March 1–9, 2023 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
The Inspiration Art Group International is proud to announce our 2023 On-Location Artist Residency / Retreat
- 4 member artists travel to Puerto Rico for 8 nights to make art under the sun.
- Includes excursions to Old San Juan, art museums, rain forests and beaches.
- with an Art Happening on March 7 @ Escambron Beach, Old San Juan
We will be hosted at the Maldonado Hacienda
Maldonado Hacienda is a private residence located in the mountains of Vega Alta, 800 feet above sea level, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The estate has 5 acres of gardens and beyond it an 86 acres farm with walking paths. The property has a pool with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, a jacuzzi, a gazebo, a water fountain, a vegetable garden and a wood workshop. Each bedroom has air conditioning and a solar water heater. The Maldonado Estate has well water, generator, internet, a piano, four dogs and a parrot.
Rita Maldonado will be your hostess, driver and personal chef.
Reflection on Artist Residency in Puerto Rico 2023
By Tanya Kukucka
I am so honored to be one of the four women who were chosen for the Inspiration Art Group International Puerto Rico Artist Residency for March 2023. It was an amazing experience to be able to create art in such a beautiful setting in the mountains of Vera Alta near San Juan. I enjoyed having my own workspace, where I could focus on my painting.
11” x 14”
Acrylic on Canvas Board
Before going on this trip, I put a lot of thought into my project. Since I love mythology and symbolism, I researched the mythology of Puerto Rico and discovered the Legend of the Hummingbird.
It is a story of a man and a woman who met accidentally and fell in love. Their tribes were enemies, so their love was forbidden. The father of the woman had arranged for her to marry someone she did not love. She asked the Gods to help her, so they changed her into a beautiful red flower to escape her fate.
Since she was ‘missing’, her lover looked all over for her to no avail. He also then asked the Gods to help him find her. His prayers were answered- and in the middle of the night, he was transformed into a hummingbird. The legend says that when you see a hummingbird flying from flower to flower, it is the man trying to find his lost love. I really liked this story and decided to use it as my inspiration.
When I arrived in Puerto Rico, I was amazed at the beautiful landscape. There were gorgeous plants and flowers everywhere! Little lizards and hummingbirds abound! I was immediately mesmerized. I couldn’t wait to explore the gardens and I took many photos of the flowers, birds and creatures to use as references for my work. I was able to produce three paintings in four days, which was very intense for me, but which I am very proud of. I was able to experiment with metallic paints which I think really enhanced my work.
14” x 18”
Acrylic on Canvas Board
14” x 18”
Acrylic on Canvas Board
Not only was I happy with my work experience, but I also enjoyed the company and friendship of the other three artists and the hostesses. We shared wonderful freshly- prepared meals (of which most contained fruit and vegetables that were grown on the property!) and many stories together. We also explored the streets of Old San Juan, visited an artist’s studio and went to a wonderful art museum which had many famous pieces that I was delighted to see in person!
We had a wonderful tour of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico by a local artist named Diana Davila. It was great to see all of the diverse art created by so many fantastic artists of Puerto Rico. I was amazed at all of the vibrant cultural expressions displayed that have been created in both the past and present. I felt lucky to be able to see and feel the history of this magical place.
It was overall a very enlightening and enriching experience for me. I learned a lot about myself, and about the wonderful culture of Puerto Rico. I also feel like I made some lifelong friends at this residency.
I am grateful to the Inspiration Art Group International for this wonderful opportunity. I am sure that this experience will influence my art in the future as well.
Many thanks to Bibiana, Kay and Leonie for their friendship and encouragement, and to Rita, Bess and Diana and everyone on the Maldonado estate for their wonderful smiles and hospitality.