After several years in the making (interrupted by COVID-19), I finally got to do the one-month residency at Fossekleiva Culture Centre in Buskerud county of Norway. It was followed by a long summer exhibition that I will post about later. This is a photo of me enjoying the gorgeous view from the farm where I lived during my stay. You see Drammensfjorden below, joining the Oslo fjord in the distance.
The centre is housed in old textile industry buildings, beautifully located next to a dammed pond with a stream running under the main building. In addition to the gallery space, it has a big stage, a cafe, artist studios, and apartments.
My studio was in the basement of one of the old workers' buildings adjacent to the centre. Now, they have modern apartments, but this one is a museum. Textile artist Daina Deksne-Gundersen was also a resident artist at the same time as me, but she had her studio in the main building where she lived. We occasionally run into each other, and I visited her in her studio several times.
Here are some photos of me working in the cosy cellar studio.
I lived on a farm on top of a mountain behind the centre. First, I stayed in a small cottage without water, but after a few days, they let me stay in a new apartment in an old barn. I was very comfortable there, and every evening, I enjoyed the view and the approaching summer.
The cafe at the centre was open only on weekends except for the last weeks, but when I had the chance, I tried their different pastries and desserts. Some days, I went into Svelvik, the closest village, and had dinner there.
One day, I even went for a swim at the beach in Berger, a couple of hundred meters from the centre. The water was very shallow, which made it lukewarm.
During my stay, I finished two large works. The one to the right I titled after Berger, the small community where the centre was located.
I really enjoyed my stay in Fossekleiva—the beautiful surroundings, the solitude, and the focus on work. Still, I have to admit I also enjoyed returning to Oslo after a month in the countryside.
Comentarios