October - December 2024
BOXO Projects Residency | Location: 34°08′05″N, 116°18′42″W
Altitude: 2,758 ft
As the invited artist-in-residence at BOXO Projects in Joshua Tree, California, I proposed a project centered on creating a body of paintings that respond to the lighting conditions and environmental context of the residency. My approach began with embodied research, spending countless hours observing and engaging with the land through daily walks, wildlife and sky observations, and studying the shifting qualities of light—particularly during dawn and dusk.
This research process led to the creation of a sensorial
mood board composed of photo documentation, voice notes, color palettes, and
small-scale oil studies on paper.
From these explorations, I identified key
themes to guide my work:
-Slow
(as in revealing itself slowly)
-Dry,
matte quality of the landscape
-Light
absorption
-Exposed,
barren yet thriving
-Adaptable
-Quiet,
low soundscape
-Monochromatic
and desaturated tones
-Rigid
grid system of roads and property lines imposed without consideration for
the natural topography, contrasting sharply with the organic forms of the
desert environment.
-Narrow,
spiky trees cast minimal, almost invisible shadows, leaving the landscape
fully exposed to the harsh midday sun
-Vast,
expansive sky
-Untouchable,
even dangerous to touch
-Isolated
-Peaceful
-Open
Four main elements emerged to guide my body of paintings:
Slow
Revelation: The desert landscape unfolds gradually, requiring time and
patience to notice its subtle details. Its minimalism and monochromatic
tones encourage a shift in perception, inviting you to let go of
preconceived notions and allow the environment to reveal itself.
The
Vastness of the Sky: Exploring how changing light conditions alter the
perception of the landscape and the emotional experience of being within
it.
The
Notion of Time: Investigating the desert’s ability to evoke an
expanded sense of time.
Light
Absorption and Reflection: Highlighting the landscape’s predominantly
non-reflective, matte quality, contrasted by the glistening effect
observed during dawn and dusk, particularly in the creosote’s fuzzy,
white, pea-sized seed capsules.
I developed a series of painting
using these fundamental ideas and concept:
Grid
Structure: Inspired by the 2 x 2-inch wire mesh fence enclosing the
residency property, this grid became the basis for geometric patterns in
my paintings.
Oil
Studies on Paper: A series of 11 x 14” oil paintings to explore
composition, color, and finishes that informed the larger canvases.
Four
Large-Scale Paintings: Focusing on the sky at different times—dawn,
day, twilight, and night. These works are designed to be discovered slowly
by the viewer, with thin veils of paint revealing details over time. The
compositions incorporate a linear element referencing the road system and
a narrow triangular form inspired by the minimal shadows cast by Joshua
trees.
Creosote
Series: Five paintings focusing on the glistening effect observed on
the creosote’s furry seed pods during dawn and dusk.
Open Studio Invitation
34°08′05″N, 116°18′42″W Altitude: 2,758 ft
This project will culminate in a site-responsive
installation examining the interplay between light, physical space, and
sensory experience. The installation invites the public to engage with the
concepts developed during the residency, emphasizing light as both the subject
and material of painting.
Date: Saturday, December 7th, 2024
Time: 2–5 PM
Location: BOXO Projects, 62732 Sullivan Road
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
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