11th August - 29th August 2025
Cow bells, summer mountain storms, masking tape and a very shy hedgehog
My daughter, Simone, and I arrived at Trélex with no set agenda. Only her doll dress-making kit, open minds, and a small suitcase of materials. What followed was a joyful, intuitive process of exploring, creating, and simply being together.
I didn’t find Trélex by accident. Back in 2018, when my daughter was still a toddler, I began searching for artist residencies that welcomed children. Again and again, I came across language like “no children allowed” or “we cannot accommodate families.” Each rejection felt like a fairly clear reminder of how often the art world overlooks parent artists.
I made a promise then: when the time came, I’d seek out a space that embraced the full complexity of being both a parent and an artist. Trélex stood out immediately. It’s one of the very few residencies that not only allows, but genuinely welcomes children as part of the creative ecosystem. That kind of openness is rare and, in its quiet way, radical.
In New York City, I work as a creative director, guiding projects, managing artists, and shaping institutional vision. While the work is creative, it’s also structured, strategic, and outcome-driven. So to step into a space where I could be spontaneous, messy, and creatively free, especially alongside an 8-year-old was a profound shift.
There was something transformative about letting go of control and entering a shared, unplanned process. Our ideas were loose, materials improvised. “Success” was measured in play, wonder, and collaboration. We quickly found a rhythm. Among many creative directions, we gravitated toward stop motion animation, not as a finished project, but as a sandbox for our imaginations. There were messes, distractions, and tangents but also deep connection and joy. I was reminded that real collaboration isn’t about equal skill or vision, but about trust, openness, and meeting each other where we are.
Here are a few of our highlights:
-Sasha. Simone’s favorite resident was Sasha, the enormous, sweet-tempered dog who quietly watched over the house. Simone adored her, though Sasha mostly kept to herself.
-Cowbells. Trélex is deeply quiet in a way you can’t quite describe. On still days, the only sound is the soft echo of cowbells, no traffic, no hum,just birds, breeze, and the steady rhythm of chimes.
- Mountain Storms. The August heat built up warm days inside the old house, nudging us outside to explore. At night, mountain lightning storms lit up the sky an exhilarating spectacle for two city dwellers.
- The tiny hedgehog. One afternoon in the garden, we spotted a small, spiky creature. Nina gently picked it up, it was a hedgehog, curled into a perfect little ball. No harm was done. 🙂
For us, Trélex was more than a residency, it was a space that held without pressure or expectation. It gave us time, quiet, and the rare gift of creative possibility. I reconnected with parts of myself that often get lost in the pace of daily work, my ability to build, to improvise, to play. I remembered that creativity doesn’t always need a goal; sometimes, wonder is enough.
And for my daughter, I believe this experience offered something even more, a sense of confidence, curiosity, and connection that will live within her for years to come.
Our adventure was beyond my wildest dreams.
Enjoy future artists!!
Always,
Jana/Simone
