April 1 - 5, 2009

Welcome

This will be our 9th anniversary of doing Artfest at Fort Worden and attendees continue to say that it just gets better and better every year! We are excited to welcome back 34 previous teachers who we love & adore as well as 6 new teachers who promise even more unique projects & techniques. While our workshops are incredible, it is our extracurricular events, the location and the attendees who come that sets Artfest apart from other events. People leave with brand new friendships that last for years, new groups that they stay involved with long after the event is over, a renewed sense of their artistic selves and a full battery to take back with them to their normal lives. It is a very nourishing event for your creative selves. There is magic that happens in Port Townsend during the event that no one can explain, but everyone feels.

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 & Australia and represent some of the best in their fields.

We offer an exciting artist’s marketplace on Friday night, pro-viding 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, purses, prints, hand-bound journals, funky zines, art dolls, textile artwork, and various other one-of-a-kind works for sale. This is an exciting time to pick up original work that sells for much higher prices in galleries and such.

On Saturday night we have our show-n-tell where we invite all attendees to bring what they have made during their workshops 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.

Thursday is the night that we encourage smaller gatherings to take place. Groups start to form within officer’s houses & dorm wings as attendees meet to discuss the day’s events and pro-jects. Other online groups use this evening to meet face to face and exchange projects they may have been working on (in the months leading up to artfest) and we always host a journaling party down on the beach with a bonfire and s'more fixin's for you to enjoy. In 2009, we will utilize the theatre for an infor-mal artists forum that will be inspiring. All in all, there’s some-thing for everyone’s mood that evening.

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.

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. Most folks get together (via the yahoo chat group) and share a rental car but we do offer a shuttle from the airport (for about $80 RT) for those who need it. It has only one pick up time from the airport (2pm) and one departure time back to the airport (8am). More details in your confirmation packet.

Registration

To make it into this very popular event, it is super important to note the Sept. 2nd postmark date (the day after labor day) as we fill almost to capacity on the first day. But chances are great that if you send it in on that day, you will make it in. We will not be accepting any registration forms before that date. Confirmation packets start going out around the end of Septem-ber.

Click here to access the registration page.

Pricing

For 3 days of workshops, 4 nights of lodging, goodies and all the extra events:
off campus - $480 (choose your own lodging in port townsend)
private room in dorm - $580
shared room in dorm - $550
shared room in officers housing - $610
private room in officers housing - $780 (only a few available)
A deposit of $300 is required with your form to register. The 2nd half is due by Jan. 5, 2009. Please see the registration form for our cancellation policy.

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). The fort has been on a path of fixing and updating many of it’s accommodations for the past few years and every year we see much improvement! Still, 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 com- munal 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 like to 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 a specific person, you will most likely be placed in a room with one queen bed that you must share (unless you request otherwise). 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 11 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 houses have a great living room...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. We have very few rooms that we can set aside for “private”-(one person in a room). For this reason, we strongly suggest that you provide a 2nd choice of accommodations if you choose this as your first.

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.

RESERVING HOUSING If you have a group who would like to share a house or a dorm room or wing, please contact us in august with how many peo-ple you have. We will try to set a certain space aside for your group so you can all be together. However there are some rules. Everyone MUST send in their registrations on the opening day of registration. We cannot hold anything for you if you don’t. We can not make any promises. And, if one or more of your group cancels, we have every right to fill that empty space with a person of our choosing. You will have the option of first finding a replacement person for the one cancelling but if that does not happen within 2 weeks, we will fill the space ourselves. When requesting, email artgirl777@aol.com in august with the amount of people in your group and detail who will be sharing with who. Include the name of your group (either a name of the organizer of the group or a made up name you would like to go by). We will email you back with choices.

Meals

are optional. They are served buffet style. Many attendees love mealtimes as it allows time to get to know their fellow art-ists better. The fort got in a new local chef team in 2008 and they were so well liked that they will be here to stay. They specialize in local, mostly organic fare and the raves from our attendees last year were loud and clear. The food is gourmet quality but also healthy and nutritious. The head chef came from a local restaurant that would always receive much praise (Wild Coho). They always provide 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) - $45
3 lunches (thur, fri, sat) - $38
4 dinners (wed, thur, fri, sat) - $67

Workshops

Please visit the websites of all our teachers 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.

Click here to see the new offerings for Artfest 2009.

Artist's Marketplace

is only available to registered attendees because the show is only 2 hours long on Friday evening. You will be given informa-tion 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 Alter-native Arts Productions activities. However, we read the mes-sages 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/ArtFest2009 and type in Artfest to find the group & register.

A Note From Teesha

Artfest was a concept that consumed my every thought roughly 10 years ago. It was right after I went through a period of asking the universe “What am I here to do”. When the visions started unfolding, I was excited and scared a little. But I knew that until I set the wheels in motion, my thoughts would not leave me alone. So I stepped through the first door and 10 years later, all the rest of the doors have been flung wide open for me. It is one way of knowing I am on the right path. The other way of knowing is the warmth and love that emanate from so many of the attendees year after year. I am realizing in this day and age, this is needed for so many reasons. I feel truly blessed to get to be at the helm of such an exciting adventure that has made a difference in people’s lives. I was an artist with no training but a deep desire to help others be artists too. Thankfully I had a troupe of really great teachers and friends and family who were willing to stand behind me and all pulled together to make Artfest what it is today. We work hard to create a nurturing event where everyone feels accepted re-gardless of where they are in their creative journey and also to show each person just how much capacity they have for creat-ing.

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