Chateau Orquevaux Artist Residency
Chateau Orquevaux is located in the heart of the French countryside.
The majority of my stay will be at Chateau Orquevaux, which is located in the Champaign region of France. After nearly four hours of driving from Charles de Gaulle, I pull up to the chateau just in time to attend the champaign reception. This reception serves as an introduction to the artist residency and allows both the artists and staff to officially meet one another.
I wander the property of Chateau Orquevaux the following morning.
After a good night's rest, I walk out the front doors of Chateau Orquevaux with my 35mm rangefinder Leica M6 film camera in hand. Wandering is one of my favorite things to do, especially in a new place. The sights, sounds and smells are all new to me here because this is my first time in the countryside of France. I've been to Paris before, but never here.
It feels a lot like home, actually. The rolling hills are filled with dormant trees similar to that of the Holyland, an area located in Northeast Wisconsin. It's warmer here in France; therefore, greenery lingers through the winter months. Color is found on the ground and up the tree trunks, while Wisconsin has no color this time of year.
The Manoise River runs through the village of Orquevaux.
Its seemingly untouched waters are pristine and flow swiftly on this damp January day.
The stables at Chateau Orquevaux are now converted into artist studios.
Although they're only utilized during the warmer months. It's a bit chilly in the studios this time of year.
I watch the sunset through the gates of this majestic property.
Creative thoughts rise up in the silence and I realize I'm here to accomplish something meaningful. I'm still unsure of the specific details, but I'm confident the creative work I bring to fruition during this artist residency will be work that matters.
"Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God." -Julia Cameron
This is only the beginning of my storytelling through the lens of my Leica.
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