Page 5 - BEGINNINGS: An Enso Circle Catalog

introduction artists

When Michelle Belto and I began planning a new kind of artistic community in 2015, we knew what we would
want for ourselves – supportive colleagues, accountability, fair-minded but constructive dialogue about our
work – but there was something missing that kept these beginnings from taking a tangible form. In 2019, FLO BARTELL
that missing factor appeared, and it was fearsome. ANNE L. BOEDECKER

Covid-19 brought uncertainty and isolation across the planet. Galleries and art schools closed, critique ANN BONESTELL
groups and in-person workshops disappeared. But out of this crushing isolation came a new beginning GAIL BYRNES
for a virtual arts community, The Enso Circle. Without the isolation of Covid and the resulting accessibility
and acceptance of virtual meetings through Zoom and other applications, the Enso Circle would not exist SUE CONNER
in its present form. Now beginning its fifth term, this Circle has nurtured over 40 international Artists-in- WALLY LAFAIETE
Residence and produced four spectacular catalogs of their artwork done while working within the Circle.
ANN LEACH

In this book of words and images, the Enso Circle artists share their thoughts on beginnings that often VANESSA MARTIN-LANGONE
come from broken places that are repaired by souls who stitch with gold.
MARIAN MCKENZIE-CONE
“I am broken INGRID TEGNER
beyond repair.
There is no going back HEATHER TINKHAM
to the person I was before. MICHELLE TRACHTMAN
There is rebirth,
rebuilding, SARAH TREANOR
reinventing, STAN UNSER
and soul stitching
with gold
that needs to happen.” LYN BELISLE

Najwa Zebian, Sparks of Phoenix MICHELLE BELTO