Adria Arch

The last leg of my French sojourn, I continued to build on esoteric knowledge of this incredibly rich region. My new friend Jeannette Rogers, another Fellow at Moulin a Nef, is a translator of medieval troubadour poetry from the original language of Occitan into both modern French and English. I never knew of this language, nor of the Cathars , the peace-loving, vegetarian Christian sect that was wiped out during the Inquisition. The Cathar cross, which you will see everywhere in Toulouse. After 2 and a half weeks in Auvillar, I spent three days in Toulouse, a city I fell in love with. The rest of the Fellows were all set to go home and I would have been alone at Moulin a Nef. I couldn't face it, so I booked myself a little side trip to this fascinating city. It seemed to me to be about the size of Providence RI, and a river runs through it, too. Toulouse, France That is where I was when the Paris attacks of Nov. 13 occurred. In fact, I only knew about it because...

Continuing the story of my French adventure... thanks to my wonderful high school French teacher, Jean Price, I was able to both understand and make myself understood. Incroyable! This was France Profund, or "deep France", as the natives call it because it is so non-touristy. It was especially quiet in November. The thousands of summer pilgrims on the Chemin de St. Jacques had dwindled to just a few, and there were many times when walking around Auvillar that we felt we were the only ones around for miles. Among the many esoteric things that I learned about this area: pigeonniers , otherwise known as "dovecotes" or places for pigeons to hang out. Seriously, the wealthy landowners of old built these exquisite buildings on their land much to the dislike of their tenants. The smell and noise was probably obnoxious. But look how beautiful! Square pigeonnier. Octagonal pigeonnier. Square pigeonnier. So what did I find to photograph, what drew my visu...

This November, I was fortunate to have a residency in Auvillar, France in the south west of the country. Part of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, this residency is only available to past Fellows of VCCA. It had always been  my dream to do a residency in Europe. Though it is challenging to make art while also trying to absorb a new place that strongly beckons you to engage with the culture and history, I did manage to respond to my surroundings. Auvillar's famous granary, built in the 1800s and now the site of the Sunday market. Auvillar itself is a charming, medieval village once famous for painted pottery and goose quill pens. Now it is a sleepy, magical village on the pilgrimage trail, known as the Chemin de St. Jacques de Compostelle.  The view from the top of Auvillar, overlooking the Garonne River. Novelist and ceramicist Betty Joyce Nash , left, and Sabine, who lives in Auvillar. Fantastic photographer! Random beauty: seedpod of Chinese Lan...

Interior view of WHACK!, photo by Will Howcroft WHACK!, a pop up exhibit at 49 River St., Beacon Hill, MA, featuring my work as well as my friend Jodi Colella Myself and Jodi during our artist talks. Jodi's sculpture I/Me is in the foreground. photo by Wendy Seller Visitors to WHACK on opening night Jodi explains the influences of her residency in China, earlier this year. Jodi Colella describing the origins of her sculpture, "Ant"

I am pleased to announce that I will be displaying some new work in a pop up exhibit, WHACK!, with my friend and artist colleague Jodi Colella . Here's our press release. The first fifty visitors get a special, customized WHACK! door prize, (as if  you needed any more encouragement to see the show.) Adria Arch, Next Nest, acrylic on Dibond, 122 x 122 cm Jodi Colella, I/Me, fiber, thread, mixed media, 91.5 x 75 x 39 cm The work will be on view Friday through Sunday, September 25 to 27 at 49 River Street, Be acon Hill, Boston MA, USA . An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 25 from 6 to 9 pm. The artists will discuss their work at 3 pm on Sunday, September 27. Hours are 3 to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday, and Sunday from 2 to 7 pm. The show’s title refers to the intensity of color and texture on view and the immediacy and urgency of a three day show. Adria Arch’s new paintings start with a splash. Working in an intuitive, gestur...

Thanks to the fabulous Jonathan Barbato at Arlington Cable Media and videographer Samantha Williams-Radecic, I now have an excellent video to show you my working process.

August 1 - 7 I spent with 15 brave souls who took my workshop, Intuitive Painting on Cape Ann. I made this video to demonstrate how this approach to teaching art can change profoundly how you see and make art.

I've been hard at work in the studio expanding my horizons, pushing myself to the next new exploration which is working at a larger scale and working on canvas and other more permanent surfaces. This has been the most fun I've had in the studio in a long time. I am super excited about what I've been doing. Stretch, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48" Plunge, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48" Debut, acrylic on aluminum panel, 48" x 48" Plunk, acrylic on canvas, 72" x 60" Rose Garden, acrylic on canvas, 72" x 60" Swim, acrylic on canvas, 72" x 60"

Stage Set 1 Stage Set 2 Stage Set 3 Stage Set 4 Stage Set 5

Action Verb 12 Action Verb 8 Action Verb 9 Action Verb 1