As the October 4 extended deadline to apply for the Convergence 2020 RESONATE artist residency is upon us, we are remembering last year’s UPROOTED Convergence residency and the rich experiences and community and art that emerged from the convergence of these 6 amazing artists!
As we prepared for this residency, we knew that the UPROOTED theme would be intense. It was a call for these artists to dig deep and explore, through their art, the common story of migration and displacement in the human narrative. And they rose to the challenge, approaching their work with humility, compassion and thoughtfulness. Though each artist’s work was unique, the common theme bound them together and resulted in rich creative community, both in the studio and between the artists and the displaced in Tetouan. Some really profound work came out of this, and we’d like to share a taste of that with you here…
Our artists had the opportunity to collaboratively create and lead a workshop especially designed for the community of individuals and families who have immigrated from SubSaharan African countries, and are living in Tetouan. Participants each received a cloth flag and/or a sandal shape, which they turned into a piece of art telling of their journey and struggles and hopes and dreams. It was a rich time of creative processing and sharing!
In addition to time in the studio and connecting in the community, they spent two days in the nearby mountain city of Chefchaouen, exploring, sketching and taking in the beautiful views. Chefchaouen also has historic connections to the UPROOTED theme… The city was founded in the middle ages and was inhabited by local tribes and Moorish and Jewish immigrants from Spain after the expulsions of the Spanish Inquisition. One of these refugees from Granada became the famous Moroccan pirate queen, Sayyida al-Hurra, who ruled Tetouan and Chefchaouen and controlled the Western Mediterranean Sea in the 16th century. Her piracy was an act of revenge on the enemies who had forced her from her home and it kept alive the dream of returning to Andalusia. During the Second World War Chefchaouen also received a large influx of Jews who were fleeing from Hitler.
Convergence 2019 UPROOTED artists at work in their studios…
Meet our Convergence 2019 artists in their introduction videos below – Tracey Murrell, Theresa Hodge, Alejandro Romero, Lindy Pate, Rachel Neikirk, and Karin Ronnow. Here from them about their vision and creative focus during this residency. And be sure to check out the final video of the culminating Open Studios Night which was attended by over 100 visitors from the local Tetouan community!