The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, set deep in the coastal forests near Lincoln City, is a hidden resource for Valley-area writers. Sitka supports the writing community through two methods: offering writing workshops in the summer and author residencies in the winter. By these means, the Sitka Center desires to “expand the relationships between art, nature and humanity.”
Writing workshops are usually short in duration, lasting one to three days, with prices varying between $60 to $180, depending on the course. Workshops scheduled for the month of July include “Telling Your Family Stories” and “Writing and Selling Your Nature Essays.” Students who don’t wish to commute can stay in area hotels or rental accommodations.
According to Sitka Executive Director Eric Vines, the energy created in the Sitka workshops is uniquely dynamic. “Because each student comes looking to learn a particular skill or set of skills, the commitment to learning is often greater than what you might find in a college or university setting. And our workshop participants tend to be older, which translates into greater life experience, a desire to learn for the sake of learning, and an effort to get absolutely everything they can out of a particular class.”
Further adding to the intensity of the class are the teachers. “The instructors are there because they want to be there. They report coming away from teaching at Sitka refreshed and energized.”
During the winter months, the studio spaces of Sitka are turned over to selected artists and writers for brief residency, usually one to three months. Although writers of all success levels are encouraged to apply, Sitka looks for something special in its residents.
Vines said, “When we select writers for our residency program, we look for a connection that explains why a writer would benefit from spending time at Sitka in particular rather than just any place with bed and a writing table. We also look at the quality of past writing and the proposed project to make sure it fits with our emphasis on nature, sense of place, and the importance of art, interpreted broadly. We look at writers across the spectrum from emerging to professional. And we look for people who are interesting. People we want to get to know who will add spark to our community.”
The Sitka Center believes the marriage of ecology and art can change the world. Vines said, “We are trying to do our part in making the world a better place. We never know who is going to paint the next painting that changes our perspective on the world. We never know who is going to write the next poem or novel that touches someone’s life. We support writers because they help us see the world more clearly, adding meaning, stories, and new ways of thinking to humanity’s shared wisdom.”
Vines believes that time spent at The Sitka Center can be transformative.
“The place itself does a lot of the heavy lifting. When you look at the trees, smell the fresh air, and listen to rustling grasses in the meadow, it’s hard not to feel inspired to create something beautiful for the world,” he said.
For more information on the Sitka Center or to register for workshops, go to www.sitkacenter.org or call (541) 994-5485.
