Joya: AiR / Sarah Villeneau / GBR
Joya: AiR / Sarah Villeneau / GBR
“Joya: AiR was a magical place - the dramatic landscape, the silence, the remoteness and the vast skies connected me to the earth in a way that took me back to the freedom of my childhood roaming the countryside in upstate New York. I went to Joya with the idea of having time out and recuperation after a very busy year, and to pursue a new direction in my work - sculpting with found materials and to maybe build a small woodfiring kiln - a minigama.
As it happened, I found myself drawn back, as ever, to clay - with wild clay and timber all around, exploring age-old ceramic processes emerged organically as a seamless connection to the environment and a sustainable and productive legacy to contribute to the residency. Not to mention the problem solving along the way - firing the kiln in the wood-fired boiler, rather than in the open, due to high winds and fire risk, was not my original plan, but was thrilling and frightening in equal measure.
Simon and Donna have created a beautiful home and a relaxed, comfortable, easy-going set up, with delicious meals. It was also wonderfully special to meet and share ideas with people from all over the world, with different disciplines, backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints but a shared commitment to exploration, experimentation and the environment.
I look forward to returning one day soon!”
Sarah Villeneau is a British sculptor working mainly in clay.