Between March and April, Ideas Block - a creative space + cafe in Vilnius (Lithuania) held my first solo exhibition. For a month I had a "pop-up" studio there, I was working on some new pieces and was taking my daughter with me most of the time. It was my first working-space-out-of-home experience and it helped me enormously... to focus, finish up some older works and organize my tools, projects and new ideas. It was a small room - studio and gallery space 2 in 1. Anybody could pass through if going to the toilette or the back storage room.. and that was a new thing for me. To work while being on display.. Having seemingly my private workshop but actually exposing myself to being witnessed in the progress, or being interrupted :) I loved it all the way. It was the best gift for my 30th birthday : a creative experience. I was very happy to finally put up my works all together and see what I have birthed through the last few years.. also to be able to engage Saule in the whole thing, having her to help me hand the pictures, paint and draw together, use scissors and glue on daily basis and not being distracted by the dishes or laundry next to that. We met many wonderful people! Some of them also creative mothers with children. I feel grateful for those exchanges of ideas and energy, smiles and laughter, feedback and support. I had a place out of home, like a second nest with open door.. and I could go there to play and get inspired! When it got warmer, we cycled there and back. It was approximately 20 minutes one way. I started to feel my muscles again and Saule learned the road by heart, she would exclaim "Panorama!" as we passed the wide view of the city on our right, cycling up the hill. During the whole residency, we made four events: first was the poetry reading at the opening of the exhibition, then the creative writing workshop, the yarn spinning workshop, and (at the closing) - a concert and screening of the "Who Does She Think She Is?" documentary about mother-artists. All of these events were intimate, with no crowd, which I very much enjoyed. It was the first time I've ever read my poetry in public and though my voice was at times shaking and Saule was walking around and about, occasionally talking right at me, this was strengthening and elevating for me.. To hear my voice in an open space, knowing that others are hearing it too... and it was different sensation from the writing workshops, where we all read to each-other. Even more naked. Important. Centering.. Another great thing about the artist residency in Ideas Block was that I could sell my items there. They would take a share of 30% from whatever I've sold, which I consider to be a fair price. And what was important for me more than selling - the opportunity itself, which gave me a sense of settlement and purpose. I've been running an Etsy shop for a few years now, but I've always enjoyed being able to sell my products in person. To see the person who's buying it. Having a conversation. A connection. It's important.. and it's fun! We were selling: paintings, poems, handspun yarns, knitted scarves, music albums, colorful magnets, prints and home-made raw desserts. our breakfast in the studio ideas-block.com/rainbow-room-by-agnieszka-olszewska
"Ideas Block" tagged pictures by Liucija Dervinite
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August 2020
May all mothers find peace in this creative universe and often rest their heads on its playful lap ♥
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