Reflections and notes on the relationship of art to nature and of nature to art from along Warwoman Creek, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Katuah Province of Turtle Island, where the light, the dark, the seasons, the time of deep past, deep present and deep future all mix in alchemal mists to reveal and hide and transform these slopes, shaded coves, bright rivers, deep forests and me, and together sustain me and my art.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

SUMMER WORKSHOP: DRAWING FROM OUR OWN TRUE NATURE

SUMMER 2015 WORKSHOP:



North Georgia Mountains

Rabun County, Ga.


Come with artist poet Laurence Holden and eleven others for a week following a path through the forest, walking, drawing, listening, touching, writing, singing, and painting into our own true nature.

Each morning we will strike out on foot from Kawani, Laurence's home and studio in the North Georgia Mountains, to discover the rhythms and patterns in nature that resonate within each of us in ways that are singular to each of us and call us to know ourselves more intimately and more clearly.
Each afternoon we will return to Laurence's studio to reflect upon and reconsider with written words and drawn images the rhythms and patterns we've discovered in the nature of our lives..

Who Can Benefit

  • if you miss a personally embracing relationship with the natural world
  • if you have the recurring feeling that nature has something to teach you
  • if you enjoy the outdoors and would like to explore a new approach to the experience
  • if you are an artist or crafts person who draws inspiration from nature
  • if you suffer from nature deficit disorder
  • if you are an artist or crafts person stuck in a creative rut, or just grown stale in your approach

What to Expect

  • small group size - workshop is limited to only 12 participants.
  • developing a one-on-one collaborative relationship with Laurence over the 5 day session
  • an immersion in the natural world bit by bit through all your senses
  • exploring techniques handed down from before the dawn of time for seeing, sensing and understanding the patterns and rhythms of life embedded in nature
  • learning to connect the rhythms and patterns in nature with those already living within each us
  • beginning to recognize layer by layer the patterns and rhythms within yourself that generate and shape the grain of your own life.
  • a sharing of experiences and techniques in seeing, drawing, and organizing your experience
  • an opportunity for visual artists to develop skills of seeing/drawing to extend the expressive quality of their art process
    • NOTE: to get a taste of experiences click HERE to read blog entries describing past sessions.

Schedule

June 20th - DEADLINE to pay for a place in the workshop (go to Sign up & Pay for Summer Workshop). The workshop is limited to just 12 participants.
Sunday, July 19, 7-9 pm. get to know and orientation session at Kawani.
Monday - Friday, July 20 - 24,  8:30 a.m. meet at Kawani and head out into the forest together. We will return each mid afternoon to Laurence's studio to explore and deepen the themes we've discovered together in the forest, and end at 5:00 p.m. for late afternoon refreshments on the porch.
Friday July 24, 5 -7 pm  refreshments and a gathering, sharing and summing up together what we've learned and exploring ways to extend your learning from here on your own.

Tuition: 

           $500.00  (go to SIGN UP & PAY)

What to Bring

  • outdoor clothing, rain gear, sturdy walking shoes, drinking water, hiking staff, hat, lunch for each day.  (We will be out in whatever weather arrives - rain or shine)
  • sketch book  8/12 x 11" or larger, lead pencils, colored pencils, several sticks of vine charcoal, ball or felt tip pen, plus any other art supplies you are comfortable using - all to fit comfortably in a day pack - not much - just enough.
  • lunch packed for each of the five days.
  •  if allergic to bees/wasps, remember to bring your meds/epi-pen.

 

A Note on Fitness:

While the terrain we will be covering each day won't require strenuous effort, it is steep mountain country with slippery leaves, slick rocks on the creek crossings, trails that can be muddy, and we will be out much of every day rain or shine. You don't have to be a paragon of health to handle this by any means, but for those with health problems or walking difficulties, other venues might be better suited. If you are comfortable walking mountain hiking trails, you'll do fine.

Lodging

There are many fine lodgings in Rabun County. Here are some recommended ones:
These are listed in order of distance from Kawani:
  • Beechwood Inn (4.2 miles away) Selected "Best Inn in Georgia 2013" by Georgia Magazine. The Inn is listed on the SELECT REGISTRY, Distinguished inns of North America and carries the prestigious AAA Three-Diamond Award.
  • America's Best Value Inn, Hwy. 441, Clayton, Ga. (4.4 miles away) Standard motel with friendly owners. Located on Hwy 441, near all the fast food places. Room rates vary depending on the time of year. 706-782-4702.
  • Parker Ranch  (5.2 miles away)
  • Sylvan Falls Mill B & B, Rabun Gap, Ga. (10 miles away) This historic grist mill has been transformed into a B & B. Tucked away in Wolffork Valley; guests enjoy a delicious breakfast featuring locally grown ingredients and baked goods made from organic grains that are ground in the mill. Dogs allowed in some rooms.  706-746-5138.
  • Dillard House, Dillard, Ga. (10.5 miles away) A family-owned restaurant and motel surrounded by pastoral views of the mountains. Some rooms have sliding glass doors to outdoor patios overlooking horse pastures. The Dillard House dining room—with its huge, country-style meals—is a short walk from the guest rooms. Other restaurants are a short drive away. Room rates begin at $69.00. Dogs are allowed. Call 800-541-0671 or 706-746-5348
  • Lake Rabun Hotel  (13 miles away) A charming small hotel built in 1922 and nestled in the woods overlooking Lake Rabun, with a fine restaurant, and they can pack a picnic lunch for you.
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