Art Residency at Studio 88, Chiang Mai, Thailand

 

In the wake of the November election frenzy, I jettisoned off to Thailand for an art residency at Studio 88. This was my third trip to the country in 20 years and I was greeted by the familiarity of gold-laden temples, buzzing mopeds, and warm smiles, mixed with wistful nostalgia, and reminders of my younger, more capricious self.

Temple in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Wat Pha Lat in Chiang Mai

Studio 88 is located in Doi Suket, a serene district of Chiang Mai replete with sprawling rice fields, meandering country roads, palms, and Lanna architecture. When I arrived, I was given all the necessities– a spacious open-air studio, bicycle, bungalow, and adorable residency cat. Life simplified—in the best possible ways.

Painting at Studio 88

The extremely adorable residency cat

From the start, I was captivated by the flora surrounding me—frangipani, lilies, jasmine, and orchids bursting from the greenery. Their vibrant pigments instantly calmed my nervous system and lifted my mood. Each day, I took walks through this astounding plant life. Banana trees, palms, calathea, and crotons swayed above and around me, forming surreal collages of amorphous leaves, circuitous veins, and intertwining branches. A Vedic astrologer once advised me to spend more time in forests and jungles, and I agree. It never gets old.

Impala Lily, Doi Saket, Thailand

Orchids, Doi Saket, Thailand

Unsurprisingly, my first creations were floral studies—free flowing explorations of leaves, petals and pistils. Abstracts soon followed. My goal for the residency had been simple: Experiment and do what I feel. So, I played, creating work in a spontaneous, intuitive fashion.

Abstract works in progress

Pilat, acrylic on paper

Banana Tree, acrylic on paper

I developed a routine for my days: Morning Americanos at the Yellow House, a nearby expat cafe, followed by painting in the studio, and strolls to the market for fruit and nuts. In the afternoons, I swam at the Tao garden pool, got heavenly $5 massages, or went on bike rides. Then, I was back to painting before an early dinner.

The mellow and relaxing Yellow House cafe

Guests enjoying Jim Jum—Thai hot pot—at Studio 88

During my stay, Aom, the studio director, introduced me to silk makers, fire performers, performing artists, photographers and local painters like Supachet Bhumakarn, a whimsical, illustrative artist whose shop and studio is located in the center of the old city. I also got to hold a small exhibition.

Visiting with Supachet Bhumakarn in his studio

A little fan at my art reception

Fire performers at Studio 88

Painter at work in Chiang Mai

A highlight of my stay was leading an intuitive painting workshop for residents of a local assisted living center. I challenged myself to develop fun and enriching exercises to allow participants to release judgement, and paint with excitement, confidence and ease.

Spontaneous creative discovery at my workshop

Ethereal art-making at my workshop

I created over 25 new works on paper at Studio 88 with more to come. You can check them out in my Thailand collection.

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Solo Show at Post Montgomery Center

My solo show us up at the Post Montgomery Center in San Francisco California. This show is curated by Slate Contemporary Gallery.


July 3rd - October 10th
Post Montgomery Center
120 Kearny St, SF, CA

To view this exhibition, visit the address above during regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm, or contact info@slateart.net or call 510-652-4085 for a private viewing appointment.

Solo Show at the South San Francisco Library

Feb - May 2024
Abstracts by Michele de la Menardiere
SSF Library | Parks and Recreation Center
901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco
(1st Floor corridor & Council Chambers/Theater Atrium)

Sojourn to Bali

This September I spent a month painting in Bali. It was my third trip there and I was once again mesmerized by the richly colored surroundings. The verdant landscape, flora and fauna, vibrant art, and diverse textiles make this island the ultimate color school. During my art residency I created a new body of work on paper inspired by the environment (selected works below.)

All works are for sale in my shop.

Upon arriving in Bali, I spent the first couple of days in Canggu decompressing from my flight. “Kuta has moved to Canggu,” my taxi driver said, and the swarm of surfers and motorbikes seemed to follow on cue. Luckily it was off-season so I got to enjoy a somewhat quiet vibe at Batu Balong Beach. One could drift into idle delight for hours there, lazing on bean bags watching sun-bleached surfboards bob along the waves.

Batu Balong beach

Surfers, Canggu

Surf Magic, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

On day three I headed to AIR Ubud, my art residency, which was located in the hypnotically beautiful Juwak Manis rice fields.

Juwak Manis rice fields

Juwak Manis rice fields

Sweet Leaf, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

AIR Ubud was a lovely, low key center of creative activity. Designed by the German artist, Ole Ukena, the space had a modern, airy feel. I stayed in a large room overlooking the river and shared a communal workspace with garment makers, guitar players, photographers, and a number of vocal cats. Most mornings I worked on the terrace overlooking the jungle–a fantasia of leaf forms, twisted branches, and flower blooms. The ongoing chorus of bird caws and the occasional cat fight kept me in the present moment (which was good for my work.)

