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Creative Paradise -- Part 1

Imagine uninterrupted time to create art, experiment and work on series pieces, while the energy and flow are still electric within your psyche. Now imagine not having to stop even to prepare your meals or answer the telephone. Or perhaps your interest is simply to be around other artists, to see their work, and to meet and talk to them about their techniques and skill. Artists' retreats and colonies for all levels of creative exploration are located throughout the country. Following is a bird's-eye view of four of them:

Laguna Beach Art Colony

This is not a formal retreat location but is a great place to see art, meet and talk with artists, see their work spaces and generally enjoy their talents in beautiful surroundings. Laguna Beach is a long-time location for rest and relaxation that is located on the California coast's famous Highway 1, just south of Los Angeles. Known for the fresh water lagoons and remarkable beauty, the area became a haven for artists, notably Norman St. Claire and Edgar Payne. Payne is credited with opening a gallery that is still open today and represents the oldest art museum in the state of California.

Artists and writers flocked to the area beginning in the early 1900s, but eventually they were joined by many of Hollywood's elite. Movie stars maintained homes in the area during the 1930s and '40s. Laguna Beach is still a haven for creativity and boasts dozens of galleries and studios to explore, making it a wonderful destination for any art lover. Many festivals and events crowd the calendar for this area, known for its quality art and diverse artisan population.

Tons of information on Laguna Beach can be found on the web at www.laguna-beach.ca, by calling 949.494.1018 (Ext. 1), or by writing the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, 357 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651.

Millay Colony for the Arts

Artists from across the United States and around the world have come to Millay Colony to work. "Colonists" include award winning writers (screen plays to Pulitzer Prize winning novelists), distinguished composers and dozens of world famous artists. There is no single profile of the creative talent that comes to this retreat. What most artists have in common, in addition to their talent, is the desire to exist in what is called Millay's "unbounded time" where privacy to work is paramount.

There are no obligations on the artists' time, other than those generated by their art. Accommodations for painters, collagists, sculptors, photographers, novelists, poets, nonfiction writers, playwrights, performance artists and composers are designed for unlimited potential. Private studio spaces appropriate to the medium and private living quarters combine to nurture the artist and provide every opportunity for serious work. More important, perhaps, than what is offered is what is taken away: telephones, errands, meetings, presentations - all those things that interrupt the creative process.

Millay Colony for the Arts is located at the home site of Edna St. Vincent Millay in Austerlitz, N.Y. Information can be obtained at www.millaycolony.org or by writing P.O. Box 3, Austerlitz, NY, 12017 or call 518.392.3103.

The MacDowell Colony

Located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in an area described to be "a bit of Paris in New England," this artists' retreat was founded in 1907 and has welcomed over 4,500 creative artists during its history. It concentrates its purpose around private, individualized work time and space. Visual artists, writers, composers, photographers, printmakers, filmmakers and architects go to the MacDowell Colony from across the United States and from many foreign countries. The uninterrupted time and seclusion are what draw in a community of gifted artists. Colonists have the opportunity to be in an atmosphere where work is of paramount importance and has changed their lives. Collaborative projects involving more than one artist are also welcomed. Financial assistance can be available through the registration process.

Contact The MacDowell Colony at website www.macdowellcolony.org or by calling 603.924.3886. Contact the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce for information at 603.924.7234.

Vermont Studio Center

The purpose of a Vermont Studio Center Residency is to pursue independent work. However, residents are also invited to participate in informal interaction with a large and varied community of creative people. While residencies are usually limited to two weeks per artist, up to 52 artists and writers each month are offered the use of the facilities at Vermont. Studio space is open 24 hours a day year-round, affording all artists a schedule and work ethic suited to their needs. Workspace and accommodations are assigned appropriate to the medium.

Presentations by visiting painters and sculptors are part of the community interaction and offer residents conversation and mentor encounters with these professionals. What is mentioned most often about Vermont Studio Center by past residents is the creative opportunities that are offered, the extreme natural beauty and the solitude to explore and experiment in one's chosen area of artistic expression.

Contact Vermont Studio Center at www.vermontstudiocenter.com about fees and fellowship opportunities. Write them at P. O. Box 613, Johnson, Vermont 05656 or call 802.635.2727.

NOTE: The Alliance of Artists' Communities: Directory of Residencies in the United States has just been published, and it catalogs 79 opportunities. Contact them at: www.artistcommunities.org or write The Alliance of Artists' Communities, 2311 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97274.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 11 No. 7 -- May 2001