Programming
As a visiting artist or writer with the 360XQ Residency, you can be as structured or relaxed as you wish. You have chosen to come here to focus on a particular project and how you organize your days is up to you. We provide you a healthy and delicious breakfast to start your day. From there … you can have as much solitude or interaction as you desire. We will work with you to make connections or leave you to do your intended work.
NATURAL AND PLANNED INTERACTION:
Because we are offering daily breakfast we see that our residents naturally get to know one another and connect over homemade granola and delicious pastries. Gathering around the pool on a sunny day or for a cocktail at happy hour is a great way to celebrate a productive morning, working on your art. We find the residents regularly walk into town together to visit galleries or art events. The weekly market, called the tiangues, is just two blocks from us and the residents will often explore the market together.
360XQ FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
We are fortunate to have gathered a diverse network of creatives within the 360XQ family. Many a former residency participant has visited Lake Chapala multiple times and eventually decided to move here. Every month we distribute a list of the incoming artists and include the locals who credit their time spent as a 360XQ resident as a major factor to packing up and moving here. They are always happy to include you, invite you to join them for art openings or concerts or meet for coffee. You are welcome and encouraged to reach out to any one of them if you have questions or are looking for someone to go shopping, have dinner with or simply take a walk through town. They would love to hear from you.
ARTISTAS JUNTOS / ARTISTS TOGETHER:
When considering the purchase of 360XQ, it was important for me to speak with previous residents about their experience. All of them mentioned they wanted more connection … to each other … and the local community. So, we created a salon series. Once a month (or maybe twice) we host an evening salon series, Artistas Juntos ~ Artists Together, specifically to introduce the visiting residents to the community. Three artists will do a short presentation about their background, what inspires them, their life as an artist, what projects they are working on during the residency and their plans for the future. It is marketed locally, inviting the artist community to attend and engage with the artists. We set up a bar for refreshing beverages and will distribute a small flyer to the attendees that lists the bios for each of the presenters, social media links and contact information.
WORKSHOP POSSIBILITIES:
You are invited to lead a workshop when you are here. There are numerous locations throughout the property where you could lead a workshop or teach a class. We can set up a delicious breakfast or a light lunch, and ensure that you have everything you need for your instruction. We will work with you to craft the workshop, promote it and execute it. Again, our local artists are very curious folks and they love a good workshop. It is an opportunity to make some pesos while you are here and connect with local artists at the same time.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS:
Portfolio reviews are a valuable step in an artist’s professional development, and give the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and receive critical feedback from leading curators, gallerists and independent arts professionals. We are fortunate that this community is flush with internationally recognized individuals who are acutely qualified and would be happy to discuss your portfolio with you.
Portfolio reviews are designed to support you in developing your work, to address key challenges and help you realize your full potential. You may want to discuss your style, methodologies, medium or presentation and talking it through may prove to be very helpful.
A review can help you plan strategically your next moves in order to build up your career as an artist. It is an opportunity to learn about your habits and challenges from the perspective of someone you’ve probably never met before. A review offers am opportunity to reflect on where you are in your practice or career at this particular moment.
POT LUCK POOL PARTY:
We have coordinated several casual events, situated in the garden around the pool. 360XQ friends and family are invited, but we will also reach out to specific artists from within the community for whom you might find a connection. We invite other successful artists that the 360XQ artists may not get to meet otherwise and it has been lovely. We talk about art and careers and life and most everyone has a connection or a resource to share. Everyone brings their swimsuit (if they wish) and a dish to share and we simply hang out and get to know each other.
SELF-CARE OPPORTUNITIES:
As more artists are choosing to spend their time with us as a 360XQ residency, we are excited to coordinate self-care days. We will bring in practitioners for massages, mani/pedi’s, pool therapy, Bowen specialists or anything that seems appropriate based on who is here at the time. You would not have to leave the beautiful grounds of the hotel to pamper yourself. All of that can be arranged, even if you are here by yourself or if you wish to venture off-property and do a DIY spa day or make it a weekly occurrence.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES:
You will be emailed a detailed list of the various artistic activities that take place on a regular basis in Ajijic (let us know if you would like to see a sample month’s activities). You are invited to take part in any/all of them and we are happy to make introductions to the organizers. In addition to those activities, there are gallery openings, workshops, classical concerts, jazz evenings under the stars and speakers series that happen all the time here. There is no lack of artistic and cultural things to keep you busy. You will have a hard time choosing how to spend your free time.
FASCINATING EXCURSIONS:
Guadalajara is a fascinating city and there are many museums, galleries and art venues. Depending on how many artists are here at the time, we can coordinate a driver to take us in to see the sights. A good friend owns a bronze foundry/gallery/atelier and he is always open to us bringing guests to see their facility. There are too many fabulous venues to see in a one-day excursion. If you wish to do a DIY couple of days in the big city, we can help you coordinate where to stay and what to see,
You will find the communities at Lakeside to be flooded with fascinating people, interesting opportunities and experiences that will become fond memories of your time here. Culture and the arts have been happening at Lakeside for hundreds of years and your time at the 360 Xochi Quetzal Artists and Writers Residency will benefit from those of us that seek it out and embrace it. We can’t wait to share it with you.
