Inside the Studio

Christina Watka in residency at MacArthur Place

Artist Christina Watka laying out mica pieces on a table at MacArthur Place.

Christina Watka's Uprise Art x MacArthur Place residency coincided with one of the biggest superblooms in California history. Her vibrant surroundings became inspiration for a new series of wall-based glazed porcelain sculptures that capture the intoxicating palette of the Sonoma landscape. Go behind the scenes of the artist's one-week residency below.

Artist Christina Watka arranging color chips on a ledge at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Hand of Christina Watka holding up a turquoise color chip next to a faucet at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Artist Christina Watka assembling a sculpture on a table at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Artist Christina Watka lays pieces of mica and iridescent acrylic on a table at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Instead of spending time in the studio, I traveled around Sonoma with a journal and a box of color-aid paper. The colors I found were so potent, I had to color match them in person so I’d be able to remember their vibrancy when I went home to Maine.
Christina Watka

Artist Christina Watka uses a tool to make a hole in a piece of mica at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Artist Christina Watka arranges mica pieces on a table at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Hand of artist Christina Watka holds up an iridescent sculpture at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Hand of artist Christina Watka adjusting iridescent sculpture at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

This body of work is a culmination of my experience listening to the world in California. To me, it all feels playful and very full of life.
Christina Watka