Community rules. And by 'rules' I am not talking about regulations. By now you know how I feel about our community and the importance of the support that we all provide each other. I receive that from all of you every time I log on. But this past weekend, I experienced this in 'real life.'
I attended Art is...You, the art retreat in Danbury, Connecticut, as a vendor at the Art Trunk. This was my first real experience at one of the big retreats. Even though I did not take or teach a workshop, I felt fully welcomed and immersed in this incredible community of ours. It was inspiring, surreal, exhausting, and invigorating...all at the same time. I had the pleasure of seeing many art bloggers that I had already met before, of meeting a new group of art bloggers that I had only known online, of getting to know many of my blog visitors, and of having the opportunity to meet many of the contributors to my upcoming book. There were too many people to list names...but you know who you all are.
It has been said before, but get thee to an art retreat! It is an experience to remember, not the least of which is actually being able to meet all the wonderful people from all over the world we interact with everyday online. I am already making plans for next year!
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GIVEAWAY WINNER
Sending out congratulations to Andrea from Falling Ladies who is the lucky winner of Rice Freeman-Zachery's newest book Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat. Rice works overtime to create and foster a community among artists, bloggers, and authors. Her book is all about her experience visiting art retreat during a year-long, cross country road trip.
. Rice works overtime to create and foster a community among artists, bloggers, and authors. Her book is all about her experience visiting art retreat during a year-long, cross country road trip.-------------------------------------------
NEW GIVEAWAY
The newest Publication from Stampington & Company, hot off the presses, is Mingle. Mingle celebrates the best part of community: gatherings, retreats, parties, and events. From small, intimate gatherings to large, artful retreats, Mingle invites you to join in the celebration with beautiful photography, descriptive writing, and creative tips. Stampington provided me with two copies of the debut issue which I am offering to you in a giveaway. Just leave a comment on this post by Sunday 10/16 to be eligible. Please be sure that I have your email address. The two winners will be announced on Monday 10/17.
51 comments:
Yes! You are so right Seth...the world out there, "our" community continues to amaze me in such a beautiful and caring way!
Would love to win "Mingle"...it looks fabulous, of course =)
So you finally made it to a retreat! I remember our conversation we had about that over lunch last year. Speakind of which, the marathon was this past weekend and it was 80 degrees!
Glad you had a good experience as a vendor!
i was lucky enough to have the WEST COAST "Art Is You" in Petaluma. CA which is 20 minutes from my home. What an amazing experience.
glad you enjoyed your experience!
Yes, we do have an amazing community out there and thank you for doing your part to foster this! Mingle looks fun! Congratulations on your mini book sales and we are looking forward to your BIG new book sale ;-)
Wish I could have been there too. But one day, if this should happen, I will.
Just now I am still in my dome of ivory many thousand miles away. But I feel also connected in a certain way. and that is what the www is for.
Sounds fabulous to attend a gathering like this where you can connect with other artists. I've never had the chance to go to an art retreat but I love meeting crafters online and in real life :)
Grace
liberalsprinkles at gmail dot com
You are so right, Seth. The "community" is amazing. My efriends have opened totally new art worlds for me. I just plain love talking art whether on the www or live.
Count me in on Mingle. Thanks for offering. bb
What an incredible experience that must have been . . . I'd love to have the opportunity to meet some of my online blogging friends in person.
Please count me in your giveaway Seth! Thanks a bunch!
adbt16 at suddenlink dot net
I agree-thee's something special about spending time rubbing elbows and exchanging ideas with people who "get it".
I've been hunting high and low for Mingle here on the west coast. So far no luck. I want it because my friends Vivienne and Liz are featured for Liz's retreats. Well, maybe I'll be lucky and win a copy...
There have been so many times I have seen retreats offered and thought "oh I want to do that" and then it's either been lack of $$$ or the dates aren't going to work.
I think this is a promise I will make to myself before the next 12 months have passed...to do all I can to make that happen.
Great to meet you at AIY!
It truly is exhilarating, exhausting and just plain wonderful. Already planning for next year.. can't wait.
You are so generous with your give aways Seth. And yes, you are the Captain of Community in this artist/blog world!
I'm glad you had such fun at the real live community gathering of artists! I am sure they were all wowed by having you among them.
Let's see if #13 is a luckier number! ;-)))
oh Seth ... wish i could be there to meet you in person as well!!! it would have been so cool!! :)
Yes, we do have a great community... I am reading Ricë's book right now trying to narrow down were I would like to go. I would love to win a copy of Mingle. Thanks for all you do to foster this community!
Thanks for posting that pic of your table! It looks great. I recognize some of those pieces from magazines, so it's neat to see them like that. Gives a better sense of scale.
