Lukino

In 2015, The Mudhouse Residency's first year of operation, we had two artists join us. Over the last decade, we have slowly expanded and now host multiple residency sessions, and over 45 artists each summer. Through this experience we have come to realize that we bring life and economic vitality to a mountain village, since Agios Ioannis was largely abandoned by its original inhabitants. The one and only kafeneio, that normally operates only in August, is now open in June and July because of the Mudhouse Residency. In the future, we look forward to hosting artist residencies not only in the summer months, but year round.

As we were brainstorming a name for the residency, we were inspired by the story of co-founder Varvara Liakounakou’s Agios Ioannis home, where we would gather in the kitchen for coffees, and sit under the century old grapevines on the terrace. It was built and renovated in a traditional Cretan way using lime and soil that the locals call “λασπόσπιτο”, “mudhouse”. And it was to honor this traditional building technique and celebrate the connection to the local heritage that the name was chosen.

We’ve had artists with Greek heritage join us, who have sought out our residency in order to explore their Greek origins through their artistic practice and their time in Greece. The Mudhouse residency provides the opportunity for international artists to experience, and be inspired by, Cretan culture. At the same time, the residency revitalizes the community and supports economic and civil renewal in the village.

Mudhouse Residency Inc

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