Welcome
This will be our 7th anniversary of doing Artfest at Fort Worden!We are excited to offer brand new and exciting workshops and teachers for 2007 along with great extra curricular events that make Artfest the perfect place to recharge your batteries, form relationships with like-minded folksleave 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 of yourself as an artist.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 an exciting 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.
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.
In addition, we offer a gallery so that the attendees can create works of art that can be for sale….or not for sale. We do this to allow the attendees an opportunity to make a few bucks to supplement their expenses. This is always an inspiring show that everyone loves. You can submit up to 3 pieces. No jury. More details will come in your confirmation packet.
Thursday is the night to catch your breath as we offer smaller gatherings that you can choose from. One of which is a journaling party down on the beach with a bonfire and s'more fixin's for you to enjoy. Other gatherings will be detailed in your arrival packet.
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 us that is what adds to it's charm.You will see deer casually walking right in front of you as you meander down to your workshops. With the ocean and the trees as your backdrop, it will take your breath away. 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.
Thank you all who were able to attend Artfest 2007 this year! Please take our survey here so that we may continue to make Artfest even better.
March 28th - April 1st
Registration
To make it into this very popular event, it is very important to note the Sept. 5th 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 since we have over 400 forms to go through. Confirmation packets start going out around the end of September.
Pricing
3 days of workshops, 4 nights of lodging, goodies and all the extra events:
- off campus - $480
- private room in dorm- $580 - FULL
- shared room in dorm - $550 - FULL
- private room in officers housing - $690 - FULL
- shared room in officers housing - $590 - FULL
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 and have actually “donated” close to $2000 to make improvements.If you think of this as going to camp, you'll be fine.If, however, you are accustomed to the best hotels, we 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 motels 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 most likely be placed in a room with one queen bed that you must share (unless you request otherwise).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).
Officer's Houses
These houses range from 2 bedroom units to 6 bedroom units.They were built for the first officers installed at Fort Worden and many 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.
Meals
are optional.They are served in the Commons buffet style. Many attendees love mealtimes as it allows time to get to know their fellow artists better. The fort always provides a good selection of entrees & sides, a salad bar and a selection of desserts along with a soda fountain. You may add any combination of the following to your registration:
- 4 breakfasts (thur, fri, sat, sun) - $38
- 3 lunches (thur, fri, sat) - $40
- 4 dinners (wed, thur, fri, sat) - $72
Down payment required to register:$300
Workshops
Please visit the websites of all these artists to give you a better overall view of their work. You will see links to most when you click on their individual workshop description pages.If you have questions about any of their classes, you can email them from their websites.
Vendor Space
is only available to registered attendees because the show is only 2 hours long on Friday evening. You will be given information on applying for a juried table with your confirmation packet you will receive after you have registered.
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. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/
group/ArtFest2007 and register.
Your Hosts for Artfest
are 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 and also commune with others who like the same things we do.We also wanted to bring severalto 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 regardless of where they are in their creative journey and also to show each person just how much capacity they have for creating.
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 inspiring workshops, the caring teachers, the groups that form, and your fellow attendees makes it the perfect place for this to happen.
Feel free to email us with any questions at artgirl777@aol.com. We will keep the website updated as to what workshops and what accommodation choices are full until we reach our maximum numbers for Artfest.
