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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2003)
june 6,2QQ3 ' CULTURE They dare you f sitting in the woods making art with lesbians sounds like bliss, you’ll love Dyke Art Retreat Encampment from June 29 to July 6. Each summer lesbians and bi women from ages 20 to 80 gather outside Roseburg on Steppingwoods Women’s Land for workshops, creative time, camping and socializing. About 14 years ago, Jean Mountaingrove, Jemma Crae and Sierra Lonepine Briano came up with the idea for DARE as a supportive space to explore creativity. Tcxlay, Mountaingrove and Crae still coordinate the weeklong event. They find that queer women feed each other’s imagination. One year someone brought a door from home and painted a life-size Virgin of Guadeloupe. Crae says others were inspired and virgins began popping up all over in their art. It’s this kind of sharing of ideas and skills that makes D A RE a special place where I No talent for a rt? The Dyke A rt R etreat Encampment doesn’t care a hit. by K a th y B elg e exactly who I am,” states Thomas, an occupational therapist from Port land. “Besides, I think it’s just really nice for me to be around women; I tend to prefer that anyway.” Hinds echoes that sentiment. Lesbians find another use for duct tape when they learn to “Once we’re on the land, we make wallets at the Dyke Art Retreat Encampment become the community for the Hinds fondly remembers one camp where week, and we hold that community invio someone taught basket weaving from stripping late,” she says. “Very often the support con blackberry vines and brambles. “1 think the tinues off the land. People make strong rela most cathartic activities and the most mean tionships that continue over time.” ingful were around art made from nature and Thomas adds: “It’s really nice to talk to other elements we found on site,” she says. people and see what their struggles are, too.... I also have learned a lot about lesbian community.” All levels of artists are welcome— from those who make their living from art to those And then there’s the art. “Making art with who have never really explored their talents lesbians is really powerful because we don’t have at all. “You don’t have to be a professional anybody looking over our shoulder or even our artist or even do any art,” Crae affirms. “Just own self-critic saying that’s not OK,” says Crae. come. If you feel like you want to express your “We just play with each other.... You feel safe.” creativity, this is a good place to do it because Hinds notes they have deliberately tried to create a culture where women will leave behind anything goes.” j n their criticism. She usually offers a workshop The 14th annual D yke A rt R etreat designed to help people get in touch with their E ncampment is June 29 to July 6. Cost is creative spirit and let go of judgment. $ 180-$ 195 sliding scale. Register by June 14 at Hinds loads up her car with all kinds of art 541-679-4655 or danajem@intemetcds.com. supplies, and usually everything gets used. Crae holds a card-making workshop each year KATHY B elge is a Portland free-lance writer. and teaches wire sculpting and garden art. women artists return year after year. A t the beginning of each session, attendees meet to plan how their week will be spent. A typical day begins with breakfast; a cook prepares all vegetarian meals. T hen campers may participate in life drawing or wander off to work on their own projects. Lunch at noon is followed by one or two workshops in the afternoon. Campers then have free time to hike around the woods, sit by the stream or take in a sauna or hot tub soak. After dinner, evening programs include watching videos about women artists, sharing slides of artwork or writing about life as an artist. The women camp on the land or stay in one of the cabins. Attendance is limited to 15; about five return each year, and newcomers arrive every year. Many are from Oregon, but women have also come from California, Canada, Europe and Asia. Portland artist E. Ann Hinds returns every year. “It’s a very spiritual thing, and that’s why it’s important to me that it happen...in the trees,” she says. “W e’re there to heal, and we’re there to renew ourselves.” Camp founders Jemma Crae (standing far right) Martha Thomas has attended for seven years, and Jean Mountaingrove (sitting far right) lead calling DARE a place to focus on her art away from life’s daily distractions and to spend time D A R E into its 14th year. Portland artist E. with other lesbians. “I feel like I can just be Ann Hinds stands far left. eatingout eatingout eatingout . 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