photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Rachel Clancy / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

The Joya: AiR residency gave me the opportunity to step back and reflect on my usual painting practice and experiment with other mediums and techniques. Being immersed in the peaceful, picturesque landscape allowed me space and time to develop my drawing technique and allow new subject matter to inspire my future paintings.

Whilst I came with an open mind of what I wanted to create, the freedom and long sunny days allowed time for exploring, drawing and collaboration with other students. Currently exploring interiors in my painting practice, I found myself particularly drawn to the intricate architecture and design of the Joya building itself. The residency has opened my eyes to different ways of working and was the perfect opportunity to break my every day routine and reflect.

Thank you to Donna and Simon for being so helpful throughout the trip and welcoming us into their wonderful space!

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Alastair Fallon / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

At Joya: AiR I left behind my painting practice to focus on creating new work which reflected the unique soul of the landscape that I had the privilege to witness. I decided I would make charcoal from the local almond, pine and olive trees so I could make organic and authentic marks that could only be made in Joya. I began to make charcoal drawings by a formula of small repetitive movements that reflected the process of carving the wood when making the charcoal itself. These repetitive movements slowed the work down and allowed me space to make more careful considerations when guiding the work.

The rest of my time was spent on daily hikes and meditations, moments of quiet reflection, and inspiring conversations with the other resident artists.

The work I made in Joya I could not have made anywhere else, it is a truly special place. Thank you Simon and Donna for giving me an experience that I will carry with me in life and in my work

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Kimberley Beesley / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Georgina Hustler / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Eleanor Cunningham / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘My time at Joya: AiR came as a welcome opportunity to step back from my painting practice and focus on drawing. The meditative process of thinking through drawing, in tandem with my experience of the landscape, has driven me into a new phase of working, giving my practice new life.

Aside from drawing, I spent my time walking in the surrounding mountains, exploring the land, quietly reflecting and writing, and having stimulating conversations with other artists. Spending time in the vast natural landscape was a relief from the speed of day to day life in the city. I relished the feeling of slowing down, and found the week at Joya to be a deeply peaceful experience.

Thanks to Donna and Simon for sharing such an incredible space with us and being such wonderful and welcoming hosts’.

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Brianna Beckford / MFA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘What initially attracted me to doing a residency at Joya: AiR was the freedom of being away from digital mediums I learned to have a crutch on. Recently, I've appreciated exploring new modes of making, and that's what I intended to continue doing here.

In Joya, I found a place that resembled a home I was used to, while still existing in a completely different environment. Joya: AiR and Velez-Blanco as a whole are incredibly enriching and made me think about how to mesh the new and the old, how to bring old crafts and workflows back into the present day. There's an amazing confluence of presences at Joya that make it a ghost site sprung anew, especially considering its ecology and history.

Although I didn't come with a set plan, my intention was to create and have fun. Plant weaving, 3D modeling, and alternative photography became the prime areas I navigated. Donna and Simon were incredible in giving me insight that informed my work and research. An absolutely amazing experience and place’!

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Bethany Jones / MA Fine Art / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘Visiting Joya: AiR has been a wonderful experience, it’s given me the chance to realise perspective and importance within my painting and drawing practices but also my day to day life.

It’s given me the spring in my step to tackle the next phase of work and it feels great to be excited to get back to the studio, even if the weather won’t be coming with me!

A big thank you to our hosts Donna and Simon for being so wonderful and creating such a welcoming creative space’.

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Anne Rowland / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘I was amazed by the colours of the landscape on the journey between Murcia Airport and Joya: AiR - the pink of the stone and the incredible light really stood out. We were in for a fabulous week.

I’ve focused on the landscape, different views in every direction, my paintings becoming more abstract as the week went on. Sunrise, terraced landscape, zoomed-in cropped buildings, even the colours of the concrete mixer and adjacent tarpaulin - there’s so much here to inspire. The long days in this serene environment give lots of time for painting, walking, contemplating, collaborating and cameraderie. I’ve made lots of work, one painting leading onto another idea, and have a full sketchbook which will provide inspiration for lots of future work. I’ve tried unexpected new things including cynotype, whittling and meditation! Donna and Simon are wonderful hosts’.

www.annerowland.co.uk

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Ruth Morrissey / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Isobel Panatti-Reeve / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘I came to Joya: AiR with no plan of what I wanted to create, other than to expand my artistic practice by experimenting in a landscape completely new to me.

With walking being a huge part of my existing practice, I spent much of my time exploring the rugged landscape close to the house, making close friends with a cat named Nippy and immersing myself in a living environment I had never experienced before.

After an early morning walk to the top of one of the surrounding mountains, I became inspired to cyanotype print onto rocks, roofing tiles, wood and stray bits of pottery around the hills. My main practice involves a lot of analogue photography experimentation, and delving back into cyanotypes was a refreshing experience especially on new surfaces. 

