Alexandra Turner…our first 2019 Artist in Residence
It has been hard for me to wrap my head around our upcoming time on the coast of Maine, as it has been such a cold and wet spring. I started to think I was going to have to pack our snow pants! With the emergence of the sun (finally!) and some warmer weather, our snow pants and jackets hang clean and drying on the line and we are really getting ready to head to Searsport Shores!
My family and I spent a lovely few days there last August, after finding the campground almost by chance. Usually, we camp in wilderness areas, but using Maine as a stop-over on our way to Nova Scotia, we decided to try out a campground and were thrilled with the friendly people and amenities of Searsport Shores! (My gosh- hot showers, laundry AND a sink to wash dishes! Firewood and ice! A playground AND an indoor playspace! For those of you seasoned campground campers, these things might come as no surprise, but we usually pack in everything we’ll need for the week in our kayaks, or maybe a canoe, all our food is canned or dehydrated, and all our firewood found and sawed by hand. Plus my child gets to bring just one toy for the week.) In the relative luxury, the fresh sea air and the calm ocean, my child and pup had their first ocean experiences. We so enjoyed the grounds, including of course the amazing rocky beach, the forest paths, the beautiful gardens, playground, goats, and of course the artist studio last year, that by the end of our 3 days, I was hoping to become an artist in residence for the next season!
Now, I am tying up loose ends, completing my residencies in my local middle school and preschool, getting my office, studio and home tidied up and ready to be left. We have most of our vegetables and flowers in the garden, with a few more things to plant this weekend, before the last mad-dash week of work and school and then…the magical journey begins!
Oh, and by the way…My name is Alexandra and I will be the artist in residence at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground for the third week of June. My family, including my husband, 5 year old and sweet pup Lena will be on site for the week as well. We have a few friends joining us and can’t wait to meet everyone else! I am a glass and multi-media artist living in the Burlington, Vermont area, originally from the Finger Lakes region of New York. My passions include finding the beauty in little, everyday moments, celebrating the elegance of nature and helping others find joy in making art! Check me out on instagram @mindfulartscreations, and at my website: www.alexandraturnerart.com .
See you at the beach!~