Today we had an in-process studio tour with all of the artists at the residency. There are four houses here, each with its own dedicated studio space. It was an inspiring day of creative connection.
We began near the train station at House 1, visiting Coco, Chloe Jaigqi, and Mela—painters, sculptures and performance artists from Belgium, Italy, and Chicago. Their studios were filled with drawings, toys, plaster, textures, and color, and a fun sense of exploration in their work. At House 3, Sunday and Isabella from Australia showed mixed media pieces that were bold, colorful, and full of experimentation. In House 2, we saw Juan’s beautiful, detailed paintings. Bea and Rita shared their work in progress and where they are in their process researching what they’re working toward and Pranggnarp who is experimenting with food and drawing and installation.
Finally, we returned to our house, with Kenna, a painter; Clementine, a photographer and forager also working with electronic ambient sound; and Amir, who just moved into his own space and is using that shift as part of his current work.
Some days here are fluid; others are uncertain. But still, we show up.
It’s tempting to only present work that’s polished or near completion—but that’s not the point. This tour wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence.
It’s about being with your ideas, even when they’re messy, half-formed, or unresolved. To say, “This is where I am right now” takes courage. That honesty creates space for something real.
We’re all experimenting—trying new techniques, testing unfamiliar things, and letting go of what doesn’t resonate. Some things work. Others don’t. But none of it is wasted. This is the work in progress, and it’s where real growth lives.
In a space like this, it’s easy to compare yourself to others—there’s so much talent. But the real challenge, and the real reward, is staying grounded in your own voice, moving at your own pace, and trusting where your work is going.
Because maybe the difference between dreaming of being an artist and actually being one is simply showing up.