I came to Elsewhere Studios looking for new inspiration. I was born in the swamp, I’ve lived most of my life beside the swamp, and I make artwork about the swamp. This is a subject I am very passionate about, but I really needed a new environment to explore and to influence my artwork. Elsewhere Studios was a perfect place for me to begin new research, because the mountain landscape is so different from the Louisiana landscape. Elsewhere Studios also provided me with solitude and all the time in the world to make artwork. Because I arrived at Elsewhere in May, I got to witness all the flowers blooming, the inviting warm sun and cool nights, bike rides and picking wild asparagus. These humbling experiences were very grounding and sobering. The people of Paonia are just as wonderful and welcoming. All these experiences are fodder for my future artwork. I left a little piece of my heart in Paonia and I took a little piece of Elsewhere back with me to New Orleans.