When I first arrived at Arquetopia, here in Oaxaca, I must admit that I was a teeny bit disappointed.

It seemed that though they had plenty of visual artists who’d stayed in their residencies, both here, and in Puebla, I was their first writer. Sigh.

I had imagined sitting around with writers over dinner and waxing on about metaphor, verbs and other writerly wonders. And though I love playing with all things visual, it was the writers I wanted to connect with…

You know how what you think you need and want isn’t necessarily at all what you need or should be wishing for?

Because instead of having to share my writing, I’m listening as Julie Combal talks about her river project using charcoal fabric to ceremonially ‘cleanse’ the polluted river here in Oaxaca. She has embroidered some of the words that the locals have said about the river onto the fabric and plans on shooting a video of ‘washing’ this embroidered shirt in the river.

In trying to sum up her project, I realize I am not doing this it justice. Here’s the thing, I’m finding the whole process fascinating and our conversations very interesting. The worst part is that in looking at her paintings on-line I feel in serious need of some more wall space. Check out this one called Depth.  I am in love with this painting.

And now that Tia Parker has risen from her sickbed of the last two days, she is once again working on her embroidered pig on felted human hair. She’s still not sure if she’s going to pierce it with tiny barbed-wire or not…

Now, I understand that sounds rather bizarre, but once again, I assure you that Tia Parker’s work is amazing. She doesn’t have a website yet, but here is a link to one of her pieces (and another one) that are currently held in her native New Zealand at the James Wallace Arts Trust.

Mary Laura Mau is in the room next to me. Like me, she rarely emerges from her room. In fact, we have all taken to calling our rooms caves…as in, “I’m going into my cave now!”

She is focused on her collages. She is currently working with a ton of porn photos and trying to take “what was exploitive and elevate or remix it…take back the image.”

I am trying to imagine ever being that brave. Mary-Laura is in her cave as I write this, quite literally kicking butt.

Kim Lyle is the Artist-in-Residence here.  As such, she doesn’t have much time for her own projects as she’s too busy making sure we’re all taken care of, but her work is imaginative and provocative, her laugh is quick and she’s always an integral part of these amazing conversations.

Last night another two artists arrived. I don’t know what they’re up to yet, but when I do, I’ll be posting it here.

But here’s what I do know. Turns out, I’m not ready to show anybody what I’m working on. I’ve killed the muse once too often by ‘workshopping’ things too early.

I actually don’t want any writerly feedback and I’m in a place that is conducive to that end.

What I do want is more of these conversations and projects that provoke me to think in different ways.

Looks like once again I’ve landed in exactly the write/right place.