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.
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