Joya: AiR / Lorna Watkins / IRE

photo Simon Beckmann

“I’m home now over a week but my heart is still in Joya: AiR.  Such a magical experience.  The landscape and weather catch your breath.  The cold mornings, then hot days and freezing cold nights, star gazing walking back from my outdoor studio and staring out my bedroom window to the mountains and olive trees. 

The cortijada is beautiful, adorned with stunning textiles, ceramics and glass.  A warm welcoming stove and even warmer welcome from Simon and Donna, our hosts.  Their love and passion for the land and this project is inspiring.  I got an understanding of living in rural España .  Simon’s presentation of their work describing the huge importance of water resonated with me.  On my daily wander through the almond groves, I discovered wells and reservoirs and the metaphor of the well running dry stuck with me.  How we must mind ourselves as we must mind our precious resources.  Joya: AiR minded me.

Such a slow pace of life.  Time felt elastic.  Ten days in one day.  No electric kettle.  Waiting for the kettle to boil on the stove became a gorgeous ritual.  The ritual of lighting the stoves, gathering kindling.  Time for thinking and listening.  I found myself recording sounds all day every day; the bees, locals at the farmers market in Vélez Blanco, church bells, birdsong, melting snow.

The most precious part of Joya: AiR was the people.  I met kindred spirits and collaborations are planned.  Ideas shared, belly laughs and tears of laughter at terrible jokes around the dinner table.  Very excited with where this experience will lead me in my practice in the months to come”.

Lorna Watkins

 www.lornawatkins.com .  www.instagram.com/lorna_watkins