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Artist Residency
Each year Artsmith hosts a one-week residency for artists, scholars, and writers to have focused time to create new works. Beginning in spring of 2009 we introduced the Garden Party residency during which residents spend eight hours over the course of a week helping out in the garden. The Garden Party gives artists a hands-on connection with nature to invigorate their work
"To disconnect from my mind's chatter and have to engage with my body and the earth is essential. Ideas and thoughts float to the top of my mind in a way that other activity does not allow. I also enjoyed being engaged with other creative folks in this way." 2009 Garden Party Fellow
The 2011 residency will take place February 25 to March 4 at the Kangaroo House Bed & Breakfast on Orcas Island in Washington State's San Juan Islands. Artsmith and Kangaroo House provide lodging and continental breakfast. Residents provide their own travel, other meals, and incidentals. Significant others are welcome to accompany artists, and agree to honor the creative time and atmosphere of their partner and other artists.
The application period for the 2011 residency will be announced later this summer. Please email "info (at) orcasartsmith (dot) org" to have your email address added to the notification list.
"It offered me time to think about different ideas (pre-writing, if you will). I enjoyed doing something so physical at a time when most of my energy was focused on more intellectual tasks."
"I felt a sense of accomplishment to help (even a little) with different garden projects. Being from a big city, I don’t get a chance to work in gardens often. I loved the residency!"
"It is so rare to get large blocks of time to write that it is a real treat to succumb to the obsession."
"At the end of the week both my manuscript and my body were in better shape!"
For more photos, please go to our Gallery page.
