- © Ray Ketcham
I’ve been absent for a few weeks and today’s post might explain one of the reasons why. Last year Ray Ketcham and I planted the seeds for a number of collaborative projects and since then we’ve been working very hard to make them happen. Hopefully over the next few months some of them will have had the time and space to grow into something concrete that we can share with our friends and readers of our blogs.
Today I am pleased to share one idea that has its roots in the mentoring I’ve been receiving from Ray. As you may know, I first met Ray at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival last year when I was shooting there along with my friends Dave, David and Mary. We spent a wonderful evening sitting around discussing aspects of art and photography and that’s where the idea of the Artist Round Table (ART) was born. I’ve been wanting to re-create that evening to have a similar discussion with friends and photographers who visit here. It’s not easy to have that kind of conversation through a blog and so Ray and I decided we’d invite you to join us in Port Townsend this summer.
Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, Port Townsend is an enclave of artists, musicians, performers, and writers. We’ve made arrangements to spend two and half days with you and some of our friends in this artist community to talk about and work on discovering our visual voice. This isn’t a workshop but an opportunity to get together with like-minded photographers and just enjoy discovering the uniqueness of our own visual expression. Each day will be a mix of photographing around Port Townsend, conversations with local artists, and a round table discussion facilitated by Ray. If you’d like to have an idea of the kinds of things we plan on discussing, pop over to Ray’s blog today and read his post on Looking for Passion. Of course there’ll be lots of time to socialize over meals as well. We’ve already extended the invitation to some people who we know personally and hopefully we will have friends from Canada, the US Mid-West and perhaps even Texas. We realize most of you will need to travel to Port Townsend so we have kept the price as low as possible (US$199 per person not including accomodations and transportation) just to cover our costs of renting facilities, Round Table hospitality, and presenter recognition.
If you are interested in joining us, please use the contact form to send me an email. Please include a short paragraph on what you hope to gain from being a part of the ART and what you would bring to the discussion. Feel free to ask any questions you may have as well.
Hope to see you in June in Port Townsend!
It’s very exciting to see the seeds you and Ray planted last year beginning to sprout this year. You know I desperately want to be there but I am unable to confirm a commitment at this time.
For those who have not been to PT, you will love it. .. well, unless you prefer box stores and outlet malls. PT is old small town America with “turn of the century” architecture. Its people of artists and sailors make up the heart of the town.
Also, Ray’s photograph up there is a perfect poster. Very nice!
I’ll keep my fingers crossed and a seat at the table for you, Chris. It would be wonderful to have you and Trish there.
It’s a wonderful idea you two. I will be there in spirit, if not fleshly self. Would absolutely love to be there wholly though, and wander around PT for a couple of weeks thereafter too. Argh!
One of these days it’s going to happen and I’m sure the earth will shift its axis because we’re all in the same place. In the meantime, we take your spirit because it’s pretty darn special on its own!
Brilliant idea and that is one event I would love to go to. Unless I get my spaceship working I doubt the chances of coming there are great, but I shall be there in spirit anyway. Best of luck with this!
In a word Flemming, WorldNexus. You can be sure that we are going to have an event around that one of these days and hopefully not in the too distant future. Thanks!
I so wish I could attend but I still can’t fly (doctor’s orders) and Washington is just too far to drive right now. I will be there with you both in spirit and know that this will be an amazing get together and the start of a beautiful collaboration.
I can’t imagine two more talented photographers and downright humble folks that Ray & Sabrina so if you’re in the Seattle / Vancouver area, this is a “must be there” event.
Best wishes from your friend in Texas!
Jeff
Well that veiled reference to friends in Texas did not go unseen I’m happy to say! We’d love to have you here Jeff and if we can find a way to have more of our friends participate from afar, we will. Thanks for your kind wishes…they mean a lot to me…oxo
Ah…if only I could bend the space/time continuum to my will!
Brilliant idea, and I look forward to reading all about the amazing time you all have.
Thanks Cathy. We will bend whatever it takes to meet up one day…I think we already have a plan in the works, don’t we? We’ll keep everyone posted with tweets and photographs some might want to keep underwraps
I wish to join the throngs of people who so really wish they could be at this but alas cannot. This sounds like an essential “meeting of minds” and most of all a lot of fun. you’ve done a fantastic job pulling this together as well as the number of other things you’ve got going. I can’t wait to see the results as they come through. I really wish I could make it. Ray’s putting the heat on me too, gently for now…;-)
You’ve hit the nail on the head, Ed…it IS about having fun. And that subtle pressure you’re feeling is because we’d love to have you here.
Keep us all informed, as I would enjoy such a round table.
Very good idea! Would love to join you, but won’t be able to take vacation time, since I am already going to Grand Teton and Yellowstone for 10 days beginning of June.
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