Joya: AiR / Emily Devers / AUS
photo Simon Beckmann
"What a joy it was to consciously carve out 2 weeks to fully immerse in Joya: AiR. After a huge few years facilitating projects in Australia, and opening a new contemporary art gallery, I was desperately in need of extended time and a slower pace - returning to the core reasons of why I want to create.
I used my time at Joya: AiR to open myself wholeheartedly to the environment, to absorb, record and reflect, and experiment with new techniques in the studio. Having the opportunity to play and experiment amongst the full support of exceptional creatives made me feel so valued as an artist. At no point did I question my various paths of inquiry, because they all felt validated and supported by the Joya: AiR team and other resident artists.
The material I created in the first week was based on my combined experiences travelling from Australia to Spain. Film and digital photos, and original sketches were collaged together as a mural on the courtyard walls on the exterior of el cortijo, layering my experiences and thoughtfully choosing imagery that reflected my time here in a contemporary painting style. I worked in tandem with the sun and mapped her shadows across the walls, which then became graphic elements within the mural itself - a collaboration I hope to continue on future surfaces.
Simon and Donna make everyone feel so welcome, and I felt nourished by their conscious cooking, thoughtful hospitality and exceptional company. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that I'll be back."
Emily Devers
Emily holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia, with intentions to pursue a Masters of Fine Art in 2020. She is the Director of contemporary art gallery and social enterprise The Third Quarter, festival facilitator of Sea Walls Australia and maintains her independent practice as a travelling mural painter.