Art Weekend 2008 - Planning

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What, Where, When?

Art Weekend is an artists' retreat, it will be held from Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Hemlock Point Lodge in NE Pennsylvania.

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Motivation

I find that I spend an inordinate amount of time just staying afloat with my regular life, but to really delve into a complicated creative project I need uninterrupted hours and a clear head. If you are like this also, then consider joining us at a unique location every year to spend time to create introspectively and share outwardly.

Art Weekend is for deep thoughts and personal expression in an environment that is peaceful and supportive.

--Right on. Mark I love that image btw. -N (Thanks! I took it down to make way for the lodge photos, though. -M)

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Organization

The planning will be more rigid for 2008 than 2007, mostly to prevent panic and bad decisions on my end of things. Thankfully, I have learned enough from the first Art Weekend to know how this sort of thing works. I am going to ask for deposits by mid-January, and I will have a venue booked (with deposit) by the end of January. Without a deposit, I cannot guarantee a slot. Sure, it'll be less hippie than it was this year, but AW07 almost didn't occur because of late venue selection. We'll be able to get a more appropriate place with all the right amenities if we act early. Thank you.

I suspect that lodging will cost about $200 per person for AW08, which I'll ask for as a deposit. Tagging along with group food and wine might accrue to about $25, but only if the food situation runs similar to AW07---mostly fend for yourself for breakfast and lunch, but join for group dinners.

Here is the Art Weekend 2007 - Planning page. Certain information (like venues) is still valid.

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How to be a part of Art Weekend

If you would like to attend or help organize Art Weekend, you'll need an account for this wiki. (It used to be open to edits from everyone, but I've had to tighten up security to avoid link spam.) Click here to create an account on the Art Weekend wiki. Then, look through this page for instructions in italics.

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Attendance

Just hit the edit link on the right-hand margin of the "Attendance" section and add your name.

Also, feel free to add a page for yourself and describe what projects you intend to work on during the retreat. Just log in and click on your name below to make and edit the new page.

Barring drastic circumstances, we expect to be involved with Art Weekend 2008:

  • Mark & El
  • Emily & Eric
  • Nicole
  • Rachel
  • Markus
  • Chris & Jen
  • Jeff B
  • Carolyn & Britt
  • Richard

We are interested in attending this year, and will want more information as the deadlines approach:

On January 18, I (Mark) sent an e-mail to all interested parties to ask for a deposit. If you didn't get this, please e-mail me at mstock@umich.edu. You will need to send the $150/person deposit by mid-February to ensure your space at Art Weekend. If my costs are less than the amount collected in deposits, I will refund the difference back to you. Unlike ski packages, my fee isn't waived, I'm paying the same as everybody else (last year I even paid more just to make it happen). The moral of the story: support Art Weekend, send in a deposit if you want to attend.

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Scheduling

Clear your calendars! Art Weekend 2008 will occur over the weekend of May 31-June 1 (Memorial Day is May 26th, the preceding weekend). We will avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic and expense, and also avoid the Poconos NASCAR race the following weekend.

Last time, we gathered on Thursday, enjoyed full days on Friday and Saturday, and drove back on Sunday. This seems to be the best plan, and we will do it again this year.

Previous discussions have been removed. Check the history for 2008-01-18.

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Location

Art Weekend 2008 will be held at Hemlock Point Lodge in NE Pennsylvania.

Shoot for Pennsylvania next time as it is a more equitable distance from Michigan and Massachusetts.

  • Em: Pennsylvania is an easier trip for us, too.
  • Nicole: Definitely easier for me.
  • Rachel: Anything shorter than a ten hour drive is better for the Michiganders, but who knows where we will be next year.
    • Looks like Jeff B and I are planning to drive from the Wild Wild West in my Yaris at this point. Trying to keep the cost as low as possible. -Rach
  • Markus: Pennsylvania, less than 8 hours by car, or Pennsylvania, somewhere along the route of the Capitol Limited.
    • That means only Eastern and South-central PA, right?
    • What if it were along the Chicago-NYC line in New York?
  • ES: OMG going by train would be so cool!
  • Pete: Obviously Pennsylvania is great for us.
  • Chris: Screw you people: Braintree, MA.
  • Lisa: Michiganders we should totally look into train options.
    • I'd train it. Sounds fun to me! -Rach