After realising I couldn't bring the larger pieces back with me I decided to put them back into the landscape, in the dried out river beds and rock falls surrounding me, giving my work back to the landscape I had taken it from.

My time at Joya: AiR has been refreshing, invigorating and eye opening, it is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience both a different type of living and a different way of creating’.

Isobel Panatti-Reeve

@izzypanarty - instagram

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Christelle Momini / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

Project title: The fine Art Language.

How Painting can connect to Science Ecologically to resolve a problem related to our health and well-being to found balance without taking discomfort on climate change and environmental impact.

Summary

Christelle is an Abstract-Expressionism Painter.

She is inspired by human nature, art and science to produce a series of paintings.

Actually, her project is considered to a neurologist paintinger, inspired by the neuro-scientists and the natural psychology colours over the Decades.

This project will focus on the interpretation cultural objects in painting with the method of observational and environmental using novel experimental platform like the Landforms, the climate, the Air, the Natural vegetation like flowers and trees around the mountains, collecting stone from different colours to build the colours pallet base on the environmental and event related-potentials to explore how interpersonal variability can affected people mental health and improve the brains fonction due to the climate change and how it’s may affect socio-cognitive process underlying and individual’s behaviour in a social environment context, in addition to effect on learning outcomes, lifestyle and decision making.

She observed the landscape, inspired by the landforms, shape , line, natural colour inspired by the ecological and environmental colours to produce the Neurological Painting based on the 10 previous decades until today.

Website: www.momini.org

Christelle Momini

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Susan Calverley Parker / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘ The residency at Joya_AiR in Spain offered me a wonderful opportunity to make some expanded paintings surrounded by nature. Simon and Donna have created a peaceful, contemplative environment for any creative

person to develop their art.

I was particularly keen to study the landscape, light and colours so very different from my Yorkshire Dale. There are land management issues to address here, as in Yorkshire, so my existing artistic practice could continue but with a different focus.

On our first day at Joya Simon explained the complex water management and regeneration of native species that is part of the ethos here. After centuries of cultivation the area is now becoming abandoned so needs care and thoughtful use.

For my work I turned to collecting water, dried vegetation and dusty rocks from which I made paint and inks. Iam a process led artist so was then inspired to start developing some images which, Ihope, will reflect the delicate balance and beauty surrounding us.

One week is not enough!’

Susan Calverley Parker

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Gregory Howard / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘I came to Joya: AiR with a specific idea of what I wanted to achieve but after becoming immersed in the landscape, observing the changing conditions of light and experiencing the vastness of space from high in the hills, my plans found another track.

I found myself trying to translate this experience into abstract mark making, aiming to create a vocabulary of painted marks that captured what I observed.

The week at Joya created a desire to develop my understanding of light and space- two things fundamental to its landscape and to painting- and has provided a new stimulus to take back to the studio in Manchester.’

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Ian Norris / MA Painting / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘The beautiful and peaceful surroundings at Joya: AiR provided the backdrop for me to fully emerse myself in my practice without any of the usual distractions of everyday life.

The week started with an informative talk by Simon. He explained the history of the centre and the challenging work both he and Donna are doing in order to restore the former farmhouse and surrounding farmland,in particular, the complex water management and agricultural systems.

The talk provided the stimulus for new ideas and the work I made was surprisingly unexpected. The overall experience has helped move my practice in new directions.

Simon and Donna are wonderful hosts and very helpful, nothing was too much trouble. Thank you for a wonderful stay!

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Kevin Boardman / Master of Research Art / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

Before my arrival I have engaged in a 1 year long artistic project which concerns the flow of idea exploration and active participation in relation to chalkboards and whiteboards.

It considers how reusable mark-making surfaces might be reclaimed and repurposed as spaces for radical thought and action, in contrast to their former conventional use in business and educational institutions. The research is situated within the field of contemporary art, intersecting with design and arts pedagogy. Art-thinking and making methods and new speculation combine to form alternative pathways in collective and individual thinking. The study aims to reinvent reusable media in new formats and spaces, by experimenting with sculpture, installation, performative workshops, and drawing.

My time at Joya was an opportunity to expand this practice, I took one of my reusable objects (the chalkboard ball) into this new environment. By working under a new environment, collaborating with new artists and having the time to reflect in this inspiring place. I was able to create a new body work which focus on ideation and drawing.

Instagram: @boardmankevin

www.kevinboardman.com

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Nicola Breach / Fine Art MFA / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

‘The Joya: AiR residency has been a delight allowing space and time to develop my practice in surprising new ways. I quickly settled into this peaceful and unique environment, developing a personal connection to the land and in turn nourishing my art practice. I explored the area with a series of walking, meditation and drawing exercises. Climbing high in the cool morning air to get a sense of the unique natural park geography. I made charcoal and paint from pigments collected from the land and then further developed art pieces back in one of the spacious studios.

