June 13
– July
2, 2010
The
Program/Art Supplies/Levels/Dates/Faculty/The
Island of Spetses/Class Hours /Housing/Meals/Transport/Weekend
Excursions/Galleries/Beaches/Sports/Nightlife/Program
Fees/Instructors/Registration/Refunds/University
Credit
The
Program
The
summer art workshop on the island of Spetses is a three
week session concentrating on creating images of Greece through
various media, which include, but are not limited to, watercolor,
pastels, charcoal, collage, pencil, ink and mixed media. The course will
emphasize using the island environment to create individual expressions,
and will encourage students to develop and sharpen their abilities to
see the world around them in a new way. The distinctive beauty of the
Greek island landscape, and the oft-noted quality of “Greek Light”
has impressed artists from around the world for centuries by its ability
to influence color and form dramatically in ways that the artist never
dreamed possible. This will be one of the major players in developing
your abilities to see and interpret what you
see in new and exciting ways.
Making art is just one of the many
creative languages of expression and is not measured in terms of good
and bad but in terms of its honesty or dishonesty, both of which are
presently on view in many galleries and museums around the world. What
is of importance here is the conviction of the artist and how well he or
she communicates ideas. You all have something unique to say and share
with others. The program will help you to do just that, in a powerful
and meaningful way, while giving you the opportunity to enjoy the
experience of Greece and its people at the same time.
The
full Art Program is three weeks. Participants with limited time can
enroll for the first week, or first two weeks only. Fees for tuition and
housing would be reduced accordingly.
As
part of the Art Program two hours of instruction in basic
modern Greek is provided in the afternoon each week.
The
program is open to adults of all nationalities, with or without art
experience. The Art Program on Spetses will run concurrently with
the Poetry Workshop
and
the
Athens Centre Theatre Festival.
There
will be an exhibit of works by course participants at the end of
the session, and each student will be invited to submit one
painting or drawing for consideration for the cover of the art
bulletin. Students will be able to visit the studios of artists living
on the island, talk to them and see their current work.
Classes
take place at different locations on Spetses as well as the
studio. An exhibit of participants works takes place at the end of the
session.
Art
Supplies
Drawing boards will be provided for each student. A list of other
supplies for the course, which students should bring with them, will be
provided upon registration. ( There are no art supply stores on the
island).
Course Levels
Beginning,
intermediate and advanced level participants can join the workshop. Students will
be grouped according to previous art experience and ability. The
grouping will be flexible, according to student needs and development.
Instructors
Instructors
are qualified teachers who have years of experience teaching art to
people of all ages and abilities. The course is conducted in English,
though instructors also speak Greek and other languages.
University
credit 
Academic
credit can be made available from colleges and universities
affiliated with the Athens Centre. This might involve paying additional
fees to the credit giving organization
The
pine-covered island of Spetses is located in the Saronic, about 75
km from Athens, and 2 hours by hydrofoil from the city. Spetses was a
center of shipping in the 18th and 19th centuries,
and its wealthy ship owners contributed greatly to the success of the
1821 Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule. The mansions they
built have been preserved, and the Spetses neo-classical architectural
style is one of the attractions of the island. Spetses is also known as
the “green island” due to its forested hillsides and lush gardens of
jasmine, oleander and bougainvillea.
As an artistic venue, the island
offers a particularly rich source of inspiration. There is the port with
its cafes, tavernas and fishing caiques; the Old Harbor filled with
yachts and sailing boats; 19th century houses with tiled
roofs and flower-filled courtyards; whitewashed chapels with blue domes;
and spectacular vistas across the Saronic Gulf to the mainland and
nearby islands.
Housing
Participants
in the art program are housed in villas, in single
accommodation with private bath and a service kitchen. All rooms have
air-conditioning.
Meals
Breakfast
is provided Monday through Friday on the sea front, in includes Coffee/tea/yogurt/honey/fruit/cake/bread
There are numerous restaurants, cafes and traditional tavernas in the
port and near the accommodations. Many of these are located directly on the sea,
with a delightful informal atmosphere. About 12 euros. ($15.00) might be
considered adequate for a meal in a modest taverna. Meals could cost
much more or considerably less, depending on individual taste and
finances.
Island Transport
Very few private cars are allowed on Spetses. For everyday transport
horse cabs, water taxis, several motor taxis, and a bus are available.
Traditional caiques (boats) leave from the port regularly for beaches on
the other side of the island.
Weekend
Excursions
Travel agencies in Spetses organize excursions to the mainland,
including the Festival of Ancient Greek Drama in Epidaurus. Ferries and
hydrofoils leave regularly from the port for the nearby islands of
Hydra, Poros and Aegina. There is also frequent boat service to the
mainland villages of Porto Heli and Costa.
Galleries
There
are on-going exhibits
by local artists and others in several galleries
in the town.
The Spetses Museum, the Bouboulina Museum, and the Town
Hall have small but fine collections of island paintings and portraits
from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Beaches/Swimming
There
are sandy beaches near the apartments, and in other areas around the
island. Some of the best beaches are accessible by boats which leave
hourly from the harbor in town.
Sports
Wind
surfing, water-skiing, and other sea sports are offered on the island.
Night
Life
Spetses is an island with a variety of possibilities for enjoyable
evenings. In addition to tavernas and cafes where people sit for hours
over meals, coffee, or cold drinks, there are nightclubs with live Greek
music and dancing, discos in the old harbor where DJ’s play the latest
hits, and two outdoor cinemas where more or less recent films are shown.
Program
Fees
Fees for
the Spetses Art Program are:
Tuition
for the three week course Eu 1280
Housing single occupancy Eu 1140
Housing double occupancy Eu 680
The fees include:
·
Tuition for the three week course.
·
Athens Centre administration of all program details in Greece.
·
Breakfast Monday through Friday
·
Folders of information about Greece and the program for all
participants.
·
Bi-lingual program advisor on Spetses.
.
Certificate of Attendance
Refunds
Program and housing fees are refunded in full if cancellation occurs
prior to June 10th.
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