I would love a chance to win the book!
artist getaways are great! I always come home energized and with my head spinning.
artwithaneedle@gmail.com
What a great looking table of your amazing artwork! So glad you were able to meet so many people and have them meet you at the retreat! Very happy to be part of this special community- and always wonderful to have the opportunity to Mingle! :)
Am I the only one who creates in a vacuum, alone in my studio day after day, having never been to a workshop (sigh)? Yes, the web allows me to superficially watch others and sometimes I have the guts to share but it seems, as you have discovered this weekend, that nothing beats the feeling you get being with real live people not to mention seeing actual artwork and not just a digital facsimile. I guess I need to get out more and get over my shyness.
yes, Seth, the online community of bloggers is so inspiring!! and to attend a gathering where you meet face to face, with the ability to touch , feel, and see all kinds of inspiring material is the icing on the cake!
please add my name to the drawing for the new "mingle".
Barbara
I am fortunate to have exerienced the "magic" of one of these retreats at Squam Art Workshops last month.
Thanks for the offer for Mingle - sounds great.
The way you set up your table is fantastic, from the poster to your art to your little books. Great color and design. And, I am so happy that your vending day was successful in so many ways!
Roxanne
Love Stampington and Company. Thank for sharing with your give aways! I am definitely going to plan a retreat in the near future.
Two retreats a year is my goal. That gives me six months inspired work each... Everyone should do it.
What an interesting magazine! I think Stampington has another winner! patsy.paterno (at) gmail.com
Look forward to this new publication-I've belonged to a group that started in 1993 and we still get together once a month-and have done so all these years!
Your table looked great Seth...it must have taken a lot of work to get everything put together and organized! Glad it was a successful venture for you!
...and The Onion headline reads: Writer of The Altered Page shows up at event and proves to the World that he's Real. ...and a dude.
Count me in for your contest, Seth! Wishing I had made it down to the retreat & gotten a chance to meet you. Car issues foiled that plan!!!
An Art Retreat sounds wonderful, Seth. I hope to attend one someday. Right now I need to stay close to home caring for my sweet 94 year old mom. I have a nice studio that I pretty much live in when not busy with other things. Trying to devote more time to creating ~ so much in my head ~ so little time to get it on paper or canvas.
Very happy for you that the retreat was a great experience. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of "Mingle".
Yeah, I won!
and....I feel guilty even commenting to be included in THIS giveaway after winning the last one... but here I am. Thanks so much for the wonderful opportunity!
-Andrea
Hi Seth,
It was so nice to see you again this weekend.. love the picture of your table here on the blog.. it was such a lovely vendor table! It was fabulous to see your wonderful work there! Hope to see you again soon!
:)
I've always wanted to go to that event, but it is never at a good time for me. So glad you had a good experience.
Thanks for the giveaways too!
Wow, I'm soooooo glad you went! I've been to a few and I just adore them too! Sounds like you had a wonderful time! :)
I'm anxious to check out "Mingle",If I don't win one, I hope to pick one up soon, or hear how everone likes it!
Warmly,
Sheila
Sheila
You make it sound so fun- even as an introvert, I'm convinced it's a blast.
Congrats to Andrea and thank you so much for the chance to win your generous giveaway of Mingle magazine Seth.
Community IS a powerful thing and how great it is to be able to extend ourselves across all borders to share and "mingle" together!
What a lucky bunch you all were...it looks and sounds really special!
oxo
Oh, it's so cool that you got to do this. I wish I'd been there!
I want Rice's book. She's good.
Your vendor table touches my heart! Your commitment to the art community is over the top wonderful & I applaud you for it.
As others have noted, there are those of us still working away individually to contribute what is ours to give. And still, we look to you to take us all to a new level!
Congrats Seth!
Great looking table, Seth!
Community, what a great concept for an art magazine. Count me in Seth. :)
Cheers
I´d love to give this new mag a try but wouldn´t order it without being able to flip through it - so thanks for your giveaway, I hope I´ll win!
I'd love to win this for my daughter - this kind of stuff is her "dream come true" and I would love to make her dreams come true!
I so wanted to be there but waited to long to get into it.
A little late, but I am putting my name in the hat!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Seth: it was such a pleasure to meet you in Danbury and to see (and purchase) your splendid work! A five year veteran of Art-is-You, I can assure you that you chose the BEST venue for your dip in the art retreat waters. Hope to see you there next year---perhaps teaching????
For some reason, I thought I had already sent a comment on this. I would LOVE to own the Mingle. I looks like a fun read after I saw it on a few other sites.
Hi-I've not commented before, but you are my go-to site on Sunday morning after I have read weekly email from brother who lives far away-I was especially fascinated by the "stacks" and look at my own in a whole new light-would love to win a nice new mag to add to them. I appreciate the way you reach out and get so many artists involved in exciting projects and your art speaks for itself.
Sounds like an intriguing magazine!
Retreats are AWESOME!
Was great meeting you at Art Is...looking forward to seeing you again at future retreats!
I'm so pleased to hear that you had fun. I love seeing photos of people's tables at these events too. So many treasures to see and yours is no different :o)
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