Art Forges Meaningful Empowering Friendships Across Borders

When I arrived home from my weeklong ceramics residency in Mallorca, my daughter asked me how the classes went. I didn't know how to respond because this experience in Spain was less about ceramics and much more a complete exploration of art, culture, artistic agency, and womanhood.

When I arrived in Spain, I didn't know what to expect. I only knew I was drawn to Anastasia's work and was interested in learning about her process. Neither one of imagined that for seven days, we'd be immersed in an ongoing, nonstop conversation in a language that neither one of us could call our mother tongue.

Anastasia was born in Russia and, as you know, I'm American. We met at a time of war and violence, as well as great tension between these two superpowers. Yet these tensions didn't really exist between us. The Spanish language was a kind of Switzerland.

This week was also about what it means to listen and be open and be engaged in an ongoing dialogue that had incredible range and interest. We were both single mothers daring to take up space in the world as creators. What did it mean to take ourselves seriously even when others do not?

My residency with her started with questions. Even the idea of starting with questions was a question. What does it mean to begin an artistic process in a state of inquiry? What happens to the brain and body when we work from a place of curiosity and not-knowing? What does the physical body have to do with creativity? How does it feel to work from a place of integration and fluency? To be rooted in your body and to the earth itself? How can we approach the natural world as a source of inspiration and power and healing?

We discussed ways we can keep moving forward in a hurting world and the artist's role in social, political, and environmental restoration. As women, we talked about the importance of pleasure and taking risks and investing in oneself and centering one's own needs.

I return home inspired and impressed with the courage and tenacity that Anastasia possesses as an artist and immigrant in Spain. Her evolution is remarkable. She carved her own path in a new country becoming beautifully fluent in Catalan and Spanish. After years working as a manager in a hotel, she became a self-taught ceramicist and conceptual artist. While raising three children, she opened her own studio, developed her own brand, and wove herself into a community of like-minded artists.

Grateful for this new friendship and connection. She deeply understands and embodies the idea that we don't need to wait for anyone's permission to create the life and work we envision for ourselves and our communities.

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23Karin Alfaro, Andie Sprague Lueken and 21 others