“My approach to Joya: AiR was some kind of escape from the obligations and distractions of my daily life. I showed up with an open mind not quite sure of my expectations, in any case they were pleasantly surpassed by Donna’s welcome and introduction to the house on my arrival.

The first morning I woke up with the urge to climb a mountain to the top, to get situated in space. Furthermore, I needed some kind of challenge to prove myself, to feel free and fully connected to the environment. Once I accomplish that need, I felt the peace, energy and freedom to let the experience flow, with no pressure to do, engage or pretend, just being. I enjoyed sharing my morning yoga sessions with fellow residents who wanted to join, having the day for myself and then savouring delicious dinner between brave conversations and lots of laughs. Grateful to spend time with all the people I had the pleasure to meet, fellow artists, especially friendly Bryan and sweet Lucy, who generously dedicated some time as my model for the “Fascinators” project .

Nature around me was stimulating and contemplative. Autumn. The cold wind blowing was a confirmation of the arid climate and invisible forces of the environment. I was overwhelmed by the silence down in the Barranco, where everything was still, silent testimony of the ravages of torrential water meandering paths through the land, landslides and hanging trees. I got  inspired and obsessed with the cracks in the dried soil. That's where my creative work exploded, filling the cracks, drawing the lines with red stripes made from discarded shopping plastic bags. Feeling the force of erosion in earth as I was dismantling a work of art, made of up-cycled plastic objects, that had been exhibited outdoors for more than two months and removing the eroded parts by sunlight. It’s still a work in progress, I still have to review and debug the images of the interventions I did there. One thing sure, I was deeply moved by the information that Simon shared about aquifers and agricultural super-exploitation in the area, and how this could have been one of the factors that caused Lorca’s earthquake”.

Ruth Peche

“My work has always been concerned with the effects of humankind abusing and depleting natural resources, polluting our soil and belittling our home Mother Earth, showing so little respect. For that reason I appreciate so much both the dedication and effort of Simon and Donna to build this place with such awareness and respect for the natural environment.

I still keep in my memory the piano notes played by Jetta (volunteer) heard from outside the house, while watching the olive branches move through the wind with the full moon in the background”.