Other possible venues

  • Heather: Upper Peninsula in Michigan or the west side of the state on Lake Michigan; Oregon (since we are potentially moving there!) is some of the most spectacular natural scenery I've ever seen, even if it requires a plane ticket; Smokey mountains (ie, KY, TN, NC, SC, Virginia area); Maine, or maybe VT/CT/NH; Cananda (Banff anyone???)
    • The event will be no more than a 5-day weekend (Thurs-Mon), so driving for more than 1 day is probably out of the question. A flying-only venue will prevent most people from joining (due to luggage and monetary restrictions). I already feel bad for the California contingent that is interested in attending.
      • Understood...I was just throwing out a wide geographic net. What about alternating coasts each year?
      • We can poll, but I suspect that turning this into a major vacation will deter most people who went this year. Remember, people bring heavy equipment to this thing. I wouldn't go if it were on the West Coast: I travel too much as it is.
    • I've found that there are lots of vacation house rentals in the Poconos and the Catskills, but no other similarly-dense concentration elsewhere in the East.
      • Good point, I'm not sure if such places exist in the areas I listed. Banff would because it's a ski area, although that would likely be a condo/house, and not on farmland if that is a pre-req...
      • Naturally Banff would have plenty of rentals, and I'm sure it's a beautiful place, but it's 2 days drive from nearly everyone who would want to go. It's a great real vacation, I'm sure.

Amenities we'd like in the next venue:

  • Air Conditioning
    • I do not recall air conditioning being a real requisite at the last art weekend...also fresh air is kinda nice. Like open windows. If we absolutely must have AC then I'd like to request a level so that I don't have to wear a sweater in the house. This seems to be the preferred setting whenever I go somewhere.
  • Hot tub
  • More desks

Amenities that we'd be willing to give up for the above:

  • TV

Amenities that we'd prefer to give up either way:

  • TV  ;)
    • Seconded! -Rach

Amenities that we enjoyed having:

  • Stereo and speakers
    • I will bring my computer speakers/sub and my Mac... it will have all of my music collection on iTunes. I am always willing to host more music. ;) -Rach
  • Complete set of linens
  • Lots of bathrooms
  • Well-stocked kitchen
  • Oversized house

Places to look for venues:

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Pennsylvania venues

If you especially like any of these, enter your initials on the line like this: (MS, EH)

These are probably too small:

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New York venues

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Things to bring

Here is what the lodge provides:

  • One set of wash cloth, hand towel, and bath towel per person.
  • Bed linens and beds
  • Toilet tissue.
  • The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, silverware, glasses, pots and pans, and bakeware? We have 2 pie pans, cookie sheets, muffin pans, loaf pan. There is a 14 cup coffee pot and filters. There is also a 4 slice toaster, blender, crock pot, 16"x20" electric griddle, 2 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, range w/ 2 ovens, convection oven/microwave combo.


Here is what the lodge doesn't provide:

  • Towels beyond what is listed above.
  • You are required to bring paper towels, Kleenex, etc. Who's going to bring these?
    • I have two rolls of paper towels in my kitchen box. -ET
  • You are required to bring bath, laundry, and kitchen soaps.
    • 10 loads of dishwasher soap -ET
    • Bottle of dish soap - CS
  • You are required to bring garbage bags. Who's going to bring these?
    • I'll bring these: 4 of the kitchen whites, 1 large black -MS
    • 5 large whites -ET


Here is the list of things that we also feel we should bring:

