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Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine View map Free Event

89 Haystack School Dr, Deer Isle, ME 04627

#MassArtAlumni
View map Free Event

WE ARE SOLD OUT!

Please email alumni@massart.edu to get on the waiting list (specify your preferred accommodation type) 

So, what is the Haystack Alumni & Friends Retreat all about? It's an unforgettable long weekend of art-making at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts overlooking the breathtaking Maine coastline. We share experiences, skills, and memories in daytime workshops and evening gatherings led by current MassArt faculty and alumni. See photos from last year and check out what a sample schedule* of the Retreat looks like...you can choose to participate as much or as little as your creative drive desires!

(*please note that this is LAST year's schedule!)

The History of MassArt at Haystack

(Did you know that the founding director was a MassArt alumnus?)

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is a beautiful art school located in Deer Isle, Maine. Its original director, Fran Merritt ’34, was the visionary who saw the potential in the site and eagerly convinced the Haystack Board of Directors to purchase the current property. If you've never been, it's hard to capture the magic of this place in words...but to get some idea, watch this video by alum Joel Kurtz '87.

Since 1978, under the direction of faculty member Janna Longacre, MassArt students and faculty have rented the entire Haystack facility for four days of art-making in this spectacular environment. From the beginning, MassArt faculty thought students would benefit from the experience of living and working together as a community where the environment was breathtaking and the food was out of this world. Many students have said that it was the best experience they ever had while at MassArt.  

Responding to many requests from alumni, Janna organized the first Haystack trip for alumni in 1998. Unlike the student trips, the alumni and friends trip is full of workshops and demonstrations. Enjoy everything from ring making to plein-air painting, nature walks to dance parties, and of course, plenty of fantastic food. All participants have an opportunity to show their own work and network together. Janna also shares information on grant writing, artist residencies, and international opportunities for artists. All four days are packed with exciting activities to inspire, challenge, and give everyone an opportunity to expand their art-making process.

Of course, there is also the opportunity to relax, meditate, and take it all in. Breathe deeply and look at the stunning landscape. Located on the edge of the water, overlooking a beautiful seacoast, Haystack is one of the most inspirational locations you will ever visit. Spending four days there is a gift to yourself and others that you won’t soon forget. We have had many alumni return, some again and again, to take advantage of this retreat, and many of them say it is one of the best things they have ever done. So, we hope this year will be your year.  

Whether it is your first time or you have been there many times before, Haystack is always new and will always refresh you. Call your friends and plan to join us this fall...you’ll be so glad you did.

2019 Workshop Offerings


(L to R: Puryear + Becker, Mensoff, Savage)

The 3D Canvas (with Adams Puryear '04, and Steph Becker ’06)

In this free-form workshop, we’ll head to the clay studio to build a functional or sculptural ceramic object and use it as a canvas to paint or draw on. Attendees may rely on their own backgrounds, skills, and unique voice to create a ceramic artwork that combines a 3D form with a variety of clay surface techniques. Historic and contemporary ceramic artwork will be discussed and referenced to help reinforce demonstrations and generate new ideas. All levels of experience are welcome.

Light as a Feather, Forged in Steel (with Corrina Sephora Mensoff '95)

Inspired by her visit to studio of Doug Wilson, who forged repurposed prison bars into feathers to “set the metal free,” Corrina will show us how to hand-forge a piece of round steel into a feather, then finish it with a light paint patina, sandpaper and wax. Once forged, the feathers can be used as a totem, a paper weight, or even worn as a necklace or a key ring if small enough. Both seasoned experts as well as novices to hot forging steel are welcome to try their hands at hammering and forming in this workshop.

Bangle Bracelets (with Laurie Savage '98)

In this workshop, students will learn to make a set of five textured bangle bracelets, one in sterling silver, one in bronze, and three in copper. Students will develop their fabrication skills, including: taking measurements, texturing, filing, forming, soldering, and finishing. All materials will be provided, including: sterling silver, bronze, and copper (in different shaped wires), saw blades, solder, and sandpaper.


(L to R: Lefton, Swavely, Corcoran)

Felt Conversations (with Talia Lefton '11)

Respond to a man-made or natural object with felting! We will explore wet felting and needle felting as processes with which to create a sculptural material that could encase, go under, over, or otherwise interact with an object. Attendees should bring a natural or man-made object that fits in your hand and that fascinates you in some way. After a quick introduction to wet felting and needle felting (two different processes to take wool fibers and create a solid textile with sculptural properties), you will choose which technique or combination of techniques you want to use to interact with your object. We’ll ask questions to help guide your process, using felt to reveal or conceal and/or form and color to bring forth an animal or human character of your object. Stay open to your object and see what conversations unfold!

