 The Spring Island Trust Nature and Arts Program was started in 1992 by Betsy Chaffin. An artist herself, Betsy recognized that Spring Island offers a unique setting that would inspire visiting artists. The program invites regional, national, and international artists to Spring Island for a limited stay, typically up to one week. The Trust furnishes housing (usually a simple two bedroom cottage), meals (at either of Island's two dining facilities), studio space at the Art Barn, and use of the facilities for golf, fishing, fitness, tennis, etc.
In turn, the artist usually presents a program (workshop, performance, or lecture) and is asked to donate to the Spring Island Collection a lasting gift (painting, sculpture, manuscript, unpublished recording, etc.) that is commensurate with the hospitality. Candidates are selected annually by the Trust's Nature and Arts Committee (resident arts advocates and professionals) on the basis of their artistic achievement and ability to interact with the community.
Our active Arts Program, sponsored by The Spring Island Trust Nature and Arts Committee, runs from October through May with an average of ten to twelve artists coming to Spring Island. During this period we enjoy Thursday evening Trust Talks given by our visiting artists as well as naturalists.
In the fall of 2006, the Arts Program offered a photography workshop with Jerry Griffin. Many members also enjoyed the format of a once-a-week drawing class instructed by Henry Dean. Sculptor, Brian Nash Gill, joined us as a Visiting Artist and gave a wonderful Thursday Trust Talk.
Our Winter/Spring 2007 program included photography, ceramics (James Watkins), pastel (Anne Heywood) and oil (Don Sahli) workshops. Our Visiting Artists represented fiber (Jon Riis), oil (Janet Fish) and ceramics (Tom Spleth). One evening we were treated with a raku firing and chili dinner outdoors.
Our 2006 – 2007 Performing Arts Program included dinner evenings with Johnny Mercer (The David Duckworth Trio), The New England Conservatory, The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Four Hands Jazz Piano (Nick Niles and Joe Homes) and Puzzle of Light (Michael and Sandy Bashaw).
In the Fall of 2007 we have had workshops in digital photography with Jerry Griffin, drawing with Roger Steele, nature journaling with Pam Brickell, photography with Will and Deni McInyre and acrylic painting with Corrine Colarusso. We are looking forward to watercolor with Bill Ternes, ceramics with Holly Walker and Pen and Ink Wash Drawing with Mark Haltof.
We also look forward to welcoming visiting artists Charles Brindley, Lewis Knauss, Susan Firestone and James Mullen all in the spring of 2008. Our Performing Artist Program in the fall of 2007 was also very active. We have enjoyed evenings with The Lovell Sisters, The Hallelujah Singers, Frogmore Blues Review and the Freddy Cole Quartet.
Our 2008 Fall schedule includes a collage workshop with Eydi Lampasona and a paperclay workshop with Rosette Gault as well as others.
If you have any comments or questions about the
Nature and Arts program, please direct them to
Lisa.
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