July 2017...FAAE STAR experience, my wedding dress re-vamp, daily art plus MUCH MORE...all in one post (gulp)

​'da Muse in 'da NEWS!
FAAE Press Release
Herald Tribune Article
...and even some LOVE from my Alma Mater!
​

 I am late writing up this blog post, but I have been going full speed since I returned.  One of our cats, Scooter, was sick,we had out of town guests and...oh yeah- SCHOOL STARTED BACK!  Yikes!  So...I just haven't sat down to do this.  But now I am going to attempt to summarize my experience as a FAAE State Teachers Artist Residency (STAR) recipient...but I won't do it justice, and there is no way that I can even attempt to express the magic of this experience...but I'll sure try.  (By the way, Scooter is getting better but he gave us quite a scare)

So a while back I applied for this residency program, and late in the spring I found out that I was selected.  What is it?  It is a three-week block of time for five Florida arts educators at the beautiful Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, Florida.  This year they chose three visual artists and two writers- I was fortunate enough to be one of the artists chosen.  (if you are curious, the application process included submission of an artist statement, a plan for the residency time, work samples and letters of recommendation, open for Florida teachers )  This is actually one reason why we didn't travel much this summer, because I had this planned, so we kinda just hung out at home mostly...I digress.

First off, meet the 2017 FAAE STARs;

From left to right; Kathleen 'Katie' Holt, Brian Capley, Muah, Sandra Stiles and Gerald Obregon

​...and it was off to Englewood.

​Hermitage Tour

Gonna start with a lil' tour of the site.  There are several different sleeping quarters at the Hermitage, there's a cute single beach cottage, another larger one right beside the studios and then two folks were assigned the main house...myself and my friend Katie!  (not sure if I mentioned it, but I met Katie last summer at the KCAI shibori workshop that I attended and neither of us knew that the other applied for the FAAE STAR until we saw the email naming the recipients!  So not only was I excited about  being selected, but sharing this experience with a friend?!  Win-win!)  Where was I?  Oh yes, the TOUR.  We all arrived on a Monday. The weather was beautiful.

This is the main house where Katie and I stayed, and where all the artists gathered for meals and laughs.

Inside...you can kinda see the kitchen that we all shared, main dining area and living room.  
​There is also a small studio and two bathrooms on the first floor to the left, then another bedroom and bathroom upstairs, that's where Katie stayed.  We also both worked in this space at different times.

The room that I was assigned used to be the old kitchen.  (Side note, I actually had a very vivid dream one night that I was standing in that kitchen- dying fabric of all things!)  It was really bright with a view of the ocean, a closet area and a private bathroom.  

My room before I unpacked...

...and my room after I unpacked. Of course I had to add some pink, right?

Figured I might as well show a pic of the bathroom just because it was so beachy and cute.

​In addition to the living quarters there were three artist studios literally a stone...er...make that a SHELLS throw from the house.  I set up shop one of 'em, mostly worked on my paper cut series there...and took naps in that super comfy chaise lounge!!  The three studios were all connected inside but you could close the door for privacy.  There were sinks in each studio and also two bathrooms in the building.

It was tough to get a good pic, came out dark...but this was my studio space!

...I didn't include pics of the other living quarters because...well, those are their bedrooms, duh!  There is also a little laundry room under one of the residences, another studio set up more for 3D artists and then the Palm House, just a short walk away...home to the administrative office and event space.

...this was hands down the best part of the whole place- that VIEW! Right on the beach!

​Week 1...getting settled in

Week 1 seems like it just flew by!  It took me a little bit to figure out my 'schedule'.  I quickly figured out that sunrise, sunset and making art were pretty much my only to-do's in my new surroundings.

​Wedding Dress Re-Vamp!

So....this happened!  Our twelve year wedding anniversary happened to fall on the first weekend of my residency.  I brought my wedding dress along with me just in case I decided to do something with it- and I did!  I painted it and wore it down on the beach and took some fun pics thanks to Katie (the photographer) and Brian (the stylist/photographer's assistant)  

Week 2...gettin' into the work flow!

Week 3...final week!

We crammed in as many sunrises, sunsets, creative moments and laughs into the final week...and I think all of us just wondered where it all went.  My hands hurt from going back  and forth between cutting paper, drawing and beading but I felt like I was pretty prepared for the final event- an Open Studio for each of the visual artists followed by the readings from Sandra and Brian on the beach.

...another thing...

This is not related to art at all but it was also a very important part of my experience.  I went to the gym almost every day that I was at the Hermitage thanks to the free YMCA membership they offered us.  Not only did I go to the gym, but I really worked hard thanks to the expertise of Katie, who was really patient as she showed us different exercises.  Brian and I were probably the silliest people at the gym, but we worked our muscles, broke a sweat and laughed a ton.  I have continued my workout regime since I returned, which I am really proud of!  Thanks so much Katie (and Brian!)

...that's all, and that's NOT all.

Three weeks.  I was awarded three weeks by the Florida Alliance for Arts Education to dedicate to making art.  I have been creating a daily piece for over six years now, but this experience gave me time to work on some larger pieces over several days...to bead for hours at a time and to think about the act of creating my work.  I got a chance to talk and work next to other creatives...to have our stories become a part of the same narrative, that of an educator, an artist, a writer...all in this magical place on the west coast of Florida, and I do believe each of us will be bringing some of that magic back into our classrooms. And yes, I keep using the word MAGIC.  Magic, magic, magic...if you ever go there you will see what I mean.  

So thank you FAAE and to the Hermitage for selecting me to be a part of this, and for being such an inspirational space.  Thank you to Sandra for the quiet talks and our time on the beach, at the shores edge, and for reciting your words that final night with such confidence. Thank you to Gerald, my studio mate, for talking art and channeling my favorite college drawing professor. (...who visited me in a dream during my time...I am telling you- the place is special!)  and also for motivating me by your  work ethic.  Thank you Brian for being my workout buddy, for making me laugh til my sides hurt and for allowing me watch your reclamation process- you did it, you really did.  You are one of the most articulate folks I have ever met...and silly, and pure of heart.  And thanks of course to my sweet friend Katie... we now have two art related experiences together- you motivated me to go to the gym, to grab my needle and sew, and to get in the ocean...at least a little.

The thing about the STAR program is...it's not just a program.  It's an experience- now a fond memory.  But it is also a spark in the educators chosen, a spark that will light up each of our classrooms.  And I am proud to have been a part of it and to pass that light on to my students.

My STAR fam...best wishes to all of you