For ten days, I did nothing but breathe art in a San Francisco studio with artist Mary T. Faria. It was transformative and life-saving.

Artist residencies come in various forms. Some come with requirements, while others offer the artist time and space. The latter gets it right by understanding that artists do not need to be micromanaged. This residency was pure freedom and plenty of time.

I was struck by the revelations that emerged from the synergy between Mary and me. Although our work and ideas differ significantly, we have a common understanding that unites us. We both work in the “between,” in ethereal realms, in the beyond. We have similar rhythms, timing, depth, and spiritual inclinations, and we both love the earth, darkness, and alternate realities.

We worked comfortably together in silence, sometimes with Max Richter’s, The Blue Notebooks, on CD, playing in the background. And we talked, deeply, meaningfully, and with intention. We found peace in trusting one another with private matters being expressed in our artworks and through our processes. We needed the full ten days to truly dive into the depths, to forage for ourselves, and to emerge changed.

I have included images from the ten days mentioned earlier, hoping they convey some of the emotions and experiences I had during this artist residency.