This. Place.
I don't know what to say, I feel a bit overwhelmed. This is my home for the next 20 days. It's everything I could have hoped for and then some - it just all feels so right.
Of the eight artists (including yours truly) scheduled for this iteration of the residency, five actually made it to the base today. The other three got messed up by overlapping ferries so they should get here tomorrow. There are three Brits, one American, one Singaporean, one Mexican, a Kiwi, and myself. Sofie and Victor are the masterminds behind this project - La Wayaka Current - (read more about the incredible project here) and they greeted us at the house when we all arrived.
The site is a dream. The main house (white building) is an old converted farmhouse four stories tall with a maze of rooms, a basement sauna and workspaces dotted throughout including in the upstairs attic. The main communal areas are warm and cosy with plentiful wifi for me to keep this blog going as well as keeping up to date with Game of Thrones. There's also an old barn and boat shed nearby with so many beautifully dusty nooks and crannies - perfect to set up a little temporary studio.
Cheese, wine and dinner was waiting for us when we arrived, and it just felt so gratifying to be in the company of other artists and creative types that all understood why I've travelled so far to be here. I can't wait to get stuck into some work tomorrow. I need to be present, aware, and just live in the moment. Three weeks will be over in no time at all and I want to soak in as much as possible while I have the chance. Watch this space.