Work produced in the Art Colony Galichnic

This first piece produced in the Art Colony Galichnic in August 2005 was an immediate response to the new environment that I found myself in. As an ephemeral installation it will need to be remade in any other space. Nature and religious ritual seemed to be integrated, together with the WORD and symbol, synonymous with religious beliefs in the Orthodox churches. This work was a composition based upon the sensual immediacy of a first impression. A wall hanging icon and a structure from natural wood gathered from the landscape was an interpretation of a precious symbolic image. I used letters from the Macedonian alphabet mixed with Hebrew and English letters contained in their own individual environments of air filled plastic bags. I hope that the synergy between the elements convey a feeling of respect from a stranger who was so warmly welcomed into Macedonian culture.

Its title, Homage to Nove's Place 2005 .

This work was a development from Homage to Nove's Place in that I wanted to express an idea of mutuality picking qualities of experience from Wales where I come from and Macedonia where I was on a Residency. It seemed that people embraced a lot and kissed a lot as part of their natural greeting. I combined this idea with the basics of a rural life. The language, the icon and the bread of life, depicted as a staff arising from a heap of flour.

The work is meant to be interactive in that the container held small torn pieces of paper on which kisses where imprinted and thrown into the arena much as corn is sown in a field. The sentiment is that goodwill between peoples of different cultures can be sown by positive action in a celebration of our differences.

One night I walked the narrow mountain path in the August dusk of sunset on the slopes of Galichnik. In the sanctified clearing of St Petka I saw the wild fire and the primordial gathering, ate the fish and drank the wine. The moon was high that heartfelt night. We held hands as brothers and sisters. Heard the distant drums of the heartbeat sound of nature. Deep in contemplation on that night my mind considered the line. Is it fine? And the colour of the night, does it glow? Then, in one sense, how does the form fit?

I, and everyone else there absorbed the warm Galichnik welcome. Sharing with foreign friends - we were literally embraced by Ana and Nove. Then visibly moved we sought to express the beauty of the unspoken word.

It was the synthesis of mood and shared precious space that transformed the commonplace and gave a key. A key to let go, a key to unlock the synergy of time and place, and feel the energy of Colony Galichnik.

John Brown August 2005