As spring approaches, I wait to see my garden unfold. The first bud, the hint of color, a bouquet of scents, and eventually a vibrant feast for the eyes and the soul.
Sun-bathers merge into the background as they picnic under a canopy of trees at the top of Alta Plaza Park in San Francisco. During the early days of the pandemic lockdown, one was forced to slow down and emerge from a life, that for most people, was a blur of rushing from one thing to another. Suddenly, the future was unclear, daily life was all up in the air. There was no choice but to realize the fragility of life and step into nature, reminding ourselves that we are nature itself.
Biography
Anna is an award-winning visual artist and leader committed to the arts in several capacities. Anna’s art explores an emotional connection with her culture and family history. Leveraging nature, her heritage, and transcontinental experiences of growing up in India, Europe, and the United States, Anna creates fantastical landscapes in large-scale oil on canvas. Anna’s work has been featured at the 2023 Architectural Biennale in Venice, twice at the de Young Museum of San Francisco, the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, the Diego Rivera Gallery, and at Times Square, New York. Anna was also invited to participate in the London Art Biennale, and the Louisiana Biennial and artist residencies including the Van Gogh co-residency with Villa San Francisco and at Chateau Orquevaux in France. Anna serves on the board of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. Anna holds a bachelor’s from the British Computer Society (BCS) and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI).
Thoughts on Djerassi Resident Artist Program
At Djerassi I am surrounded by artists, thinkers, and performers across genres and at various stages of their careers. This stimulating environment is a gift in and of itself. However, what Djerassi provides for its residents is more than a month retreat on an untouched stretch of natural habitat in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains. Having attended a few residencies myself, I can appreciate what a residency offers. It is a brief period that is truly freedom from any worry or dailys truggle that an artist might otherwise face in their life. A time and place when the mind is free to wander and create magic like no other. About six years ago, and after an intense career in technology, I decided to pursue an art practice of my own. I was fortunate to discover Djerassi at that pivotal time and I have supported the program ever since.
www.annasidana.com
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