Lucas Artist RESIDENCY at Montalvo Arts Center

During my residency at the Lucas Artist Program at Montalvo, I embraced working solely with found materials—fallen branches, bark, soil, and leaves—letting natural constraints guide me. This approach deepened my connection with the land and underscored the power of limits in a world of excess.

I worked on several projects, one leading to the next. First, I looked at the soil. Then, what had fallen on the soil, and I used pieces of different wood, and bark. The most interactive project with the artists present at the residency was crafting two xylophones from oak pieces discovered near the villa. What began as simple carving evolved through serendipitous collaboration—Jesse Gilbert fine-tuned the arrangement, Viviana Paredes added gold, and we suspended the instrument between trees. The sound it produced became part of I Am Arte: A Ritual in Love with multi-disciplinary artist Jenn Johns.

I alternated between my time in the studio and daily walks through the forest. In the studio, I found solace in engraving wood while listening to The Great Simplification podcast—an ongoing exploration of resilience and our uncertain future.

Montalvo’s magic wasn’t just in the landscape but in the artists I met. Shared meals, spontaneous ideas, and creative exchanges reminded me that art and agriculture, rooted in patience and observation, cultivate the resilience we need today.

I leave this place grateful—for the quiet, the collaboration, and the reminder that true creativity comes not from abundance but from attentiveness to what is already here.

Soil Wraps

Made of soil, sycamore leaves, moss, twigs, and lichen found around the art studio.

Engraved Eucalyptus Bark

Made of eucalyptus bark found on the ground.

Two Xylophones

The first one is made with branches of redwood tree, eucalyptus tree, and cherry tree found on the ground. The second xylophone is made with branches of oak trees found on the ground.