You may know the tragic story of Cassandra: she prophesied the truth but was destined not to be heard or believed. Often, we treat our creative voice in a similar way. While it is unique to every one of us, the question is do we leave space to hear and understand our muse’s song? “We must learn to be a soothsayer for our soul,” says Kirsten, “and listen beyond the din of disbelief in the head and the fear of being misunderstood in the heart.”
Let’s awaken and rewild the tale of our creative muse to give her voice again. This unique sculptural retreat combines technical ceramic figurative instruction and mixed media book arts to harness the creative voice that sings in us all. Studio instruction will be accompanied by site visits to inspire, such as the underground Etruscan dwellings in Orvieto, local antique markets, and the Monster Park outside Rome. As an incubator for soulful expression, Italy is full of myths, histories, and legends that echo in the art and landscape.
During this retreat Kirsten will guide the class to build a small torso to hang on the wall. Kirsten has a step-by-step approach to figurative ceramics that is easily accessible. Her class demonstrations are followed-up with individual tutorials, enabling her to help each student achieve their narrative vision. In addition, Kirsten will guide the class to expand and strengthen the narrative potential by making an assemblage fiber scroll book that will hang from the torso. Participants will walk away with a knowledge of techniques such as rusting, eco dye, photo transfer, collage, book arts, stitch and mark making.
This class is for ALL LEVELS: whether you have never touched clay but yearn to stretch your creative potential, or if you are a seasoned ceramicists that want to add a few new techniques to your toolbox.
Participants will be housed in the remarkably well-preserved Umbrian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio. Your workshop package is all-inclusive, providing welcome and departure services and airport transfer from the Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO). Aboard our comfortable private bus, single occupancy accommodations with shared bath (a wide range of upgrades with private bath are available), 3 meals per day Monday-Thursday, Prosecco brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday (no meals are served on Friday, our excursion day. Your workshop includes one excursion per week and many additional options are available on weekends for an additional fee. Of course, 24/7 access to facilities and 24/7 bi-lingual support are provided.
Early Bird Workshop Special: Register and pay your deposit before January 15, 2025 and save 10%! Just use Discount code: zejzwzeg when registering.
Payment Policies
Participants can choose from "Payment in Full" or "Non-refundable Deposit" payment options. However, if the "Non-Refundable Deposit" option is chosen, payment in full must be made within 60 days of submission of € 500 (Euro) Non-refundable Deposit in order to hold the reservation. If payment in full is not made within this period, Registration and Deposit may be forfeit.
In general, payment in full is required no less than 90 days of the of the workshop start date. No participant will be admitted to our FCO Airport Transfer vehicle with an outstanding balance.
If payment in full is not made by these dates, respectively of Workshop timing, as per the above, both Registration and Deposit MAY BE FORFEIT.
Our decision to offer Workshops is based on achieving small enrollment minimums, with this in mind, all payments are non-refundable after payment in full has been made. However, under certain circumstances (see below) credit from one workshop may be utilized for another Workshop or Residency within a one-year period.
Session Cancellation by ICARTS
ICARTS only “cancels” retreats in the event of low enrollment or in circumstances in which providing the opportunity to re-schedule is not possible. Each ICARTS Workshop requires a minimum number of participants enrolled - including the Residency Program. While the minimum enrollment number may vary according to the timing and duration of the session, the minimum is typically, six (6), to nine (9). If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we reserve the the right to cancel those programs.
When a condition arises that results in a cancellation, participants will be notified and the class will be rescheduled to a later date. In event that ICARTS determines that enrollment for a particular session/Retreat is insufficient, ICARTS will typically offer you:
In circumstances in which travel is interrupted due to travel restrictions or health protocols, Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God) ICARTS WILL NOT CANCEL, but will re-schedule the same workshop within the soonest reasonable opportunity or in the succeeding calendar year. In case of death or illness. of instructor, a substitution will be made at the discretion of ICARTS. Beyond these factors, all reasonable effort will be made to schedule the Workshop with the same Instructor, however, in cases where this is not possible a Full Refund (minus the € 500 Euro Deposit) MAY BE Offered.
Cancellation by the Participant
Observing the above dates and criteria, cancellation by the participant is not possible once Payment in Full has been made. However, in certain circumstances - such as illness of the participant or illness or death of a close relative or spouse - payment may be applied to another workshop within a one-year period. Candidates seeking to cancel due to personal hardship, illness, or death should contact the ICARTS in writing, stating full personal and course details. In this case, fees paid – excluding deposit - MAY BE applied to another workshop within a one-year period. However, this withdrawal and substitution may not cause the enrollment to fall below the minimum number, in this case substitutions cannot be made.
In cases of Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God, unforeseen illness or death, or death of a family member) we highly recommend that your travel insurance policy include coverage for any trip cancellation that may occur prior to or afterdeparture. Policy coverage varies. Often, it is advantageous to purchase your coverage prior to reservation payments with us and your flight provider. Check your specific policy carefully for more information. See the travel insurance section of the ParticipantHandbook for more information.
Arrive Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO); Bus Departs FCO promptly at 12:00 PM. With this in mind, our shuttle cannot support arrivals later than 11:00 AM. Participants arriving after 11:00 AM must coordinate the trip to Monte Castello at their own expense.
Arrival at Monte Castello di Vibio appx.: 2:30 PM:Lunch/Orientation/Rest/ Tour of village/ Dinner
Day 2: Monday,
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session sculpt
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session: sculpt
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session:Eco dye
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session Sculpt
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session Sculpt
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session Sculpt
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session: Sculpt
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session: Sculpt
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
Excursion: Bomarzo:Sacra Bosco - "Monster Park"
Morning: free or independent work
11:00 AM Brunch
Afternoon: free or independent work
8:00 Dinner
Morning: free or independent work
Flea Market
11:00 AM Brunch
Afternoon: Free or independent work
8:00 PM: Dinner
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session-Mixed media
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session-mixed media
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Session: Mixed Media
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 6:30 Afternoon Session: Mixed Media
6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.
Departure day
Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO); Bus Departs Monte Castello at 5:30 AM
