Residency Reflections: Kathryn Armitage
Can you describe your first impression of Le Moulin de Marnay and the
surrounding environment?
Le Moulin de Marnay is a very special place and you can feel that straight away - there's just something in the air! My first feelings were a mix of "how am I here?!", whilst also being made to feel very at home as soon as I arrived. From day 1 I immediately knew that the orchard would become one of my favourite places and it really did; whether that was walking Chaussette first thing in the morning or getting some late afternoon fresh air, looking out over the valley with not a single other person in sight.
How did the residency impact your creative process or shift your
perspective as an artist?
I'm someone who sometimes needs to be forced to slow down, even though I know it really benefits my work, and the residency was the perfect place for just that. It was a wonderful reminder that having time to think and even just daydream is a very important, but often neglected, part of the creative process.
Was there a particular moment during the residency that stands out as
transformative or unexpected?
Some of the smaller works I had initially planned to make during my time in residency didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped, so I ended up flipping the linen over & restretching, making two new works over the last week. Whilst things didn't go exactly to plan, I'm grateful for the challenge it gave me which led to some insightful conversations with Mel & the other residents about how to make my work translate powerfully on a smaller scale. It really gave me a sense of clarity that I had been needing for a while.
What did the time away from your regular environment teach you about
your needs as an artist?
It wasn't until I came back to London and jumped on a screeching tube to the studio for the first time that I realised just how much my nervous system had needed the stillness & quiet of Le Moulin de Marnay. Being an artist is such an intuitive process and it's hard to follow that inner compass when you're constantly distracted and overstimulated! I see now how much I need to try and find moments of that Loire Valley peace, even in the middle of the city.
The residency is a shared experience, what was it like, interacting with the other artists?
The communal nature of this residency is really what makes it so unique and special to be a part of. Whilst I absolutely loved being in my own little world in the studio, some of my favourite moments were actually spent with the other residents in the kitchen - the real hub of the house - cooking and drinking wine together. I took a lot from everyone at the residency and I'm very grateful for that!
Is there anything you left behind — literally or metaphorically — when the
residency ended?
It's more something I've gained rather than something I've left behind (although perhaps I'm leaving behind the associated guilt!), but I think I came away from the residency more firm in knowing when to prioritise my own needs, both as an artist & as a human being - whether that's taking a few weeks away from normal life to really focus on my practice, or just knowing when I need to find a little moment of peace for myself within a chaotic day.
Anything else you would like to share?
Just a very big thank you to Mel & General Assembly for having me this summer! I'm so grateful for the experience and I'm excited to see all the multi-talented artists who come through the doors of this special place over the next few years.
