First I'd like to thank again Grant and Peggy from Colorado Art Ranch, who brought us together for this residency. Thank you for selecting us, for your generousity and laughter. Jim as well, previous resident and current board member, for the stories he shared with us.
I already mentioned in my previous post some the key characters: my fellow artists Tama and Necole, and Betsy and Geoff, who live on the rach. Huge part what made the residency great are the people I met there and hope to see again.
In the field: Necole with Dusty bucket and Tama with her kite.
Necole's masterpiece—the best pumpkin pie I ever had. Period.
Some of the best times I had with fellow artists were around the kitchen table, talking away about art, life, food and other random topics. Favorite meals for everyone it seems like it was breakfast. Culinary skills galore and coffee, always coffee. Dinners would get out of hand (see below). Often conversations would continue in the living room where each one of us had our usual spot. We formed a triangle as Necole would call it, a very strong composition indeed.
Yes, we are making photograms for dinner. N's ceramic pieces are on the right.
Hayden granary and coffeeshop.
I must not fail to mention other people we met in the local community specifically Tammie and her husband Patrick who own an amazing local coffeeshop situated in Hayden granary. We visited their ranch few of times. My fellow artists got to ride horses and I got sit on a horse for a first time in my life! Thank you both for having us over for dinner and sharing your stories.
Left to right: Necole on Chance, Tammie on Mesa and Tama on Dusty.
View nearby Tammie and Patrick's ranch.
Jorgy hurring me on.
ANIMALS
I enjoyed company of animals a plenty, especially Jorgy, the protector husky would accompany me often to my daily pilgrimage to my "studio" at the river. I miss her so. She would always run ahead and then turn to check on me, as she was saying c'mon catch up, I gotta to go swimming! Oh there were three resident cats, occasional mouse and garden snakes too.
I would be amiss if I didn't mention cattle, whose presence is huge in the region and on the ranch (as part of it is leased).
However, the "wild life", was present in abundance to be heard and watched. Sandhill cranes, bald eagles, beavers, elk just to name a few. Elk are elusive, coming out at dusk, their bugling heard from far away—beautiful, but a haunting sound. I miss it all very much, the sounds, but also silence as well.
Very close encounter..
Until the next time:
Stayed tuned for Part 3: The Art Process or Go Bigger or Go Home.