Join Me in France Summer 2009

I'll admit, the whole project seemed/seems daunting--gathering a group of eight students/participants in a gorgeously redone stone house in Southern France, with an air conditioned studio on the top floor and our own chef, patio by the river, a whole week to explore all kinds of mixed media ways to enjoy the flea markets, scenery, art, and people.

Actually, it sounds like a lot of FUN!!! with more details below. Your deposit is your ticket to Art and Creativity.

Sighs and Secrets: 7/20/09-7/27/09 A multi-media exploration of the wonders of Southern France and our own stories. For this week-long workshop in France, we’ll explore a technique (or several) each day, leading to a cloth/paper/found object journal with small dolls and elements of Doll Making as a Transformative Process. Transfers and effects with Golden Media, Embroidery, Drawing, Using Found Objects, Construction, Story Telling about ourselves and our experiences. An chat group prior to the class will get everyone pumped up and prepared. Instruction and studio time in the morning, field trips in the afternoon, more studio time with Pamela in the evening or relaxing on the patio, in the 18th Century stone chateau decorated with Flea Market Finds.

The Area: Experience the rich landscape of the Languedoc region of Southern France and the unique cultural resources of its artists past and present. We’ll be based at polymer clay artist Gwen Gibson’s retreat center, La Cascade, a beautifully restored stone house in the village of Durfort, one hour east of Toulouse.

The village of Durfort has been making copperware since the Middle Ages. Cathar castles, medieval villages, flea markets, fields of sunflowers await your exploration. The region is an hour and a half from the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean and a couple of hours from Provence.

The Workshop: Instruction in a new arena each morning, culminating in a personal accordion book with pockets for the dolls and mixed media objects you will create, an expandable panel of experiments with Golden polymer media and the images we will collect on our afternoon expeditions into the surrounding area. There will be open studio in the evenings in the air-conditioned space at the top of the building, where you can work night and day if you wish.

There will be an online discussion group with Pamela prior to the adventure, so she can tailor the class specifically to the needs and desires of the participants.

The Accommodations: La Cascade’s four bedrooms are double occupancy (two twin beds) with three shared bathrooms. The beautiful new art studio is located on the third floor of the house and is available to you at all times. Living room, dining room, and a large outside terrace that goes down to the river are part of the home. We have our own personal chef to provide exquisite and healthy meals, and Pamela will provide the dinner at least one night.

The Price: Workshop fee of $1700 includes :
• Seven night’s lodging at La Cascade, double occupancy
• Daily afternoon field tripsJOI
• All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• Workshop instruction, many supplies, and one of Pamela’s books
* $500 deposit to reserve your space
* $600 due 3/1/09, $600 due 5/1/09 as your final payment
* Registration is limited to eight participants, your deposit guarantees you a place
* Participants with be included in an email chat prior to the class and will be mailed a packet with detailed itinerary and more information.

Name:________________________________________ Date:____________

Address: ___________________________City: _________________State: _____ Zip: ________

Country: _______________________________

Email: __________________________Home phone: ________________

Please make check for $500 payable to:
Pamela Hastings, 3007 South Laurel St., Port Angeles, WA 98362

Email: pamela@pamelahastings.com Phone: 360-457-0221 (Pacific Time)