Whether an artist is painting, sketching, sculpting, dabbling in mixed media or writing a best-seller, the comfort level of the space in which they work will determine the end result. Some may require serene, scenic spaces to work their magic, while others function well in noisy, chaotic spaces.
For visual artists who work better in placid environments, an opportunity to become an artist in residence at the secluded Bridge Cabin in the picturesque hills of Paramin is on the horizon.
Artist GA Gardner, who designed and built the cabin to be used as a private getaway for himself, told Sunday Newsday he has found so much inspiration in that space, that he decided to open it up to fellow visual artists to work on their master pieces. Gardner fully understands what an opportunity like this could mean to an artist, as he too was once an artist in residence.
[caption id="attachment_1085704" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Bridge Cabin is set against a backdrop of trees in Paramin, and overlooks the Caribbean Sea. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
"I did a residency in Shanghai, China and in the US Virgin Islands. It was a wonderful experience," especially the Shanghai experience which exposed him to the many facets of the Chinese culture.
To date, Gardner's art has been exhibited at various museums and galleries in the US, Asia, and the Caribbean including the James E Lewis Museum of Art; Paterson Museum, New Jersey; Nanjing College of Art, China; Corridor Gallery, New York; Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, St Croix; Bergen Museum, New Jersey and Morton Fine Art, DC. And although he has done work using different types of media, he has found himself gravitating to a more traditional medium of art, creating mixed-media collages and mixed-media paintings that explore cultural identity.
“We are not reinventing the wheel here by opening this space for artists in residence; we’re just following what has been happening around the world.
“This opportunity is open to all artists – from emerging to senior artists," excluding artists whose work involve the use of harmful toxins.
“This is an eco-friendly space and we want the environment to remain natural, not filled with toxic components. So artists who do glass blowing, for example, will not be considered.”
He said selected artists will stay at the cabin anywhere between one and three months.
"They will have a space and freedom to create – day or night – whenever they feel like accessing the space. The length of time they stay will be determined by the level of their work. The programmes will be tailored to meet the unique ability of each artist.”
Accessed only through the steep hills that are synonymous with Paramin, the wooden cabin is located in a private, gated community. It has two levels of open-floor spaces that overlook the Caribbean Sea and soothing forest views from other angles. It is fitted with all necessary amenities and is close to hiking and nature trails. Gardner said successful artists in residence will use the lower level to work and the up