  • Writeable media (CD-Rs)
  • Batteries for cameras
  • Chargers for everything (cameras, laptops, shavers, lasers)
  • Outdoor folding chairs?
    • El and I have 3 of these and a little folding table, too, but I don't expect to need them. Does anybody want us to bring some? Please say so, or else I won't bring them. -MS OK, I won't bring them.
  • Eric: More realistic expectations of how much mailing I can do.
  • Eric is bringing the IT case. Current expected contents:
    • 1 Wireless Router w/network switch.
    • 1 USB 802.11b wireless transceiver (spare)
    • 1 Portable USB printer
    • Extra CAT5 cable
    • Extra cables, in general (USB A->B patch cables, etc)
    • (Put requests here, I'll see if I have them in my bins)
      • As long as everyone brings the cables they need for their own computers, you should only need to bring the wireless router/switch (and backup, good idea!)
      • How about a VGA cable (M-M) and a 1/8" headphones to dual-RCA?
    • Owner says that there is already a wireless router and two ethernet cables on-site. -MS
  • Good knives
    • Eric: I will likely be packing my knife roll and my mid-grade knives next year. Also, some cutting boards so we're not playing cross-contamination roulette.
  • Good set of computer speakers
    • I got it covered. I will bring my speakers and my sub. -Rach
  • Markus: Espresso machine, given enough notice, I can sign out a high-end Saeco demo unit for our use.
    • It would appear that we won't need it. -MS
  • DVI-to-VGA dongle (for connecting Macs to the projector)
    • I have two of these, I will bring both. -MS
  • Tupperware containers
    • We will bring some, possibly with good food in them. -MS
  • Neither of us has wireless laptops, so yes, network would be helpful
    • If you don't have wireless, chances are we won't be able to get the coal to run your equipment anyway!
      • Are you assuming that i have a laptop?
        • A USB wireless dongle is less than the cost of a tank of gas - if you have a computer that can't handle USB, I stand by my statement.
        • I have a PCI wireless card that I am not using right now. Should I bring it? -MS
    • I think I have some extra PCMCIA wireless cards. We can cross that bridge when we come to it. Like, put a 8-port hub on the dining room table, or something.
      • I have a 4-port hub, but it's only 10 Mbit. Does anyone have a faster one? -MS
      • It looks like Eric has the router thing covered. -MS
    • The larger theme here is that computers are good, and efforts shall be made to welcome them and make them effective art tools
  • It occurs to me that unless we don't mind projecting onto a wood ceiling, we will need to bring a projector screen, or a large white sheet and a rod. Hmmm, that might not happen. -MS
  • Swimsuits. There's a hot tub, remember. (And this is probably not going to turn into a hippie, free love, naked-time event.)
    • I plan on skinny-dipping in the lake at least once. If the rest of you have gotten too old and settled to do this then I welcome the company of the fish and the moon. -NM
    • "Settled" is one way to put it ... -CD
    • Just kidding about the old part.
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Food

At Art Weekend 2007 we suffered from a plethora of food. Everybody brought enough food for themselves and then some, assuming that sharing would occur. It did, fortunately, but planning for the next Art Weekend would be helped with a clear expectation of the level of food sharing and prevalence of collective meals.

Thus, if you expect to attend and are willing to make a dinner (or a dish for potluck) that can satisfy most people's dietary restrictions (or can be modified during cooking with optional stuff), and don't expect to get reimbursed for it, indicate it here:

To help plan, if you would like to eat any of the dinners suggested below (with minor modifications), initial after the entry.

  • I'm adding this to let everyone know that Carolyn and Britt are veg (not pesc) if anyone is interested in doing a group veg option (Carolyn and I will be doing a group breakfast,see planning below) -NM
  • Mark: willing to make cold tuna-pasta salad again for one dinner (tri-color fusili, albacore tuna, green, red, and yellow bell peppers, celery, carrots, italian dressing)
    • Interested: MS, RF, JBD, MCN, EH
    • I'll put the tuna on the side for the benefit of the vegetarians. -MS
  • Rachel: I can always make the Moroccan Shrimp with Fruited Cous Cous... (I can also sub in chicken or beef in half of it to satisfy those with shellfish allergies.) Seems like it went over well...
    • Interested: RF(Shrimp), MS(chicken), MCN, EH
  • Jen- This recipe from The I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken appeals:
    • Port Wine with Walnuts
      • 1 bowl walnuts, cracked
      • 1 bottle tawny or ruby port (I'll bring one bottle. MS)
      • The British discovered this centuries ago, and no one has improved on it since. Put a bowl of semicracked English walnuts on the table. Put a bottle of port on the table. Put wineglasses and small individual plates on the table. Pour the port and pass the walnuts.
    • Interested: MS, NM, EH, MCN
    • Who's going to bring the walnuts?
      • I got this one covered too... :) -RPF
      • Oop you beat me to it. If you don't need more walnuts, I'll bring popcorn. -NM
  • Jen- I figured out that I have a shellfish (selfish?) allergy, but fish is still an OK protein source.
  • Jen- I could bring stuff to make a pretty good Indian meal: Channa Masala, Papri Chaat, naan, something fun.
    • NM, MS
    • I also make a pretty lean, mean eggplant parmesan.
  • There is an outdoor grill, which I suspect will get used for individual meals quite often.
    • Sweet. NM
  • I could make an obscenely fattening but delicious vegetarian lasagne for everyone. It's pretty much all cheese. (EH)
    • This also sounds delectable.
  • MCN - It occurs to me that I am coming from Long Island, so I can get some fresh bagels and cream cheese when I head out. Who wants, and how many?

