What happens when you take 18 artists to a remote island in the middle of a Pacific storm? Magic. That’s what.
When
September 2023
Where
Cedar Coast, Vargas Island
Themes
Ideas, Play, Magic
When we found Cedar Coast Arts & Ecology center outside of Tofino, Canada, it felt like fate. A stunning lodge, off-grid tents, and a wood-fired hot tub perched on the edge of the Pacific – all on an island that boasts few other inhabitants besides a pack of endangered wolves.
We first helped Cedar Coast rebrand into an arts & ecology facility perfect for retreats, and when we finished the project we realized exactly what we had to do: invite 18 artists to travel from across the United States and Canada, to come rekindle their creativity and explore.
Despite nearly missing the ferry, 20+ hour travel days for most attendees, and the threat of a looming Pacific storm, we all made it to the island and immediately began painting and collaborating. At Idea Camp, collaboration is our essence. Most of us who attended spend our M-F as independent freelancers, working remotely behind a screen. It’s easy to forget how good it feels to work with others and create something physical.
Our days on Vargas followed the path of a typical creative journey: Arrival, Exploration, Energy, and Connection.
Arrival started with looking inward. Artists meet the blank page and peer inside themselves. Where are we at, physically and mentally?
Exploration is about seeing what is outside of you. We learned new skills - Handmade Font Design, Experiential Animation, and Color Theory. We also explored our surroundings - a silent hike to Ahous Bay, where we poked fingers in tide pools and ran cold feet across on the sand.
Energy is where skills became applied. We took what we discovered and rolled up our sleeves to actually create.
And our last day, connection, is about taking our creations and contributing them to community. It’s about collaboration and building together. We created a collaborative mural and soaked in the rays after the storm cleared.