Week One: Residency at Beatrice Wood Center

I have been in Ojai, CA, working at my residency for exactly one week today at the Beatrice Wood Center. What is a residency? What happens? What do you do? I have been asked these questions by many people, so I am going to blog my process on a weekly basis in hopes of helping others understand what happens during a residency and the validity in getting out of our comfort zones and challenging ourselves. This is my experience and other residencies may be different.

Day 1: Excitement!

I have the key to the Beatrice Wood Studio for the next month. Entering the studio on my first day bringing flowers to show gratitude for this opportunity.

My first three days at the Center were solely alone. Okay, you are never alone in the studio, as Beatrice Wood’s presence is all around you.  This is for real!

This is Beatrice Wood’s desk and the tools that I am using to create work.

The studio has been left, as Beatrice Wood left it.

Beatrice Wood’s wheel overlooking Happy Valley remains idle with her last pots surrounding it, which remains an inspiration to all who visit or get the privilege to work in her studio.

This is a living museum!

As one approaches the Beatrice Wood Center, you can feel there is a slower more intentional practice of life here.

Every day when I drive up the mountain, I feel gratitude and a shift physically, mentally, and spiritually. It is a sacred place to create work.

Phew!  Then, it got serious, real quick… My first week was hard, very hard!  No, none of this had to do with the Beatrice Wood Center but had everything to do with the fact that I had no concept of quiet and working solely with clay.  I missed Rex (my husband), my family, friends, and Alaska! I missed my comfort zone! My comfort zone became apocalyptic and all that I knew was gone. 

I played music to try and drown out the quiet. I began working with clay on projects that I had previously been creating to try and find someplace to ground myself to do the work that I had carved out the time to come and do. After five days in the studio from about 9–5 pm, I finally realized that I needed to give myself oxygen if I hoped to make it through this internship. I took Saturday afternoon to bond with Beatrice Wood’s extensive library and seek inspiration. I also spent time in the museum, gallery, and shop acquainting myself with my new space for the next three weeks.

There are two walls of art books that Beatrice Wood collected, plus a center island with books on both sides!!!! This is an art library!!!

Permanent collection and some of Beatrice Wood’s art for sale.