Beth Godley: MEMORY
“ I now paint my daily environment from memory. It’s interesting what gets left out and what gets emphasized”
Summer II 2023
Artist-in-Residence in Hamilton, MT
Beth in Tainan
How would you describe your work?
I am a multimedia artist. I work with collage, acrylics, watercolor, and ink. When I was in Hamilton, I started working on the theme of memory. I made large collages based on my childhood memories. I now paint my daily environment from memory. It’s interesting what gets left out and what gets emphasized. I discovered Momigami, a (paper crumpling and oiling) process that transforms paper into cloth. Since I’ve been in Taiwan, I’ve been using Momigami to make soft sculptures using a sewing machine
Have your material choices changed over the years?
Yes. I started with watercolors, a practice I maintain. During the pandemic, I explored acrylics and collage. But my material of choice is glass. I kilnform (melt) glass, and I make beads at the torch. I’ve learned to be flexible; sadly, glass isn’t available everywhere.
Large Momigamied Paper
How was your experience as an Open AIR Artist-in-Residence?
The experience was fantastic. I had wanted to spend time outside of the city. My hometown is Brooklyn, NY. I thought that spending part of the summer in a small town, with a studio, meeting new people, and being surrounded by nature would be just the right thing for me, and it was. I had a supportive sponsor and sponsoring organization, a cohort, a dedicated workspace, and new colleagues and friends. I experienced small-town life in the Rocky Mountains with an emphasis on enjoying nature.
Beth in Jiufen
What was your research process during this time?
I researched the town of Hamilton and its environs. I was excited that there was a park at the end of Main Street. I could fish if I got a permit. There were resident moose in the park. I had been told that there were artists in town and that the people were friendly. I was dubious, but I decided to have faith. The residents of Hamilton are generous, curious, and open to engaging. The residency was a little different in that I was in Hamilton to engage with the people in town, attend events, and knit myself into the fabric of life there. I set aside time to work in my studio. I took walks regularly, hiked in the mountains, attended water aerobics class, and participated in a weekly writing group, poetry readings, potlucks, game nights, lectures, concerts, and festivals. I shopped at two farmer’s markets, a variety of supermarkets, and a health food store. I met people everywhere I went, and they were lovely.
Momigami Envelope
What are you up to now?
I left Hamilton, Montana, and returned to Brooklyn, packed up my belongings, and moved to Taiwan. It has been quite an adjustment. I work at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, training professors to teach in English. I also support Fulbright grantees working in Taiwanese public schools as English Teaching Assistants across Taiwan. The Taiwanese government has set a goal to make schools bilingual by 2030. Fulbright and the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (FSE) are working toward this goal. Five days after I arrived, I was in my apartment. The next day, I was at the office. This position requires travel. I learned to book trains and hotel rooms and to take taxis. I do not speak Chinese. As an English language trainer, I can communicate well with gestures. The Taiwanese people are generous and hospitable, and that is helpful. I also use Google Translate.
Image of Jiufen, Taiwan
Check out Beth’s Instagram @godleyglass