Monoprinting from a Gelatin Plate (with Janet Kawada '92)

This mini-workshop will introduce you to one of the most environmentally friendly, easy and cost effective ways of printmaking, the monoprint. The demonstration will start with the how to make gelatin plates (the night before), and will continue with the demonstration of how to print off the gelatin, during the day. After the initial instruction, you will be able to continue on your own with the process.

Printing Without A Press (with Cole Swavely '10)

Learn how to make prints regardless of studio access. We will review several simple printing techniques and see the sophisticated and interesting results that they can yield. Starting with collagraphs, you’ll discover what textures and marks are capable of being put onto a plate, and how they transfer when an impression is made. Next up will be rubber block stamping and simple inking techniques, and we’ll finish with stencils, using acetate, vellum, and paper to make different matrices. Come ready to experiment!

Finding Narratives through Observation (with Corey Corcoran '07)

In this workshop, students will adopt an unorthodox approach to creating comics or visual stories. By engaging with the environment through observation and note-taking, participants will unearth narratives not immediately apparent. The workshop will include an overview of key considerations to comics and storyboards including composition, scale, and sequencing; however, students will be encouraged to think outside-of-the-box in terms of both themes and media. Creating comics can be the means to an end, but it can also be a useful way to identify interests and narratives which can be further developed traditionally or digitally.

2019 Scholarship Opportunity

This year, the MassArt Alumni Association is offering seven $240 need-based scholarships to alumni to attend this year's trip, thereby reducing the cost to either $365 for a twin near the central washroom or $415 for a twin with bath.
All MassArt alumni with financial need are encouraged to apply, including prior applicants who were not awarded scholarship in the past. Past scholarship recipients are unfortunately ineligible for a 2019 scholarship.

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED. They were due Sunday, June 16th, and recipients will be notified by June 26th.

Accommodations

Room and meals are included in the registration fee...and the food is AMAZING!! In the Haystack tradition, rooms are assigned based on age and physical need. Please note that cabins are not heated and may involve climbing several steps depending on their location (both the Twin and Dorm options will involve climbing lots of steps)!

Pricing for 2019 is as follows:

  • Dormitory (shared quarters with 5 or more attendees) $500
  • Twin (shared with one other attendee) $605
  • Twin with bathroom (shared with one other attendee) $655

Both the dorm and twin options are near the central washroom with stall-style showers.
Please indicate any special needs you may have on the registration page.

Transportation Individuals are responsible for their own transportation to the campus. Please find driving directions here.  We will be setting up a ride-sharing portal online after registration closes if you need to sign up for a ride, or would like to offer a ride.

Cancellation and Refund Policy The following cancellation policy pertains to all cancellations for any reason whatsoever, which must be made by email to alumni@massart.edu or phone to (617) 879-7020.

  • 100% refund for cancellations before August 25, 2019
  • 50% refund for cancellations from August 26 - September 2, 2019
  • No refunds will be given for cancellations received after September 3, 2019 (unless someone can take your place from a waitlist)

Insurance MassArt strongly recommends purchasing insurance against cancellation, trip interruption, luggage loss or damage, personal injury or hospitalization. By accepting to join this retreat without insurance, participants hold MassArt completely blameless of any conditions that will result in cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption, or injury.

Release of Liability Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to booking their reservations at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts during the period specified. MassArt and its agents and representatives do not accept responsibility for loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, irregularity, expense, or liability caused by negligence or default of any subcontracting organizations, their employees, their agents, or representatives. Any such losses or expenses shall be borne by the participant. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure, in which case the full payment will be refunded to the participant without any further obligations on our part. Any sickness, injury,accidents, dismemberment, or death of a participant is not the responsibility of MassArt, its agents, and representatives, as participants have been advised of the option of purchasing individual insurance against such happenings. By signing up for this retreat, I acknowledge my full awareness of these terms.

Have more questions?

For more information or answers to specific questions, please e-mail alumni@massart.edu or call (617) 879-7020.

For more about Haystack visit the Haystack Website.

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  • Camille Rodriguez

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