When I first heard of Villa Lena in Tuscany, I was struck by its motto: “a new way of living.” I was intrigued by the idea of living communally, on a fifteen hundred acre farm amid olive groves, vineyards, and rolling hills, while using flowers as a way to experience life with other artists.
When I first heard of Villa Lena in Tuscany, I was struck by its motto: “a new way of living.” I was intrigued by the idea of living communally, on a fifteen hundred acre farm amid olive groves, vineyards, and rolling hills, while using flowers as a way to experience life with other artists.
Photography by Sophia Moreno-Bunge, except where noted.
Photography by Sophia Moreno-Bunge, except where noted.
I applied on a whim, thinking that a floral designer would not likely be picked for an artist residency.
I applied on a whim, thinking that a floral designer would not likely be picked for an artist residency.
I experienced a slower pace of life than I am accustomed to, collaborating on flower and photography projects with other artists, eating with them each night, cooking, and creating arrangements for the hotel and villa.
I experienced a slower pace of life than I am accustomed to, collaborating on flower and photography projects with other artists, eating with them each night, cooking, and creating arrangements for the hotel and villa.
I made arrangements for a music festival that Villa Lena hosted during my residency.
I made arrangements for a music festival that Villa Lena hosted during my residency.
Photograph courtesy of Villa Lena Art Foundation.
Photograph courtesy of Villa Lena Art Foundation.
While living at the Villa, I thought a lot about the value of labor; as all the materials I worked with had to be foraged, I could only carry as much as my arms would allow (though I did have a car sometimes!).
While living at the Villa, I thought a lot about the value of labor; as all the materials I worked with had to be foraged, I could only carry as much as my arms would allow (though I did have a car sometimes!).
Wisteria from an abandoned house near the villa, and dead winter fern. I have a lush but minimalist approach to flowers; with shape, contrast, and movement, a little can go a long way.
Wisteria from an abandoned house near the villa, and dead winter fern. I have a lush but minimalist approach to flowers; with shape, contrast, and movement, a little can go a long way.
Making work during the residency felt like going back to basics: creating arrangements out of beautiful, wild, and seasonal materials and teaching floral workshops to artists and hotel guests, kids, and adults. Seeing them so moved by the materials was inspiring.
Making work during the residency felt like going back to basics: creating arrangements out of beautiful, wild, and seasonal materials and teaching floral workshops to artists and hotel guests, kids, and adults. Seeing them so moved by the materials was inspiring.
A dried arrangement of different grasses and salsify, which I obsessively glued, so that the achenes would not fall off the stem, as they normally do.
A dried arrangement of different grasses and salsify, which I obsessively glued, so that the achenes would not fall off the stem, as they normally do.
foraging for poppies on a rainy day.
foraging for poppies on a rainy day.
Nettle tree, campanula rapunculus, and allium.
Nettle tree, campanula rapunculus, and allium.
One of the many shell fossils we found. This land was once underwater (a long, long time ago), and there are incredible shell fossils all over.
One of the many shell fossils we found. This land was once underwater (a long, long time ago), and there are incredible shell fossils all over.
Nigella and campanula rapunculus and vibrant villa colors.
Nigella and campanula rapunculus and vibrant villa colors.
