Chrysalis
Oil on canvas
©Monika Rosen 2013

I recently participated in an artist residency in Italy. The residency was at Arte Studio Ginestrelle near Assisi, deep within the regional park of Monte Subasio. I won’t say too much for now, because I would like to write about the experience in depth later on, but I will say that it has a lot to offer to a wide range of creatives. I was really moved by the residency; surrounded by mountains, it was so peaceful. I learned a lot from the region, its history, its culture, the people who live in the area, the director who’s dream it was to create it, and was privileged to meet a very warm, insightful group of artists.

This painting was a product of my experience there. Continuing my interest in painting water and the human body – as symbols relating to identity and self-perception – I was ecstatic at finding a local water source from where I drew my references. The water source in the painting is the Waterfall of Tre Fossi, about a 40 minute hike down from where I was, and it was a continuing source of inspiration, relaxation and reflection for me.

This painting begins a new series of work that I will begin to work on soon, as a complement to my other series of work that I’ll be continuing as well.

It’s called Chrysalis, and will be exhibited as part of a group show at the Galleria Le Logge in Assisi through the residency’s International Contemporary Art Exhibition next week. The show will showcase works from multiple disciplines (music, sound art, video, painting, drawing, photography, installation) by artists who participated in the residency in 2013.