Creating in Spain

"My art practice is centered upon imagery based on the natural world, with a dedication to the aquatic biome. I am fascinated with the tension between the benthic zone and the surface, a space in constant motion," shared Tubach of her artwork. Tubach's work also involves a passion for conservation efforts, so Tubach has traveled to bodies of water worldwide for research and artmaking.

Artist residencies are often competitive, so Tubach submitted a proposal detailing her desire "to document the area, both in terms of underwater imagery and cultural experience — to bring together [her] interest in marine ecology with the cultural context of the landscape." This proposal was a success, and she was selected to participate in the immersive experience from May 25 through June 29, 2023.

Before the residency dates, Tubach conducted research, documenting the underwater conditions of the Alboran Sea, snorkeling along the Costa del Sol, and whale watching in Tarifa. Tubach's goals for the residency focussed on her current creative interests. Recently, she has been particularly interested in "the connectivity between marine and terrestrial ecologies, as well as other key dichotomies — such as health versus illness, macro versus micro, geological versus biological."

After her preliminary research, Tubach developed a plan for the month-long experience. "An important next step for me was to expand the visual language to coalesce marine imagery with cultural contexts of the region." 

Spain's landscape and ecology allowed for inspiration during the residency. "There were lemon trees, rosemary bushes the size of small trees, and enormous queen-of-the-night cacti," shared Tubach. In addition to Spain's lush landscape are the majestic bodies of water. "I learned about new species of soft corals and anemones, which I saw first-hand; I also had the opportunity to see an octopus in the wild, which was absolutely thrilling." Spain's surprisingly snow-capped mountains and villages known as Pueblos Blancos were also landmarks of the Alhambra, which Tubach remembers fondly.

At the culmination of her residency, Tubach had garnered new experiences and created artwork. "I created a body of small paintings on paper that brought together these influences of the Andalusia Region." shares Tubach. She then had to transport these completed works from Spain to Virginia, "Getting one's work back to the US is also a tricky endeavor, but not impossible, of course. It can force you to work on a smaller scale."