During my fourth lifetime visit to Oaxaca, Mexico, I had the privilege to attend an artist residency at Arquetopia Foundation, nestled into the foothills of San Pablo Etla, 20 minutes out of el centro Oaxaca, a quiet rural town. There I spent my days absorbing and reflecting upon the immediate environment, and creating ways to (literally) use some of the materials at hand: Hibiscus, marigold and bougainvillea petals for color staining canvas; yard detritus for cyanotypes;  knickknacks for prints; my own heavily-lugged acrylic paints and mediums. It was a period of lush attention to the mystical beauty, grace and grit that is Oaxaca. Check out my material muse.