ABOUT BEAR ISLAND
Bear Island is a small, privately owned island off
Maine's coast, in Penobscot Bay. The island is 11 miles east of
Camden, Maine, and 6 miles west of Sunset Maine. Its neighbors are
Eagle Island, Great Spruce Island, Little Spruce Island, and Butter
Island. It has a harbor and dock, a boathouse, several guest cottages,
a primary Sleeping House and Eating House, and a Game House and
tennis court. There is a tractor road for bringing luggage and supplies
up to the cottages, and many walking paths that cross the island.
All drinking water is hand hauled from a centralized well. Bathing
water is supplied from rainwater caught in cisterns. Bedrooms have
chamber pots, and comfortable outhouses are next to all the buildings.
There is no landline supply of electricity to the island, but solar
powered electric lighting combines with kerosene lanterns to provide
evening lighting.
Bear Island is a wonderfully natural place, constantly changing
in response to the cycles of the seasons, the weather and the tides.
On Bear Island there is a feeling of nature in a constant state
of rejuvenation. It is the quintessential small Maine island: invigorating,
diverse, and a world apart from the mainland.
SLEEPING/EATING/WORKING
Bear Island's buildings, built in the 19th century
to accommodate the needs of vacationing families, have been well
maintained over the years. The Sleeping House, sited at the far
end of the island away from the harbor and high up on the southwestern
cliffs, is a stately and comfortable Victorian summer mansion with
shared sleeping rooms for workshop guests, a large living room with
a fireplace, and several porches overlooking Penobscot Bay
The Eating House is situated a short walk down from the Sleeping
House. This is where workshop guests eat together. There's a large
kitchen, a dining room and dining porch, a beautiful vegetable and
flower garden, and a covered well. Meals are made by a chef and
an assistant. Dinners include different local seafood, poultry,
or vegetarian based meals, vegetables and homemade desserts.
Working space for the mosaic workshops is under a large outdoor
tent, where we work at tables. The larger island environment is
used as a field location for sketching and note taking, as well
as for the collection of natural materials to use in the mosaics.
NATURE AND HABITAT
Bear Island offers a wealth of different habitats
and landscape types. Under the harbor pier are rocky pools filled
with hidden crabs and eels. Beaches vary from sand to pebbles, framed
by rocky cliffs. There are tall umbrella elms, stands of fir, and
groves of birch. There are grass meadows of flowers, raspberries
and strawberries. The Sleeping and Eating Houses have sweeping views
back down to the shore and over the sea. The North shore of the
island is overgrown with bearded moss hanging off dead pines, with
the aptly named 'