Vulnerability in life and art

In this conversation, Mariette shares stories about what carried her and her husband Raymond from The Hague to Corrahopple in Ireland, how she opens herself to insights from the beings that surround her, the communities and larger families she connects through walks and conversations, and her reliance on intuition.

Learn more about life at Corrahopple through instagram @mariette_baptist

I enjoyed a lovely conversation with Gerry Bohan, farmer and author living in County Leitrim, in the northwest of Ireland. I was touched by his first experiences with writing as a child, having his copy book thrown to the floor by impatient teachers.

Gerry talks about finding safe spaces to perform one's work, writing for self-expression, and sharing a way of life unique to his family and their connection to the land.

To learn more about Gerry's writing, you can check out https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/1362189/leitrim-writer-bags-top-literary-award-for-short-story-on-local-gaa-club.html

My conversation with designer Anna Agapova was impactful for me, and not just for learning about how she designs spaces with such attention to the influences of nature and art to meet the needs of each client.

I was impressed by her focused energy, especially as she faces new challenges and opportunities to work in different ways. The Greek root of Agapova is 'agape,' the highest form of love, and you can hear that in her voice as she describes what inspires and drives her.

Check out her work at oa-london.com and on instagram @annagapova

Time again for self-reflection... I've been working through the idea of what it means and why it matters to share our stories with each other. I may have talked myself in circles. This is something I need to put more effort into understanding.

Any feedback would be very welcome:

[email protected]

I'm not sure it's possible to embody vulnerability and resilience more than Valentine when we spoke, wrapped in a Red Cross blanket, hours after her home had burned down and just a few weeks before the vernissage for her work Play Bodies.

Her passion for painting, curiosity, openness, and capacity for holding space are absolutely inspiring.

Check out her work on instagram @vvv.alentin.aaa

Vincent Larnicol shares his experiences of collecting art, beyond the prosaic purchase of pieces.

Vincent engages passionately in conversations about art and philosophy, the relationships he cultivates with the artists who create the works, and his role in conserving these sources of beauty in the world.

Follow his journey on instagram @carillonart

Ville is a multidisciplinary artist born in Finland and based in California. He creates and documents installation pieces in natural settings through photographs and videos. His work comes from a place of integrity and reverence you can hear as he speaks. I admire not only the beauty of his pieces, but the intellectual rigour and clear spirit with which they were made.

Check out his work, including the book Lumen, at villekansanen.com and on instagram @villekansanen

I enjoyed a lovely conversation with Spencer, a dancer and movement practitioner. He is open, committed, and passionate about performance, connecting with others, and being compassionate with oneself as a professional and human being.

Be sure to check out his work @spencerdennis_mvmnt on instagram

This is my follow-up conversation with Scott Norris after visiting him for a portrait session in the Mojave Desert. The experience brought a true and powerful meaning to feeling comfortable in my skin; it also raised questions about compassion and representations of self I'm not close to answering.

As Dogen said, 'The mountains are walking.' I'll continue to walk this path with much gratitude to Scott and the other artists who have shared their art, work, and lives through our conversations and connections over the past few years.

Learn more about Scott's work @sdnphoto on instagram and sdnorris.com

Photograph (c) Scott Norris

Shem is a painter working in South London. I enjoyed such a lovely conversation with him about art and life, music and collections, manifesting, taking risks, and not quitting on being happy.

Learn more about Shem and his work on instagram @shem_ahl