Meditation on interaction was initially conceived as an experimental pop-up exhibition for public study and engagement where sculptural artwork is placed throughout Lacy Oasis (LO) and created on-site using organic materials holistically sourced from the property. The goal of the exhibition was to examine the way we experience art in a natural environment rather than in a typical gallery or institutional space, in addition to investigating the ways we interact with the natural world–co-creation vs pure extraction. It was inspired by the concept of interconnectedness in which something is inevitably evoked or altered within living things in relation to each other–whether with active or inactive participation; spiritual or intellectual; far or nearby–with an emphasis on naturally occurring responses in our body and of the earth.

It asks the following questions:

• In a world where systems of belief and theories of relating are shifting, how are you responding to the stimuli?

• What invited your courage to see, to listen, to speak, and to ultimately exist alongside another living entity?

• What moves you (to respond)?

• How does space, place, and proximity play a role in all of that?

• How does it feel to give? What does it look like to receive?

Earlier in the year, residency director and Lacy Oasis Creative Wellness co-director Vetiver (Vonne Napper) brought together colleagues and peers from respective creative and administrative backgrounds to share the idea of hosting an artist residency at LO. An idea that sat for a few years, necessarily so, incited a conversation on being in ritual, practicing reciprocity, and having deep attunement with sacred land while understanding the ways we honor it during artistic creation. Aside from not having the funds to bring forth all the bells and whistles contemporary artist residencies provide, this initial roundtable watered the idea seed and helped to sprout its first roots with its first cohort.

Artists Brian Menifee, DeVonn Caldwell, and Genifer Fraser made up the pilot cohort for the introductory Meditation on Interaction 2026 residency and worked together to build the first atmospheric kiln at Lacy Oasis. With a project spearheaded by DeVonn, they collaborated on building the first atmospheric kiln at lacy oasis. Due to scheduling and weather challenges, the kiln is still in progress. Images will be uploaded once the kiln is complete.