Teachers' Retreat Aug.99

It was ten years ago this week that a group of us gathered at a waterfront lodge on Whidbey Island, WA, for The First Annual Polymer Clay Teachers' Retreat.
A First Edition Teachers' Primer, published online four months later, summarizes the agenda, saying there were six areas for discussion: Teaching Tips; Primer; Generosity vs. Territoriality; Interfacing with the Community; Product Development; and Artistic Statements. Also planned, the following "other activities": group brainstorm critiques; exchanging ideas; roasting marshmallows; eating incredible food; polymer play; and demonstrations.
Reading through the Primer a decade later, it looks like we talked about everything pretty much as planned. The Primer provides a great recap, but even more interesting, it's a historical snapshot of how we were doing things with this medium at the end of the last century. Skimming through the Primer today, it's clear, some things never change (if it ain't broke, don't fix it), and other things had us saying, "Oh yeah.. remember that?" Travel back to 1999 and take a look for yourself.
As for the "other activities"? Here are some of our favourite memories... Walking on the beach (all the way out to Baby Island, if the tide was cooperating). Karen's fabulously yummy pad thai and 'tater eggs. Lindly and Maggie's colour exercise. Pier's mentorship, and seeing work from her brief but glorious "gliiter" peroid. Dan's early die forming experiments. One-on-one critique sessions with Elise. Just being at The Lodge. A vigil for Terry...
Looking at this found-again photo reminds us how gatherings like this, beyond their official purpose, are an important chance to connect and reconnect with the unique individuals that share our common passion. And, when you're all bunking together in a big house on the beach, that bonding so easily goes beyond, in a 'summer-camp-best-friends-forever' kind of way. Our connections with many of these retreaters remain rich to this day. But this photo also reminds us that nothing lasts forever, and with bittersweetness, we remember Linda Goff, a Pacific Northwest treasure who was taken from this world too soon, but whose unique style, gentle spirit, and mark on this medium will be with us always.
Ten years later, thank you Karen and Lindly, for the pefect venue, and the important vision.

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TODAY'S LINKS
Teachers Primer First Edition December 1999
Barbara McGuire
Lindly Haunani
Linda Goff
Maggi Maggio
Kim Korringa
Marie Segal
Karen Murphy
Pier Voulkos
Margaret Regan
Donna Kato
Meredith Arnold
Emi Fukushima
Elise Winters

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Dan & Tracy

Teachers at the Beach | whidbey Island, WA | august 1999

(back) Dan Cormier (back row L to R) Barbara McGuire, Lindly Haunani, Linda Goff, Maggie Maggio, Kim Korringa, Carol Shelton, Marie Segal, Karen Murphy

(front row L to R) Tracy Holmes, Pier Voulkos, Margaret Regan, Donna Kato, Meredith Arnold, Emi Fukushima, Elise Winters