tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690252253599209139.post1506580182616501899..comments2023-11-03T03:44:17.257-07:00Comments on Habitat for Artists: Habitat Studios Update AUGUST 23rd 2009Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690252253599209139.post-36644380128968646382012-11-10T14:27:21.950-08:002012-11-10T14:27:21.950-08:00Time in the Writing Shed
My initial vision for th...Time in the Writing Shed<br /><br />My initial vision for the “Writing Shed” as a peaceful place to write was quickly given a corrective lens. The experience turned out to be a blend of exposure and privacy, interaction and solitary response. The shed awarded to me stood on the property of Historic Huguenot Street and, although situated under an idyllic stand of pines, was in the midst a tourist attraction. Throughout the residency, I divided my time between writing and responding to visitors’ inquiries. <br /><br />The outcome surprised me. The alchemy between the subject matter of my story and the interactions with visitors produced ideas right away. To further this confluence, I set up an installation to encourage people to jot down ideas for stories that they had always meant to write some day. For an example, I posted a short short story I’d written about a character who did an exposé on his own life. This and a quote by a fictional French philosopher, Alexis Fourier, (“The tales we haven’t told are the ones that haunt our dreams.”) confused some visitors, but inspired others to contribute ideas. <br /><br />The public’s random contributions resulted in eerily perfect details for the development of the story. I was able to blend many of them into a tale about a fictional character who wanted to have his story told by a local writer. The result was “A Golden Opportunity.” I hope you enjoy reading it half as much as I did writing it.<br /><br />I’d like to thank Simon Draper of Habitat for Artists, Shari Osborn of Historic Huguenot Street, and the New Paltz community for their support and inspiration.<br /><br />Chris Brandon WhitakerCB Whitakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15154946460816053632noreply@blogger.com