Joya: AiR / Victoria Moy / USA

Being at Joya: AiR is living in a museum surrounded by beautiful curated works of art, except this museum also feels like a home. Meanwhile, art being newly made and a sanctuary of natural beauty also surround us.

On a 6:30am hike with fellow artists Leo and Ana, I climbed the equivalent of 52 flights of stairs. At the peak, with the glowing sun rising, we enjoyed delicious coffee and breakfast. Then Leo surprised us with packets of clay to make art with! and to leave for others to find when they visit, as we acknowledged our and our arts' impermanence and the beauty in that.

At sunset on most days, I'd walk an hour taking in amazing cloud formations when they were out, spotting different colored rocks and stones, while being greeted by lively bird chirps, and passing rows of almond and pomegranate trees. My tracker would say I'd climbed 21 flights, and I didn't even feel any of the "work."

I got to read a 30-minute-long short story by the fireplace in an impromptu sharing after a few days of working on it to generous listeners who gave thoughtful feedback. Sitting in front of the fireplace each night sharing stories with fellow artists before a delicious dinner made by Donna is another highlight.

With artists coming and going constantly, we would tease each other about who'd be remembered and missed and which of us would be forgotten quickly. Like in nature and in life, there is beauty in the impermanence. I enjoyed the privilege of being a part of the landscape, being a part of varying cycles and turnarounds, engaging with continually changing lots. Whether we're remembered, by some, or not at all, we are still each a part of this space's history.

I'm grateful to Donna and Simon for making such a beautiful dream-like experience also a reality.

Victoria Moy

Victoria Moy is an American author, librettist, playwright, and filmmaker born and raised in New York. She's a 2023-2024 Opera America IDEA grantee. She's the author of "Fighting for the Dream: Voices of Chinese American Veterans from World War II to Afghanistan" and has a B.A. in Theater and M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing.

VictoriaMoy.net
IG @writervickymoy @owlsmarch