It was a joy to be at Soaring Gardens Artists Retreat for three weeks in September this year, surrounded by beautiful gardens, meeting local creatures – white-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, ground hogs, hummingbirds and blue jays – and working alongside fellow artists-in-residence Yvette Cummings, Katrina Simonsen, Gabe Chiarello, Kit Kelen and Anne Bouie. It was my first trip to Pennsylvania, indeed to the U.S., and I learned so much.
A highlight of the residency was the ‘plant walk.’ Residency manager and horticulturalist Jordan Oakey and fellow gardener Sue Chance shared with us their extensive knowledge of local trees, plants and fungi. The nearby woods and fields were an important source of subject matter for my work at Soaring Gardens. A second source of inspiration were the woods and waterfalls and rocks along the Rickett’s Glen walking track. Influenced perhaps by Ora Lerman’s bold palette and sense of play, I brought more colour into the sketches and preparatory drawings I did at the residency.
Towards the end of the three weeks four of us accompanied Jordan and Josephine Dunn (art historian and Board member of the Lerman Charitable Trust) to see the archive of Ora’s work in Scranton. It was fascinating to see how her style and subject matter changed and developed over time. I was particularly struck by the spontaneity and energy of her small watercolour and ink sketches, and the drama of her large charcoal drawings. That same day we visited the Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art in Scranton. As well as introducing me to the major artists of the region, the museum deepened my understanding of its coal-mining history.
Of the many things I gained from this artist residency, I especially value the sense of community it fostered. It was a privilege to exchange ideas with fellow artists-in-residence, Jordan, Sue Chance and Jo D, and to spend time in such a special place.
