A Trip To The Countryside
Karin Bos at Fundación Valparaiso, Spain
Recently I received a call from Fundacion Valparaiso in Mojacar: my husband and I were invited to work in Spain for the month of February in 2009. We both had applied separately and were very happy that we were accepted together.
In the summer of 2007 I sent my application to the foundation planning to make paintings and drawings for my 'A trip to the countryside' series. The Netherlands are so packed with infrastructure that nature is almost extinct. Therefore I hoped to find some rough landscapes in the South of Spain which I could use for my project. Part of this ongoing series which travels from venue to venue, growing and changing, is documented in a catalogue. The book launch and accompanying exhibition will take place at artists initiative Meneer de Wit in Amsterdam the Netherlands on March 20, 21, and 22 in 2009 (for more information visit www.karinbos.info).
My travel companion Erik Wuthrich is a sculptor who uses ceramic tiles in his work, so he was eager to visit Andalusia for its ceramics. The base of the sculpture he planned to make in Mojacar, he had already prepared in Amsterdam. He did this because he works with polyester and thought the other artists might be bothered by the smell. Our studio was remote from the others, so it wouldn't have been a problem, but the other studios are located next to each other. For the skin of the piece he made some studies in the Mojacar studio and finally he used glazed tiles which he bought in Vera, near Mojacar. To see the result: www.erikwuthrich.nl.
We both had an amazing time and a very productive stay at Valparaiso. Fundacion Valparaiso is founded by Paul and Beatrice Beckett. It is located in the village of Mojacar, near the coast, in the province of Almaria. It can host up to 8 artists ranging from musicians, writers, visual artists, etc. There are 8 large bedrooms and 4 studios. My husband and I shared a studio, but the other artists did not. The 4 studios are equipped with one easel each and 1 studio contains an etching press. It is wise to bring your own tools and materials for your planned project, otherwise it will cost you a lot of time to find and buy it in Almeria. Also bring your own laptop and printer. There is no internet access at Valparaiso for the artists, so if you want to check your e-mail, be prepared for a 30 minute walk uphill to the library of the village. For me it was actually very nice not to be on line as much as I usually am.
The surroundings are beautiful, it's a rough and dry landscape, almost desert like. The view from our bedroom window was a pyramid shaped mountain. There are several natural parks in the near vicinity, which prevents the coast to get spoiled by the ugly no nonsense architecture of hotels. Unfortunately such architecture can already be found in Mojacar too.
We came to Spain by car because we wanted to bring all the materials and tools for our projects and be able to make large art works, but the other artists all took a plane. If you come by plane, it is very handy to rent a car during your stay. Every evening the artists gather at 8 pm for a drink and dinner together in the main living room. This gathering is the only obligatory thing at Valparaiso. There is a large garden with a lot of almond trees and most days the vegetables at dinner are home-grown. All meals are provided by the foundation, and they even have a laundry service. All to make sure that the artists are able to focus on their work, and I have to say, it works. I got several oil paintings and watercolors done for my A trip to the countryside series and I took a lot of pictures during hiking trips (well, mostly by car I have to confess) which I can use for future art works. It was a pleasure not to have television in my room, but to have access to a large library instead. Also I really enjoyed reading the novels of a fellow artist-in-resident and be able to talk to her about it at dinner.
Once the board came by for a studio visit, and I made a portrait painting for the foundation on request, but that is not obligatory. At Valparaiso the language spoken is English, but for other conversation it helps to know some Spanish or at least bring a dictionary and make an effort. Residencies are always for one month only and there is no fee. Every year in March and August Valparaiso is closed. In March for maintenance and in August simple because it is too hot to do anything. Even 'Mañana' won't work then.
karinbos@xs4all.nl
www.karinbos.info
