surrounded by art
It turns out there is a lot of art in Korea. There are hundreds of galleries in Seoul, and even more artists operating studios and opening shows. There are networks of expat artists all over the country, and I've had the pleasure of meeting a few a them. South Korea also has one of the largest artist villages in Asia, nestled in a valley near the border with the north. Heyri Art Valley has 300 artist members, and more than 100 buildings comprised of houses, galleries, and shops. Each building has a unique architectural design and the artists display diverse collections, from paintings, to ceramics, to musical instruments, to books. It's such a beautiful place. I'm fortunate to live fairly close, so I have been volunteering there for the last month. Each time I visit I go to a new gallery or shop and help the manager with whatever they have for me to do. I'm planning to write a short essay about my visit to each place, since they have provided some of my most interesting experiences in Korea. I am very excited to be involved at Heyri and to learn from international artists. And I'm thrilled to have discovered so much creativity surrounding me.