More thorough food planning will occur closer to Art Weekend---we will know who is coming, and what food sources are nearby. At that time, we will create and fix a menu based on the information above, and assign supra-menu foods to the remainder of the attendees in an attempt to spread the expense evenly.

  • Really?
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Group dinner schedule

Please indicate when you want to provide a group meal, if at all.

  • Thursday night - Mark's cold tuna pasta salad (tuna on the side)
  • Friday night - Rachel will make the main course. Moroccan Shrimp(Chicken, for those with allergies) with fruited Cous Cous.
  • Saturday morning - Carolyn and Nicole will make tasty breakfast treats (muffins, crepes, etc.)
  • Saturday night - Chris and Jen will make a big pot of chana masala (Indian tomato and chick pea thing) as well as paprit chaat (basically, the indian take on bruschetta). These will likely be moderately spicy and include onions ... so there should probably be at least one other option around.
  • I'll make strawberry shortcake for dessert one of the nights, whenever people feel like it. (EH)
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Supra-menu items

We noticed last year that everybody brought their own butter, milk, bread, and other useful kitchen foodstuffs. To avoid that duplication of effort, and to avoid having to repack and bring back unused food, please list any group-useful food items, and indicate your willingness to bring them, below:

  • Milk (needed 1 gallon for 8 people for 3 days last year)
    • needs to stay cold, should we just get it in PA?
  • Coffee (1 lb was sufficient last year)
  • Bread (2 loafs should be fine)
    • I'll bring one. -RPF
  • butter for baking (1lb?)
  • heavy cream, for coffee and to make whipped cream for the shortcake
  • The Dwan contingent is, of course, bringing homebrew beer and wine.
    • I have a case of beer as well - ET
    • Dude, I have a *savage* case of beer. I'm trying to drown it.
      • Whoah, how many cases of beer are there going to be there?
  • Olive oil bottle, dish soap, and a small roll of foil, salt (camping sized), and coarse black pepper - CS
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Rides

If you are looking for a ride, or can offer a ride, to Art Weekend, please indicate it below.

  • El and I are coming from Newton Center, and have a smallish car (3-door Saturn SC2, 32 mpg), and will drive ourselves and possibly one other (Rich?) unless we hitch a ride with another group. -MS
  • I can offer a ride: From NYC to Art Weekend; From Art Weekend to Ann Arbor, MI. -MCN
  • The Little Red Yaris is having it's first big adventure. Jeff B. and I will be heading MI-PA and then PA-MI... we can probably take one more. -RPF
  • Britt and Carolyn are leaving from Lowell, MA (Thurs AM-Sun) and should have room for two people.
    • How big is your Saturn? -MS
    • Big enough, baby, big enough. -EH
  • Jen and I are coming from Braintree MA in either the Prius or the Planet Killer (Jeep Grand Cherokee) on Thursday at around 3pm. We can swing through New Haven to pick up RS, or not. The driving time is quite similar, except that traffic on 95 may be brutal
  • Estimated arrival times:
    • C&B, E&M: 4:30 PM
    • MCN: 7 PM
    • NM: 1PM
    • [CJ]D & RS: 9PM outward to ass:30
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