My room at AIR Ubud

My painting space at AIR Ubud

Jungle Morning, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

Afternoons were spent in art markets and galleries like Neka art museum which contains fantastic work by famous Balinese and expat painters. I visited a number of studios where local artists painted stories from Hindu and Buddhist texts in the traditional Balinese style. I also happened upon Zanzibar art house, the dream-like art gallery and home of Christine Hingston, an Australian painter creating compelling and colorful abstract works.

Local painter, Ubud

Christine Hingston in her studio, Ubud

Ubud can be chaotic and overcommercialized but the indelible spirit of the town is found in the beauty weaved into everyday life. It is there in the bright daily offerings, ornate home temples, sarrong patterns, and soothing tea house wind chimes. It is found unexpectedly when coming upon lovingly tended gardens, little known river walks, and glorious lotus ponds.

Daily offerings in Ubud

Lotus pond, Ubud

Offerings, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

After two weeks in Ubud, I headed to gorgeous Amed, a chain of small fishing villages on the coast of East Bali. I attempted to visit this area in 2019 but Mt Agung, the looming — yet unquestioningly alluring — volcano, was active and I was told to stay away (locals tell me that was unnecessary.)

Mt Agung, Jemeluk Beach, Amed

Bunatan Beach, Amed

Lipah Mood, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

Unlike Ubud which is heavily developed, the villages of Amed are slow and simple. The coast is dotted with derelict temples, family warungs, and small dive shops. I painted in a bungalow surrounded by coconut trees, snorkeled with glowing sea life, found an exquisite solarium in the jungle, and enjoyed forays into abandoned spaces like this graffiti-adorned pavilion (below.) There is something so wild, free, and mysterious about these derelict places and I stood in this one quite awhile imagining the type of paintings I could make there.

Solarium, Rimba cafe, Amed

Derelict pavilion, Amed

Morning at Rimba Cafe, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

My final destination was Sidemen, a place I had visited before. This is truly the perfect place to drop out (and in)— every direction you walk is a meditative commune with nature. To wake up each morning in these expansive rice fields, drink coffee and fresh juice, follow dogs and ducks down river paths, and paint my afternoons away, is pretty close to my idyllic life scenario. I could feel my brushstrokes getting looser and a playfulness arising in my work here. I was definitely not as hard on myself as I tend to be when I paint! 

Rice field Viewpoint, Sidemen

Rice fields, Sidemen

Free Swim, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023

I finished 20 works on paper in Bali and am in the midst of completing 10 more.
Visit my shop to see them.

 
 

Art purchased for One Medical site

My painting, Capricious Dreams, was purchased for One Medical’s permanent collection. It is displayed at the Berkeley, California site.

Hyatt Regency Hotel art installation, 2009-present 

PRESS RELEASE
JUL, 2009

Crystal City (Arlington, VA) — As area curator, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) has added three new projects to the Crystal Art collection. Infusing still more color and character into the textures and surfaces of Crystal City, these works brighten and energize Crystal City’s gateways and gathering spaces, showcasing creativity that is both economical and green.

“The response to the Art Walls program has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Angela Fox, Crystal City BID President/CEO. “People love them and are asking us for more. From an implementation standpoint, we have found a low-cost/high-impact means of transforming our user experience, and that is at the heart of what we are meant to do.”

Launched in OCT 2008, the Art Walls collection currently includes five projects; the latest two of which — Emerge and Supernature — were installed this summer.

Developed by artist Michele de la Menardiere, Emerge consists of nineteen 10’ x 10’ panels mounted directly onto the exterior of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City located at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway. Through iridescent color, amorphic shape, and varying texture, Emerge uses an abstract language to explore the rich complexity of the visceral landscape.

Artist– Michele de la Menardiere (www.delamenardiere.com)
Location– Hyatt Regency Crystal City - 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
Materials– Existing works photographed and printed directly on 1/4” Alumalite panels by Dodge Color. The nineteen 10’ x 10’ panels are mounted directly onto the exterior of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City using 2x4” wood studs giving the works a floating appearance.

Art selected for U.S. State Department's Art in Embassies Program

My art was selected for the US State Department’s Art in Embassies Program. I showed work in the U.S. Consulate in Kosovo and the U.S. Embassy in Algiers, Algeria. My work was also purchased for permanent exhibition at the U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso,

Images from the U.S. Embassy in Algiers Art Catalog

Daylighted

In 2015, my art was selected to be used by Daylighted. It was streamed on screens in hotels across the SF Bay area.

Emerge Art Walk, Washington, DC, 2008

Artwork selected for this public artwalk sponsored by the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities in Washington, DC, 2008.