After a flight from Athens to Paris, a train ride, a missed connection and few hours waiting in a kebab shop, I finally found myself in the southwest of France, at a beautiful château – home of
@launchpadart LaB- a remarkable artist residency program where I was invited as Visiting Curator for the autumn season.
For a few days, I shared this inspiring setting with three wonderful artists in residence - Sara Enrico (
@sara__enrico ) , Valentýna Janů (
@valentynajanu ) and Elizabeth Chisholm (
@chisholm.e ) - who had each transformed their temporary studios into cosmologies of their practices. Evenings unfolded with homemade dinners and bottles of French wine (or bubbles), all lovingly prepared by Maria Hohmann (
@mariahohmann ). A guest visit by curator Irene Artísabal (
@ireneari ) added another layer of insight, sparking conversations about multi-centered art ecosystems, Gen Z models of collaboration, and the evolving meaning of community in island settings like Chios.
In a moment when metropolitan centers begin to falter on their promises, Launch Pad LaB reminds us why rural residencies matter — offering artists the time and distance to reflect, to recalibrate, and to take risks away from the noise of the familiar.
A heartfelt thank you to Veronique Parke and Sarah Elson (
@s_elson ) for this generous invitation and the meaningful experience it became.
