From the Director’s Chair
Guest blog by Shawn Shafner The Art Monastery has provided a perfect cloister and cradle to nurture this new work, Bootstraps. Our time is spacious and gentle, while biweekly sharings prod us along. It’s been a most nourishing incubator for this work. For me, as a director, I’ve really enjoyed the support of time, space, […]
The Poopcast: Creativity, Community, Contemplation and a Compost Toilet
On July 31, 2017, some of the Artmonks were interviewed on Shhh: The Poopcast (aka Shit and Shame with Shawn) by Shawn Shafner (The Puru). Yes, Shawn is also the director of Bootstraps, the original devised theater piece being incubated by the Summer Lab. Art Monastery Project: Creativity, Community, Contemplation and a Compost Toilet […]
Bootstraps: An American Fable
Bootstraps: An American Fable You have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Ready? Set. Go! Acrobatic, slapstick and sung, two Americans battle their way across a cardboard landscape in search of The Dream. Did we mention they are white, middle class, and kinda unaware? Featuring raw, powerhouse performances from Kaitlin June […]
Artshare August 4: Bootstraps
Dear Neighbors and Friends, Here at the Art Monastery Project, we are hosting our third summer Artshare Friday, August 4 7 to 8pm free admission bring a snack or drink to share after the showing we can have some food and drinks together and chat (if the weather is nice, we may build a fire!) 2315 Connecticut River Road […]
Emerge: Post-Retreat Artshare
Emerge A Post-Retreat Artshare Friday, Sep 15 7-8 pm free admission 2315 Connecticut River Road Springfield, VT 05156 After spending a week together in silent meditation, retreat participants and the Artmonks who hosted them, will share selections of what we sang together every day as well as original work created in our […]
Summer Lab in Full Bloom
Here are a collection of images from the Summer Artmonks from the first few weeks of the Summer Lab. All photos by Anaya (fabric dyer / costume designer / Art Monastery Cruise Director) unless otherwise noted. The view of the house and the barn on the way back up from the river. Neva leads Catalyst Training […]
Ropes, Boxes and Bruises
Helloooo Everyone! Allow me to introduce myself- I am Kaitlin June, a summer artmonk and laboratory participant from North Carolina. I am one of two performers for the show we are creating this summer. Weeks one and two of the creation and rehearsal process have been full of rope, boxes, and tons of funny mystery […]
June 2017 Artmonk Retreat in images
The Artmonk Retreat as seen through the camera lens of Anaya Cullen. Header image of our nature meditation by Chilly Daisy. Our Zendo The Way of the Artmonk. Originally inspired by the 8fold Path, the Way of the Artmonk offers a structure for meditation and for creative practice. Directions Practice The Main Altar […]
Meet the Summer Artmonks
The 2017 Art Monastic Laboratory is a 10-week immersive experience in social sculpture. This Lab investigates Practice — meditation, high-level artmaking, and community living. This summer’s Lab will incubate two artistic endeavors: Mirror and Bootstraps. Mirror Gerry McCulloch and Betsy McCall are the co-creators of Mirror, an interactive, experimental art piece. Participants are guided to […]
Short Film: Directions Practice
Here comes another film (second in a series of five)! This one is even nearer to my heart because it presents an Art Monastery original: Directions Practice. Directions Practice was developed by Neva Cockrell and me, inspired by Tai Chi forms and the Cherokee prayer dance called the Dance of the Directions that we learned from Joel […]
