Tayari's Blog: You're WHERE, Doing WHAT?

What is an artists colony exactly?
An artist colony is a place where artist can be left alone to do their work for a short stint, usually two weeks-two months. Most of the colonies are buildings that were built for one purpose and have been converted to house a large number of creative and sometimes crazy people. Where I am now was once a school building. There's still that tile on the floor that makes a person think of grade school.

How many people are there?
There are eleven of us here. Mostly women. I should say that I have noticed that women tend to need to escape of the colony more than men. Every time the meals are brought out at least one woman exclaims, "I can't believe I am eating something I didn't cook!"

Is it nice?
Yes. It is nice. Not lavish, but clean and adequate. Here is a link to some photos of the accommodations. The bedrooms are small and I share a bathroom with another person. I am given a nice room for writing that has little more than a desk and chair, but the morning light is gorgeous.

How's the food situation?
Not 4-star, but much better than cafeteria food. The cooks prepare a nice meal for us each evening. (We all gather together for dinner.) The first night was special with stuffed chicken breasts, local asparagus, cheesecake, etc. But now we have settled down to more ordinary fare. Breakfast and lunch, we're on our own to make meals from left overs and staples that are stocked in the fridge.

So what do you do for fun?
I have to say that the fun depends on the group and your goals. My friend, the poet G.E. Patterson, told me that the key to having a productive and drama-free colony experience is to go to bed at ten. "Nothing good happens after eleven," he says. But nothing fun happens before then. I go to bed early to get up early, but I hear rumours of lots of fun and frolic.

We can also take a ferry into Toronto to see a movie or do some shopping. I plan to venture out tomorrow. (And there is always the clothing optional beach!)

Who gets to go?You have to apply to the colony and the level of competition to get in varies. People are taken at various stages in their careers, so you are really competing against your peers. There are people here with substantial publishing records and some who are just getting started. I asked a member of the admissions committee yesterday and said that they looked at the quality of the writing over all else.

How much does it cost?
I had to pay my own way, but most states have arts commissions that will often provide travel assistance. Once arriving here, there are no fees. If you want wine at dinner, you have to buy that yourself.