Visit the Well

Saari Well

Throughout the ages, people the world over have gathered around wells to collect water, and in many places they still do. There they exchange thoughts, ideas, problems and solutions. Everyone present gives and everyone receives, each in his or her turn.

Saari Well offers an opportunity for the artists and researchers at Saari Residence to meet, share ideas and generally leave their own distinctive impression on each other’s thinking, work, and on the Residence itself.

The Well is born

Every few months, eight artists and researchers come to the Saari Residence to live and work. The artists become acquainted with each other, some faster and some slower than others. Mutual trust begins to develop and a sense of team spirit eventually grows within the group. Sharing at the Saari Well is often spontaneous but residence staff members also strive to create advantageous situations and opportunities at the Well.

The Well can be shared by two people. There was once, for example, a young Finnish artist working at the Saari Residence and in search of an artistic identity. An older Japanese artist staying at the Residence at the same time became a mentor to that young artist, offering encouragement and feedback. Their dialogue was beneficial for both.

Similarly, a Finnish writer helped a translator translating from Finnish to Slovenian. The writer, of course, did not know Slovenian but was instrumental in helping with the interpretation of the original text, its difficult words and culture specific expressions.   

Some artists at the Residence also wish to share their thoughts with the local community. A Norwegian puppet show artist performed his work at a local bar in Mynämäki. His audience was comprised of the bar’s regulars, local culture buffs and colleagues from the Residence. A circus artist, on the other hand, performed at a moose hunt celebration at a local agrarian community centre.

The Well Works

Ulla Koivisto, the Mother of All Wells

Experienced choreographer Ulla Koivisto has thus far stayed at the Saari Residence three times and has succeeded in fruitfully fulfilling the concept of the Well as the contacts she made during her stays have resulted in several multidisciplinary projects. In fact, you could call Ulla “The Mother of All Wells.” Read more >>

Shared Meals

In the autumn of 2010, the Saari Manor Residence housed an active and interactive group of artists. They wished to share their working methods with each other and to collectively discuss their work. Each week, one artist would host the others and cook them a meal. This group included Niran Baibulat, Andy Best, Ulla Koivisto, Gerry Loose, Leena Parkkinen, Hannele Rantala and Kimmo Ylönen. As a result of these shared meals, many memorable moments and delicious dishes were shared.