In July 2023, I undertook a month-long artist residency at the Museum of Loss and Renewal in Collemachia, Italy. Far from a traditional museum, the space is a hub for artistic creation and dialogue—one that invites collaboration, experimentation, and the reimagining of how we relate to history, place, and each other.

 

I was drawn to the Museum’s interdisciplinary ethos, which aligns with my own interest in the intersections of artistic practice, research, and personal inquiry. This period also marked the beginning of my doctoral proposal, which focused on exploring my Italian ancestry. What unfolded was a deeply personal journey—part pilgrimage, part creative investigation—as I traveled through regions connected to my lineage. Along the way, I sketched among the ruins of Pompeii, reflected on the layers of memory embedded in landscape, and considered how both tangible and imagined histories inform identity and artistic expression.

 

The works in this exhibition—sculptural vessels, objects, and paintings—were created during and shortly after the residency. They reflect an ongoing inquiry into resilience, healing, and the interrelationship between personal narrative and collective memory. Through this process, past and present converged in a practice grounded in material exploration and self-reflection.

 

The title EXAVation merges “EXA,” referencing Expressive Arts, with the idea of “excavation.” It speaks to a process of uncovering—of digging into family roots, emotional terrain, and artistic expression. This layered approach allowed for a deeper engagement with both creative practice and personal history, making the work both an introspective journey and a means of connection.