Artist Weekend

This spring The Briarcombe Institute invited a multidisciplinary group of creatives for a weekend in the coastal town of Bolinas, California.

Over the course of a few April days, the artists familiarized themselves with the local town, shared intentions for their stay, and then were off to grab nooks in which to read, write, paint, work, think.

The proposed projects within this group varied widely. From visual interpretations using the work of local poets to exploration of queer identity with motifs of flora to love letters across generations, the range allowed for overlap across mediums. While some artists chose to build upon existing projects, others chose to immerse themselves in Bolinas and create site-specific pieces inspired by the location and setting at The Briarcombe Institute.

The weekend was divided between quiet work hours and optional group activities to create both a structured and spontaneous feel. One program asked artists to hold mini crash-courses of their choosing to teach the group. Musician Ferran Miquel taught the group deep breathing techniques and poet and cultural worker Ashanté J. Ford led a birdmapping exercise as a practice in presence.

The group listens to bird calls and maps notes on their page in an improvised manner, responding with lines and dots that reflect the cadence and character of the songs they hear. Here in Bolinas, nature becomes an active collaborator :)

The weekend ended with a celebratory group dinner prepared by Odes. The food was locally sourced from the farmstand down the road, the coast, and the garden on site. As we gathered around the table together, artists shared work made during the weekend and reflected on the ways their time spent at The Briarcombe Institute influenced creative work.

After this artist weekend, we are feeling so energized! Thank you to Ashanté J. Ford, Ferran Miquel, Gabriel Munhoz, Tim Nguyen, and Kaila Tam for the unique energies you brought and contributed to this special place. We are looking ahead and excited to plan our next gathering.

Photos by Gabriel Munhoz and Katarina La Poll