Quarantine Residency: Azul and Ebony at Calling Up Justice Bay Area Studio
The Calling Up Justice Quarantine Residency offers artists a COVID-conscious space for rest, creativity, and community connection in the Bay Area. Artists are provided housing, a garden, a private bathroom, and support for both independent projects and collaborative exploration. For Azul and Ebony, this residency was a balance of preparation, creation, rest, and joy.
Residency Journey
Preparation and Creative Work
Much of Azul and Ebony’s residency was dedicated to preparing for their upcoming trip to China. This included visits to the consulate for visas, getting vaccinations, and organizing paperwork. They also continued their work with MUCK House Herbs, filling orders, carving stamps, and hand-delivering products to Bay Area customers. A major improvement to the Calling Up Justice studio during their stay was the addition of a printer, which they used for travel documents, shipping labels, and creative materials.
Their artistic contributions went beyond their shop: Azul supported the access work for the BAMBDFest production of 2 Trains Running by writing and recording a visual description for blind audience members, while Ebony focused deeply on writing and submitting fellowship applications. They also attended Calling Up Justice meetings like Open Development and received support for their fundraiser.
Exploration and Adventures
The pair embraced COVID-safe adventures in the Bay Area, including masked parties, hikes in the Berkeley Hills, and visits to the art recycle store. On their way there, they unexpectedly encountered a protest for human rights, where they offered enthusiastic support, adding their voices and presence to the call for justice.
They also enjoyed playful downtime with video games, plenty of one-on-one adventures, and food explorations—guided by Ebony’s recommendations. From Sliver Pizza with its signature green sauce to an unforgettable artichoke pizza, their meals became rituals of both discovery and connection.
Back at the residency home, Azul and Ebony made curry, soaked in lavender-scented bubble baths, and enjoyed lavender lotions. Clothes were dried outside on a backyard rack next to the solar-powered sun battery by the garden, weaving sustainability and care into their daily rhythm.
Rest and Reflection
Amidst all this, Azul and Ebony prioritized rest and conversation. Long talks unfolded across their days, alongside moments of writing and reflection. Claudia was working long hours in the studio, taking breaks to enjoy the garden, paint, and trying to get extra time in bed to save spoons. Together they built not just projects but also a rhythm of care, joy, and healing.
About MUCK House Herbs
“We are Ebony and Azul, and we run a tiny shop called MUCK House Herbs. As two disabled Black lesbians doing our best to establish a revolutionary-centered land collective in the Southwest, we raise funds for our survival and for others’ mutual aid needs. We create herbal goods like dry blends for smoking, teas, and baths, as well as oils, salves, tinctures, washes, and handmade art.”
Final Thoughts
The Calling Up Justice Quarantine Residency supported Azul and Ebony in both practical and visionary ways: helping them fundraise and prepare for international travel, sustain their mutual aid herbal practice, and still find space for joy, food, community, and rest. Their time in the Bay Area was shaped by thoughtful conversations, sustainability practices, creative breakthroughs, healing rituals, and moments of solidarity—from supporting human rights protests to building access for the arts. This residency nurtured not only their artistry but also the full ecosystem of their lives and collective dreams.
