Gavin Chai - November 2022
Gavin Chai was an Artist Residency guest throughout April. He spent his time painting between the studio and en plein air painting scenes from his surroundings from interior moments, to garden scenes as well as portraits of the people who make up the community at Fortland Park.
What was of most significance to me, during my residency at Fortland was its tranquility, its slowness of pace, and the beautiful people of the place. It was difficult to not fall straight in love - when I first arrived in spring, seeing the nature in vibrant hues of pinks, yellows and violets that blended like Kandinsky, and listening to the song birds that filled the trees.
There was a certain romance or rhythm about how things happened at Fortland, where the caretaking the land would always be balanced by a sense of culture; the arts, music and good humour.
I did not stop painting at all. Finding inspiration and ideas from my engagement with people.