The week at Joya: AiR has been a one of a kind creative and learning opportunity. Hosted by Simon and Donna who have opened my eyes to a way of life that is off-grid and sustainable in the Sierra Maria-Los Vélez Natural Park.

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Anna Stevens / Fine Art MA / Manchester School of Art Postgraduate Residency

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Michelle Landel / USA

‘I came to Joya: AiR  at the end of January and basically spent a week carrying around and photographing a life-size paper mache bird head that I had stuffed into my suitcase and an old watering can that I found blown into the woods. This sounds a bit mad but sometimes as an artist you need the time and space to follow the weird to find a new and a more interesting place. Being at Joya allowed me to slow down and go deeper into my creative practice and ideas. I read, sketched, journaled, and took long walks in this magical landscape. I had great conversations around the fireplace and dinner table with wonderfully talented artists, especially our hosts Donna and Simon, that I will be thinking about for years.

At Joya, I had my own quiet bedroom, bathroom, and private studio. I woke up rested and without an alarm to watch the sunrise each morning, made myself breakfast and chatted with the other early risers, and got to work. When I needed a break there were the mountains to explore, a friendly dog’s ear to be scratched, delicious food to be eaten, and cozy corners for reading.

I know already that the photographs I took of the watering can will be the basis for a September solo exhibition at Le Salon Vert gallery in Geneva, Switzerland and by wandering and playing outside, my paper mache bird head became a scarecrow who is both a woman and a bird that scares and intimidates predators while protecting what is growing and is vulnerable and needs nurturing. This project may take me years to develop but my time at Joya will have been a crucial part in pushing it forward’.

Michele Landel

photo Simon Beckmann

Joya: AiR / Andrea Mindell Cohen / ESP

‘Upon my arrival to Joya-AiR I discovered another realm where I found solitude and was able to disconnect from my distractions with an abundance of time to focus on my practice. The return to Andalucía the land of mi madre where I spent a portion of my childhood, could have not been more of a sign I needed to complete the rest of my healing journey.

Pure alegria!

I connected with the land by observing, listening and just being present in the moment to the natural surroundings, its serenity made me feel peace and calmness that I was missing in my daily chaotic life in Barcelona.

Joya is an ideal place to get out of your head, center yourself like pushing a reset button. Working, strolling outdoors in the fresh cold air routinely, healed my body, soul and awoke sleepy ideas. I can´t forget to mention my cozy chimney-fire studio space with its spectacular sunset vistas beyond the mountains. Where I spent most of my days working happily.

I;

· observed a full moon-set at sunrise

· walked through the forest

· collected treasures

· built fires in my studio

· drank vino

· ate delicious dinners

· met amazing, talented artists

· felt the presence of madre earth

· worked with new mediums

· created new artwork.

Thank you, Donna and Simon for this incredible eco-sustainable residency, your passions and support of the imaginations and creations of many artists from around the planet. Most of all a hospitality beyond and above!!’

Andrea Mindell Cohen

photo Joseph Costi

Joya: AiR / Joseph Costi / Venezuela

‘It’s hard to explain how inspiring and significant my time at Joya: AiR was. I went with the idea that I wanted to get a lot of work done. I had no idea that the environment that I found myself in was going to redefine the whole conception of what I wanted to do. 

The first factor that I wasn’t aware was going to impact my practice so directly was the nature around me. Every morning I’d wake up early so I could witness the dawn, the colours were incredible, I couldn't get enough of this for the whole month I was there. Then every day I’d go on walks and explore the land around Joya. That experience made me feel very much in touch with nature and it grounded me in a way that I haven’t felt in a long time. 

The second factor was the community at Joya: AiR, Simon and Donna were very accommodating and made us feel part of their family. Every night we had the most delicious and wholesome meals cooked by Donna and Simon made banging Paellas too. They also taught us more about the beautiful project that they started together and how they have slowly builded a very unique experience for an artist that keeps developing and growing.

The third factor was the people we met. The fellow residents became a key element of the experience as we made friends for life. Also sharing my progress with the artists was a big influence in my process and helped me unlock certain blocks I had in my practice. I'm still processing the time I spent at Joya as it was extremely meaningful to me as an artist and human being’. 

Joseph Costi

Having studied classical composition in his native country Venezuela, Joseph moved to London to continue his composition studies and received a BA first class in Jazz and Composition from Middlesex University. 

After graduating he became involved in several projects that have taken him all around the UK and Europe. Some notable artists he has played/recorded with are Yusuf Cat Stevens, Dizraeli, Tom Herbert, Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra)

Since the pandemic he has been building his own studio and started exploring  by composing and recording music for short films, documentaries, collaborations with other artists as well as songwriting.