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November 11, 2013

Life of an Artist


Life without Fantasy

How does one adjust to the daily rigors of being an employee in a job void of art, after feeling the freedom of being an artist for three weeks straight? How does one get/create a job in the arts field?  It is so competitive that really you need to create the job you want.  Setting up a table at a flea market, starting your own gallery or creating an art show.  You need to have a vision, faith in yourself and a good business sense.  Create a life worth living, become the person you most envy, or simply try and redefine who you are and where you are at.

Life has many secrets, and no secrets at all.  We meet people who wax and wane in friendship, loyalty and tolerance.  We have family that we love, and love to feel trifled by.  We create relationships that define us, give us balance and bring love into our souls.  We are constantly changing, re-evaluating, and adjusting to new conditions.  Strong, hard working and dedicated, we plow forward with the energy and gusto of a sloth in heat.  Sometimes fast, sometimes in a slow, crawling and slug like pace.  We are the masters of indifference for self preservation.  Our love drifts and we move to another, always in need of a inspirational being, the muse.

November 05, 2013

Back from France....

Some magical moments remembered...from the town of Auzits.  The town is situated in the Aveyron (Midi-Pyrenees region) in the southern-centre of France at 26 km from Rodez, the department capital. 
Dawn and I were invited into a house built in 1707.  This man was born in the house.




From Dawn's juggling barn.

Some strange flora that grows in southern France.

Laura Hunt, installation artist from Australia, with me.

One of her pieces ~


Found wild life...



October 29, 2013

Village Life, France

Here are some photos to prove that I did in fact leave my studio from time to time.  On our way to an art exhibit in nearby town:










October 27, 2013

Open Studios at Le Couvent, France



My last night, and our gallery opening!  Laura installed in the Couvent gallery, my show was in the marvelous barn gallery.  Pretty impressed with the turn out for a small town in the middle of southern France.   Many thanks to both Sergio and Lyne for creating such a fantastic residency experience and being so sweet.  Both were very hands on and wonderful!  ~ Callie
On left, Lyne Bouy Jou

Canadian street performer, Dawn MonettteSydney-based installation artist Laura HuntSergio Piterbarg (founder of Le Couvent), and me.

"Dreamscapes"









 Sergio, local artist Gerard Marty, and Le Couvent web designer

Thank you! ~  Callie




October 25, 2013

Last day at Le Couvent, France

Today is my last day, our show is tonight.  Lyne is busy making the food, wine has been purchased, and I went off for a hike with Dawn.  Visiting cows, walking through  farm lands and the woods, fall is felt in the air.  It is warm and breezy, feels like a summer day, and it is approaching the end of October.
Below are shots from my last full day in Azits, France.  Enjoy!












October 24, 2013

The spooky side...of Le Couvent

The following are photos taken in the building I am living in.  It is a couvent, residing next to the church.  Four floors and an attic, Sergio hopes to turn it all into artist work space.  A neighbor invited me into her house today, it had a jail house, next to the church.  She kept as much as she could intact and poured her love into that house.  It came with it's own barn, as all houses do here, and walnut and apple trees.  She grew up in this town and returned to it at age 65.

The couvent has it's spooky side, but it also is a wonderful environment to work in.  I present to you, Le Couvent, in the town of Auzits, France: