Day 1
Drawing back the curtains of my chalet window I blink at the luminous white landscape in front of me. Whilst delighted at the beauty of the scene (worthy of even the most ostentatious Christmas card) my plans to work on the ground seem somewhat threatened. This is my first morning in St Louis, about an hour’s drive from Perpignan on the edge of the French Pyrenees. I will be staying here for a two week residency working in the surrounding land.
Rather than spend the morning crunching around willing the snow to melt, I explore the area a little with Jonathan who lives and works here from his studio. I have purposefully arrived without materials, looking to use what is already here. I am keen to work with some of the striking red earth that makes up large areas of the local landscape. Jonathan and I begin the day by driving a short distance to collect some samples of its various shades, ranging from rhubarb crumble to Australian outback. I want to embed this earth into the grassy land surrounding the chalet for a time-based work which I anticipate changing slowly with the weather over the coming months and hopefully years. Details of this will follow.
We visit the pretty Rennes-le-Château where we examine a plethora of literature based on some lengthy speculations about hidden local treasure. It is very attractive to believe that this is a place rich in mystery, esoteria and secret societies as many excited historians would have you believe. It is equally conceivable however that thin rumours based on the acquired wealth of a certain 19th century priest have blown quite out of proportion and led to the various colourful claims that have been made concerning Templar Knights and the Holy Grail. Perhaps your level of sympathy with authors such as Dan Brown will decide!
On arrival back at the chalet the land is transformed by the sun. As quickly as the snow arrived, it has now vanished like a receding tide. I select a wide patch of turf to work with. Due to some regular nocturnal visitors this is largely based on how mole infested the grass has become over the last month or so. The smoothest area, which I spend the rest of the afternoon mowing, is just between the road and the chalet.
Helen and Jonathan have a truly wonderful home and workspace here. There are purple headed peaks in the distance, my breeze-blocked Hackney Wick studio is miles away and the silence is delicious.
Rona Smith
