Magical Summer

The month I spent at Cowhouse in the summer art program: Art on the Farm was undoubtedly the highlight of my 2018.
Everything about the beautiful environment, from the mystical forest, to the stone studio space, to the alpaca and goose field, felt incredibly welcoming and safe.
Frank, Rosie, and the guest teachers were incredibly encouraging, inspiring, and always excited to help us make the projects of our dreams a reality. They truly made it feel like anything was possible, no matter how bizarre your project was, or uncommon the needed materials were. Not only was I able to refine the skills I already had, but I also got to learn about, and work with, artforms I had never considered before. Getting to work in a space surrounded by creativity really kindles unique work, and the things that come out of the collaboration and consultation that takes place there are wonderful to witness. Books, hanging tents, intricately painted cakes, plaster hand molds, portraits in the pond, instructional Zumba videos, and mockumentaries were just a few of such awe-inspiring creations.
There is so much kindness in everyone there; the community there truly is very special, and the students quickly became a family. I cannot stress the value and strength of such connections enough, lifelong friendships form at Cowhouse, and they inspire remarkable artwork as well!
The food is out of this world! Not only is it delicious and nourishing, but they are very accommodating of dietary restrictions/preferences. They made sure there was always plenty of tasty options for my vegan and gluten-free self, and even kept the cabinets stocked with special cookies. We got to have an exciting cooking competition, where students designed menu plans and Frank made sure we had everything we needed (and they still made sure there were vegan and GF options-Brilliant!). Needless to say, there is amazing food there for everyone!
The excursions were stellar as well. We got to visit art museums in enchanting cities, wander through quaint towns and talk with local artists, hike to a waterfall, and visit a fairytale island complete with a blind goat shepherd. Swimming in the ocean, exploring castle ruins in a cow pasture, kayaking on the pond, and playing hide and go seek in the forest were notable highlights. The adventures that abound at Cowhouse definitely make this magical place unique.