.
At home, I turned my living room into a studio space and was working by myself all day. No one really saw what I was working on unless I posted images on social media. I like to work alone and not have anyone see what I am working on until it is finished. I realized I missed being in a studio surrounded by other artists.
What will you miss most when you leave?
OZ: I will miss the forest the most. I love nature. Back home I go hiking in the mountains and unwind at the beach. Nature is my church. The forest had great energy, I felt the mushrooms were trying to communicate with me, it was wild!!! I felt a presence bigger than my own there, it was magical. Every time I went for a walk in the forest I thanked the universe.
Jake Bamford
What drove you to apply for the Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
I first saw the callout for submissions to the Fall Into Focus Arteles Residency on one of the writing Facebook groups I’m in (SCBWI West Authors - Society of Children’s Books, Writers, and Illustrators Western Australia). I’d never done a long-term writing/artists residency before, and while Finland seemed far away, I had a brother and sister-in-law living there at the time, so this seemed like a good excuse to pop over there to visit (they had a baby on the way too!) and try my first residency. Life is hectic back in Perth for me, with lots of commitments on all sides, and so I looked at the residency opportunity and thought that running off to the Nordic countryside for a month might be just the breath of fresh air my brain needs to finish some projects, start some new ones I’d been intending to for a while, and maybe do a little soul-searching.
How have the new spaces you’ve worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
A lot of my lifestyle and work back in Australia allows me to spend time in nature - I often work as a teacher and educational tour guide for nature spaces and primary/secondary biology lessons. While I love this work, it rarely gives me the time to stop and enjoy nature in the ways those mindfulness guides are always telling us to. Choosing to attend this residency and immerse myself in the Finnish countryside was a conscious decision to spend time in nature for only one purpose and person - me. And it did wonders. It gave me the space and time to think, to create, and to find a way forward with my hectic, but fun life.
Taking time to enjoy the solitude in turn allowed me to find more value and enjoyment from other aspects of life. While the differences between my workspace at Arteles and back home are minimal (I live next to a beautiful lake in Perth), I feel like, having had the time by myself at the Arteles residency, I’m now more able to find more value from the life I lead back home.
What will you miss most when you leave?
I spent a good amount of time during and after the residency reflecting on my experiences to ensure I learnt as much as I could from it. Perhaps I miss the freedom of being able to write for 4-6 hours every day or being able to choose whatever I want to do each day because I have very few commitments, but by the end of the residency, I realised that what I learnt most from the experience was a greater appreciation for the life I lead back home, and how I can better spend my time to both achieve the creative goals I have while maintaining better mental health for myself and those around me.
Short answer; I’ll miss the snow. Australia is usually hot, humid, or dry. I won’t miss trying to drive in snow though…
Hsiaochi Chang
What drove you to apply for the Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
I was very interested in the silence residency program that Arteles provide during the winter months. But since my exhibition at Pyhäjoki Library was arranged for October, it was more practical to apply for the fall program.
How have the new spaces you’ve worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
I always want places to run away to. The natural environment surrounding Arteles provides me with a beautiful and safe place to escape. I feel welcomed by the surroundings every time I go out for a walk. That is something precious to me.
What will you miss most when you leave?
Woods, the natural environment with far fewer humans, and artists from different fields working separately, but together.
Amanda Hudson
What drove you to apply for the Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
When I applied for the Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles, I was in desperate need of quiet and calm. My life is very hectic at home running two businesses and I felt I had no space for uninterrupted creative time at all! I honestly felt like I was completely losing myself to serving the needs of everyone around me.
How have the new spaces you’ve worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
Upon arrival at Arteles, I was escorted to what would be my living quarters/ creative space for the month of November. It was just perfect for what I needed. Although I have a very sizable, beautiful studio at home, the one thing missing is the ability to be completely alone for an extended period of time. The two huge windows in my Arteles room overlooked the lake and the forest and immediately set in a sense of peace and quiet. Most days I would go into the forest and just enjoy the beautiful nature for a while and then go back to my room and paint for hours on end. Some days I would realize that I had been painting for 8 hours straight. It was pure heaven.
