In March of 2024 I spent five weeks in Finland, four of which at an artist residency called Arteles Creative Center in the village of Haukijärvi, located in west-central Finland. This particular region was quoted as “a landscape of outstanding natural and cultural heritage” by the Finnish Tourist Board, and it didn’t disappoint! The center itself is in a restored timber house built in 1897, with an addition of a traditional sauna on the property that was added in 1961. The center has been running as a residency for the past 14 years and has attracted over 220 artists, architects, designers and writers from 39 countries around the world.
Each morning, I woke to an ever-changing landscape full of natural light, the singsong of birds and the smell of wood burning. It was such a luxury to have uninterrupted days of quiet and exploration, as I created art every single day. Of course, like any time away from the usual day-to-day distractions, there comes with it moments of difficulty and even sadness. Recognizing that it is all part of the process can be hard when you are in it. The challenge of living among so many people—there were 13 of us in total—was the biggest challenge for me. Two days of silence per week, daily meditation, walks in nature, and my yoga practice allowed for deep self-reflection that welcomed all emotions—good or bad—to surface with honesty and truth.
Being there for the entire month of March meant witnessing the magical transition from winter to spring. One of the residents, whom I got to know quite well, wrote this passage that beautifully describes the interconnectedness of every being.
She writes:
The swans arrived on the lake one week after us
like us, they stay here for a while
like us, at a time, they will move to a different place
like migrating birds, each one if following its inner compass
