Above is a trial run in my studio in Boulder of the “inhabited drawings” that are inspired by the work of Portuguese artist Helena Almeida.

I am leaving today for Portugal for the artist residency at the Obras Foundation and to continue my research and work in relationship to Portuguese artist Helena Almeida. During the last few weeks I have been working with British fashion designer Bella Newell making fabric constructions for a series of “inhabited drawings” that I will create while in Portugal. Bella’s skills and talent have been invaluable.

These constructions are based on a series of geometric drawings I made in 2013 in gouache and pencil. I decided to remake these drawings out of meters of black and red fabric and “inhabit” them in my studio in Portugal. I will have a photographer at Obras photograph me “inhabiting” these constructions and then paint the prints with Helena’s and my signature blue paint.

I will meet Cydney Payton tomorrow in Lisbon and we will be there for several days before going to our residency at the Obras Foundation. We are both excited that we will be meeting several contemporary curators and people who know and have worked with Helena Almeida while we are in Lisbon. I will post from Lisbon and keep you abreast of my journey. Just wanted to let you know I am on my way!

Below are the drawings that these constructions and “inhabited drawings” are based on.