What will you miss most when you leave?
By the end of my residency, I had completed 14 pieces and each of them included something pertaining to the nature of Finland or something to do with the Arteles grounds. These pieces are so special and sacred to me, that I decided they were just for me and that selling them would be out of the question. They will be a constant reminder of the lovely respite I received during my month-long residency at Arteles.
Liu Yen Cheng (Leooo)
What drove you to apply for Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
I was in an uncertain phase, feeling surrounded by stagnation, and sought a new environment to stimulate or untangle this state. Additionally, for my project “Loser Etudes”, I was looking for materials and inspiration. Finland, being quite different from Taiwan, seemed like a place that could offer a unique experience. I hoped this residency would bring fresh perspectives.
How have the new spaces you've worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
I thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of life at the residency, free from distractions. It felt like a minimalist existence. I discovered more ways to let go, to be empty, and to find calm. Personally, I loved being in a vast, open space while simultaneously experiencing profound tranquillity—a stark contrast to my usual creative environment.
What will you miss most when you leave?
There isn’t one thing I’ll miss most, but there are many I’ll miss: the serene and expansive outdoor spaces, the forest lichen, the sauna, the campfires, and the honest conversations shared among artists.
Danny Getzoff
What drove you to apply for Fall Into Focus residency at Arteles?
First and foremost, I have for the past several years been seeking opportunities where I can focus on being creative without the responsibilities, distractions, and general buzz of everyday life. My paid work is (non-creative) writing, so I am consistently challenged to carve out enough time to progress with my creative projects. As someone with ADHD, focus is a particular challenge for me, but I have found that I am really able to minimize distraction (both in my brain and in my environment) in a residency setting. Truly, my fear of squandering an opportunity that I’ve been granted significantly helps with productivity. I was attracted to Arteles specifically because of its remoteness, its distance, its foreignness really. I didn’t know anything about Finland; it just felt right. I wanted an experience vastly different from my usual environment in Los Angeles, and I’d never visited any Nordic countries. I was also interested in witnessing how I would respond, be affected by, be inspired by a communal setting, living and working in the presence of an international group of artists; all of my previous residencies were, essentially, in complete solitude, except a few short hours on a weekly basis.
How have the new spaces you've worked in and Arteles’ surrounding natural environment shaped your artistic practice over the past month? How does the space and environment differ from your creative space back home?
There is a mythic quality to the natural landscape surrounding Arteles. During my first solo walk through the forest there, I understood, for the first time in my life, the genesis of fairy tales, as goofily simplistic and obvious as that may sound. Every element—the trees, the moss and lichen, rocks, fungi, unseen animals—animates the environment. Everything seems like its own creature with magical powers and a story. I can’t say how specifically the landscape inspired the work I was doing on my novel, but the practice of stillness, quietude, solitude, and the environment of solidarity amongst our group definitely did. Before coming to Finland, I craved the cold, darkness, and snow that is directly opposite of the environment of Los Angeles. I spent way more time experiencing unadulterated awe than I do in my native habitat, awe-worthy in its own ways, for sure. (But it’s my world, so I’m kinda inured to it.) The window in my room/workspace so perfectly captured the environment I was steeped in—whether it was the brilliant and unique light, the blackness at 5 pm (aka 17:00!), the snow, wind, rain. It was my TV for a month, and I binged that show.
What will you miss most when you leave?
I miss being cold and then warming up, most specifically the extraordinary challenge of intense heat in the sauna and jumping in a freezing cold lake. I miss the snow and the darkness, and the elusive yellow sunlight, different from any I’ve ever witnessed. I miss my fellow residents and the camaraderie. I miss the quiet and the stillness.
The Extended Cut
What advice would you like to give to Ruminations’ readers?
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