ArtRadius Saksala

I'm bringing a couple of old books of photographs from the 40s and 50s. One is entirely of the Karelians. Saksala must be in the heart of that region. For me the book is mysterious because it's entirely in Finnish. I would love to match up any of the places in that book with real places, if they're still recognizable. I hope to make drawings and photographs to work from when I get back to Vermont.

I've been reading about Finland old and new, and yearn to see it. There seems to be a lot about Finland for Vermonters to admire.
 

I'm grateful for the impulse that made me come to Finland, and happy that my daughter found Saksala on line.  It suited me perfectly to come there and to have a place to relax and work in an art environment.  It isn't that one can't make art in other surroundings, it's more a matter of enjoying the community of like-minded people and being in a nice place.  I was surrounded by Saksala's outdoor sculpture, fields, orchards, and countryside, I was included in Saksala's open house events, and I met local people who helped me unravel the mysteries of my Finnish picture book.  The quiet pace was good for my soul.  It helped me to get away from my regular life and think of how I was going to put together my next body of work.  

Your suggestions, too, about silhouettes and negative spaces helped me to think of some visual possibilities of how to handle the work I want to do.  

My visit to Retretti was fun, with the Dubuffet exhibit, the light treatments, and for me the striking stylized flower prints of Kirsi Neuvonen, which led me to a little flurry of botanical drawings and have given me some ideas for future work. Also I must thank you again for your generous hospitality and the free use of your wonderful library; I made sketches and photos of some of the material and have referred to them many times already.

More of Cully Renwick art work you can find on Google blogspot.

Arts Council Finland

AllaprimA foundation the Netherlands

Encouragement Fund Finland