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WELCOME This will be our 6th anniversary of doing Artfest at Fort Worden! We are excited to offer brand new and exciting workshops and teachers for 2006 along with great extra curricular events that make Artfest the perfect place to recharge your batteries, form relationships with like-minded folks and leave bursting with creative energy. Artfest is a unique, camp-like experience where artists come together to create, share, learn from each other and be nourished. We attract the best art teachers to come teach the latest crazes along with fresh and original ideas and techniques on more traditional mediums. New friendships are formed and ideas are revealed, renewing your sense of self, your talents, your own creative vision, and a deeper understanding. There is magic that happens in Port Townsend during the event that no one can explain. The workshops are full day 6 hour sessions designed to provide not only several techniques learned throughout the day but time enough to actually work on what has been learned so that it can sink in. The teachers come from all over the United States and represent some of the best in their fields. One of the highlights of Artfest includes the Art Asylum room which we fill with all sorts of odds & ends to create with. In here you will see one person's junk turn into another person's treasure right before your eyes. We also offer a vendor event on Friday night, providing a rare opportunity to buy original artwork from many of the best alternative artists around the country. You can find everything from found art jewelry, to assemblage art, mixed media paintings, handmade charms, unique rubber stamp companies, hand bound journals, funky zines, art dolls, textile artwork, and various other one-of-a-kind works for sale. Then on Saturday night, we invite all attendees to bring what they have made during the event to a large room where we can all see who made what and in which class. Many have said this was among their favorite events at Artfest. Last year we inaugurated the "Open Forum" on thursday night where some of the teachers sat on a panel and were asked many questions from the audience. This proved to be extremely interesting and informative. Thursday is also the night that groups get together and meet & we also host a journaling party down on the beach with a bonfire and s'more fixin's for you to enjoy. LOCATION Fort Worden is an old military base that is located in beautiful Port Townsend, Washington. In fact, it is SO delightful, that we have had several persons decide to move there after attending Artfest. Even though the fort is a little rough around the edges, Artfest attendees continually tell me that is what adds to it's charm. It is approximately a 2-hour drive from the SeaTac Airport. The trip involves driving into Seattle, taking a 1/2 hour ferry to Bainbridge Island and then traveling for about an hour North up the other side of puget sound. |
REGISTRATION To make it into this very popular event, it is very important to note the Sept. 6th postmark date (the day after labor day). We will not be accepting any registration forms before that date. Please send registrations together in one envelope if you are coming with another person or a group. This will dramatically increase your chances of being together and getting your workshop choices since we have over 400 forms to go through. Confirmation letters will start going out around the end of September. For 3 days of workshops and 4 nights of lodging:
Down payment required to register: $250 DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMMODATIONS: These are old buildings built around the turn of the century. As such, there can be heating problems (either not enough or too much). We are always working with the fort in an attempt to improve every year. If you think of this as going to camp, you'll be fine. If, however, you are accustomed to the best hotels, I would strongly suggest getting the off campus option. OFF CAMPUS - This option is good for folks who live close to the retreat, prefer nicer accommodations, or prefer their own room with their own bathroom. Port Townsend has a gazillion b&b's available in their victorian town. There are some average hotels in town as well. You can do a search on google for options. DORMS - These buildings have very small single rooms with communal bathrooms down the hall. 2 of the dorms have communal showers but we procure extra bathrooms/showers upstairs and post sign-up sheets so everyone can have privacy while showering. We also use the men's rooms as well. For this reason, we do not allow men in the dorms at any time. Linens, pillow, blanket, towels, etc. are included with each room. But some folks bring their own pillow and an extra blanket. Make no doubt about it, these are bare bones rooms but we have people request them every year. If you request to share a dorm room with one other person, you will be placed in a room with one queen bed that you must share. If you are requesting to share a room with someone you do not know, you will be placed in a room with bunk beds. Each person gets a whole bunkbed to themselves (bottom for sleeping, top for suitcase). OFFICERS HOUSES - These houses range from 2 bedroom units to 6 bedroom units. They were built for the first officers installed at Fort Worden and may have their original features including ornate tin ceilings and fireplaces. Each house has a kitchen equipped with toaster, coffee maker, fridge, oven and utensils. The 3-6 bedroom houses have a great dining room with a huge table...perfect for spreading out what you've made during the day and sharing with your housemates. They are large with lots of space. All the rooms have one queen bed in each, so if you pick the shared option, you will be sharing a bed. Staying in the dorms or one of the houses provides a unique experience that helps make Artfest what it is. Folks usually have show and tell each night in their house or dorm and make friends which last long after the retreat is over. |
WORKSHOPS First of all, please visit the websites of all these artists to give you a better overall view of their work. You will see links to each when you click on their individual workshop description page. If you have questions about any of their classes, you can email them from their websites. Each workshop you are signed up for will have a letter from your teacher that states materials needed for class. You will receive these upon confirmation. Due to a large amount of requests from past attendees, some teachers will provide a "kit fee". These fees are listed at the end of each class description if required.. ARTFEST CHAT There is a Yahoo group that you can join if you'd like to chat with others about the event and all things art related. This is a group that was independently set up and is not a part of Alternative Arts Productions activities. However, we read the messages when we can and try to answer any questions that arise in addition to making Artfest announcements periodically. We highly recommend that you join if you are coming to Artfest as you can find travel-mates to share a shuttle or a rental car, hear about useful techniques that the teachers sometimes throw out, find out more what to expect, keep informed of any changes, find out which off campus hotel is best, etc. The Yahoo Chat is moderated by Amy Peacock. YOUR HOSTS FOR ARTFEST Teesha & Tracy Moore We started doing Artfest out of a love of creativity and a desire to get together with like minds to essentially give ourselves a shot of creative adrenalin once a year. We also wanted to bring several mediums to the "artfest table" giving artists ideas and different ways of looking at their own work. We work hard to create a nurturing event where everyone feels accepted and capable of much. Taking time out for yourself is one of the best things you can do in this busy, crazy world. Everyone needs time to just be in nature, play, be silent, gather ideas, commune with other artists, and get away from your everyday lives for a few days. It allows you to refresh and pinpoint directions you want to go in your life. The whole experience of Artfest from the drive up, the beautiful fort on the beach, the workshops, the caring teachers, and your fellow attendees makes it the perfect place for this to happen. Our daughter Tiphoni designed our Artfest Online Brochure this year and is available for webdesign at reasonable prices. Click here for details. |
