me at Artfest last yearWhy do I adore Artfest so much? so many reasons...
At Adorn Me a couple of ladies asked me about it. They'd heard it was expensive, cold...
not worth it. They were SADLY misled. I am not a wealthy person by any stretch, and I get cold like the next person but that's like saying, "I heard Heaven's really boring and the gold streets are a bummer to stub your toe on." ???!!! really!? okay well.. you just go right on believing that!
Artfest is so priceless to me. I would do all kinds of things to be able to go every year.
The environment is a visual feast. The textures and rich greens... the lushness....
the view out to the ocean over the gorgeous bluff, the peeling old paint on some of the older buildings, then add to it the artists and their plumage! Teesha and Tracey are the coolest people EVER! and around then flock the coolest people EVER! The magical energy and vitality that swirls around next week at Artfest is unlike any other retreat... for me that is. I'm not a fan of the hotel retreat environment. Of course it make sense your indoors to learn the workshop... but its so sterile, fake and the air is recycled and has that icky hotel smell. don't get me wrong with hotel retreats the organizers try really hard to make it fun and choose great teachers and they can be a blast too. But I prefer a space that is inspiring. I want a vista, or scenery, or a gorgeous sky when I am not making or teaching. It is so wonderful in our time off to hike up the bluff, or down to the lovely lighthouse amongst the sculptural driftwood on a beach peppered with interesting rocks and pebbles. once in Anahata's class on the upper floor of one of the old buildings the sun brilliantly blazed forth through the tall windows. We cracked them and let the warm air breeze in. She put on fantastic music and we painted together in silence with the sounds and smells of the sea wafting in through the windows, while birds chirped outside and clouds billowed by on a blue sky. You could smell grass lawn being mowed... glorious and so NOT hotel...
The nearby town is quaint, picturesque and artsy. Its people delightfully friendly and talkative. Robert and I are entranced. A lot of folks are when they visit Port Townsend.
I couldn't imagine thinking Artfest was expensive. Teesha tries hard to make it available to all. There are even scholarship situations. So if you are reading this and on the fence, you will never, never regret coming to Artfest.
Floats on a fence by Ranger's housing Fort Worden.
