Creative Space
Three times each year the DeKoven Center hosts "working" retreats for artists of all disciplines—painters, musicians, writers, stampers, poets and photographers to name a few. The retreats begin with a noon meal on a Friday and end with the noon meal on a Sunday. Seventy percent of the weekend time is unscheduled for each artist to work at his or her own project, or a combined project with other artists on the retreat if so desired. The entire afternoon of Friday, the evening of Friday, and the morning and afternoon of Saturday are free times set aside for creative time—which is why the retreat is called "Creative Space." Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings are set aside for individual artists to share with the other retreat participants their creative activity from the weekend. Private rooms in which to work are made available for each participant as well as two pianos and two organs for musicians. The retreat fees include all meals, bedding and towels, a private room and free parking.
The retreat dates for the year 2009 are:
March 13-15, July 24-26, October 23-25
The participation fees are:
$185.00 for those who stay in Taylor Hall and $110.00 for those who choose to commute from a Racine area location (staying at the center for the retreat is strongly recommended)
Send deposit of $50.00 to The DeKoven Center, 600-21st St. Racine, WI 53403 ATTN: Donna Jorgenson
Click here to download a pdf file of the registration form
Registration for Creative Space is guaranteed only with a deposit. Deposits may be transferred to another Creative Space weekend, or can be refunded in full if the retreat for which you have requested registration is filled. If the retreat is filled, you will be contacted and asked if you wish a refund or a transfer to another date. Only $25 of the deposit will be refunded if cancellation for a retreat is initiated by the registrant for other than medical reasons.
Barbara Lewczyk, Retreat Coordinator
barbaralewczyk@milwpc.com You can also contact the DeKoven Center at info@dekovencenter.org or phone (262) 633-6401.
Some Examples of Work Done at Creative Space Retreats
Mixed Media Collage , Ian Baker Johnson
The Chair
Someone placed it at the edge of the alley, away from where the trash men pass. A proud dowager from some forgotten time, curved arms and legs of deep cheery wood, high carved back, graceful and rounded, the seat upholstered in once-bright shades of green and gold brocade, hanging now in places, worn patches visible. Once somebody chose this chair, or perhaps commissioned its making. Someone paged through books of sample drawings, ordered its fabric, its carved design. Or walked through store displays until they found it, then ran cool fingers over its warm wood, sat carefully to test its comfort. Someone set this chair behind a desk. Kept ledgers or a diary. Wrote grocery lists, invitations, letters of condolence. Or placed it in a perfect spot where sunlight would not fade but rather wake its hues. Where one could spend an hour napping, a day reading. Where one could hold a child. Someone used an old cloth to polish its wood, a soft brush to clean its brocade. Someone placed the chair at the edge of the alley so perhaps someone would love it again. –Jean Preston
To My Ex-Husband As I Watch Our Son On Stage
You should see him. He sits on a high stool, his mouth against the mic, holding his guitar like a lover. He’s all in black, and laughs when I call him Johnny Cash. You should hear him. He sings an Irish ballad, three rousing sea chanties, two medieval love songs. Friends ring the small stage, strangers, the bar. They forget to lift their glasses to their lips. You should see his easy banter between songs, how he grins when he signs his CD’s. He looks in people’s eyes, asks their names, thanks them for coming to see him. You should hear him sing the songs he wrote himself, listen to the life you missed. You should hear him introduce the one he sings for you. You should hear the way he sings he loves you. Jean Preston
"Jayne’s Chair", Photograph, Jerry Cross
