Let’s Go Camping – Who’s In?

Over the last couple of years, Teri Fahrendorf has helped revive the tradition of an annual PNWS camping trip. With her leadership, we’ve visited the Maryhill Sculpture Museum and the Price Sculpture Forest and enjoyed meals, campfires, and most of all each others’ company.

This year we’re staying close to Portland, camping at Carrie Allen’s place outside of Estacada, OR. Hopefully this means more people will be able to take part – either dropping in for a day or spending the night.

SAVE THE DATE – starts Friday afternoon, June 12 and ends Sunday around noon.

This camping trip will be a bit different from the last two. Carrie’s place is a natural wonder – with a wandering trail through the forest, down to her artist’s yurt and firepit.

Over the years this has become a very special place for Carrie, who is a deeply spiritual artist. “I want to make sure we talk about the sacred land here and giving back; thinking of it as being generous to Mother Earth in asking for and receiving energy,” she says. If your work is at all influenced by nature, this is a great chance to be among other artists in a unique environment.

Instead of visiting a sculpture collection, this year’s camp-out focuses on peaceful time together and making art. There will be self-directed stations set up, with periodic demonstrations/presentations. So far we have:

• A talisman-making (Carrie Allen)
• Wet-felting small vessels or rocks (Leslie Crist)
• Copper leaf-making (Phil Seder)
• Small clay works (Teri Fahrendorf)

The lead for a station brings materials and tools, sets up the work station and do a demonstration if necessary. After that, it up to folks to be self-directed so the station leads can also be participants. 

If you have an idea for a station and are available to set it up, please speak up! It’s possible funds may be available for materials.

Practical details:

There is a grassy area for tents, some spots that will work well for RVS (sans electricity), and we’ll bring in a port-a-potty. Campers will help set up a food prep/cooking area with tables and whatever cooking devices people are able to bring. There will be some electricity available at the food prep area.

There is a fire pit, along with the possibility of a burn ban. Let’s cross our fingers on that and see how it goes.

Unlike previous years, we’re not organizing meal teams. Instead, campers will bring their own food or coordinate on their own with other campers if sharing is desired. We may do some kind of simple “I’m bringing two dozen eggs for Sunday morning” signup sheet, if that’s desired.

Living in this world, at this moment in time, I hope this will feel like an oasis – carving away space for us to just be together. To create. To laugh. To be open-hearted.

Please comment below if you are at all interested in taking part. That will let you receive emails as more details become available.