Sachaqa Centro De Arte

My time at Sachaqa has been transformative, inspiring, turturing and deeply freeing. Living off-grid in the lush jungle of San Roque de Cumbaza offered a fertile opportunity to slow down, reconnect with my self and my creative practice. Experience the spirit of a place where land, human beings and materials are profoundly intertwined. For three weeks I dedicated my self to natural pigments, basket and ceramics. What touched me deeper has been weaving relationships with the local communities, learning from their hands, hearts and ways. Sitting and walking, harvesting and preparing clan and fibers with Petrona and Don Angel. Witness their hands at work, hearing their stories, feeling their connection with Land. These exchanges were rich, humble, full of wisdom, a sweet reminder that crafts and life are rooted in connection and relation. Trina, the heart and spirit of Sachaqa, holds space with her sensitive and intuitive, yet strong nature. Her grounded and laid-back presence, creates an atmosphere where things unfold naturally. Through subtle insight, quiet strenght and a very special way of looking into another artist she is able to support one manifesting visions and projects. Trina's long woven relationship with the local communities offers a fertile ground , allowing for authentic and respectful exchange/meeting. Her are and respect for the people and culture of the area shapes every aspect of the Sachaqa. This place found home in my heart. Un lugar a donde entregarse. I amfilled with reverence and gratitude for the time lived in San Roque and for Sachaqa's holding through the journey. I left soul-nourished.

Spending a month and a half at the Sachaqa Centro de Arte in the heart of Peru was a deeply enriching and transformative experience. My time there was dedicated to ecosomatic research, where I explored the medicinal plants native to the region and immersed myself in the flora and ancestral traditions of shamanic practices—all to inform and inspire my dance-based creative process. The residency offered a unique opportunity to connect with the natural world in an intentional and embodied way. The environment itself is breathtaking—surrounded by lush jungle, vibrant biodiversity, and a palpable sense of spirit and tradition that flows through the land. One of the most meaningful aspects of my stay was the guidance and support of Trina, the host of the residency. Through her generous network, intuitive understanding, and deep respect for local culture, she facilitated invaluable connections that shaped my research and allowed me to experience the richness of the region in an authentic and respectful way. Sachaqa is not just a space to create—it's a place to listen, to learn, and to grow both artistically and personally. I left with a deeper awareness of the interrelationship between body, plant, and place, and with an expanded creative vision that will resonate in my work for years to come. I am truly grateful for this residency and would wholeheartedly recommend it to any artist seeking a grounded, immersive, and soul-nourishing experience.

Stepping into Sachaqa was an expansive experience for me as an artist. The magic and mystery of the Amazon rainforest is ever-present here, and Trina is an incredible connector – of people, plants, spirits, and beyond. She was a gracious host, nurturing my creativity and introducing me to my teachers in San Roque. I am so grateful to her and the community for welcoming me and being a source of inspiration. I highly recommend this residency to any artists who are excited about being immersed in nature and Amazonian whimsy. The opportunity to be in a community like this one is priceless, and I already want to return!

Spending time at Sachaca was a journey outside of my usual life and routine as well as a reconnecting with some of my core ways of being. Going to a village in the jungle from the hustle of New York City was a welcome change. I loved meeting the other artists that I shared time with at Sachaca and members of the village and surrounding community. I learned so much from these connections! Though much was new and unknown to me, being able to move through my days at Sachaca in a less scheduled way allowed me to better feel and act on what I needed from the experience- time and space to explore, reflect, and create. Being there felt like a return to myself. I really appreciate how Trina supported this process with logistical support, facilitating learning opportunities, like ceramics with Patrona and hiking in the area. We had plenty of interesting conversations along the way as well! Even as time seemed to move more slowly than usual, I did so many things and was able to make a lot of new work. I grew ideas that I arrived with and discovered new threads to follow. I’ll be unpacking this experience for some time to come!

I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program, and I took away valuable experiences that helped me grow artistically and personally. At the same time, I felt like people were oversimplified and our complexities were not really honored—which is so important in an artist space. Too often we weren’t truly listened to, and that led to misunderstandings and limited our processes. I also noticed that Trina at times spoke poorly about other artists in ways that simplified or reduced them, which contributed to this dynamic of not honoring people fully. In my case, I shared vulnerably that I never felt at home in the U.S. and had taken a leap of faith to leave, yet later an image was edited to put a U.S. flag on my body without my consent. When I expressed discomfort and asked for it to be removed, my messages were ignored. I also shared that I am extremely allergic to cats and was assured they would not be in the space. When they were present near my house, instead of my allergy being taken seriously, I was told to “just hiss at them,” and my needs were reframed as a nervous system issue. Since exposure can cause anaphylaxis for me, this left me feeling unsafe and dismissed. On a practical level, I also found the program unreliable at times. We were told we would have certain support—such as someone to translate or scheduled activities—and then these would simply not happen, with no explanation. This made it harder to plan and fully engage in the work. Overall, I value what I gained, but I believe the program needs to grow by truly listening to participants, honoring their full complexity, respecting their identities, taking health and safety concerns seriously, and providing reliable support.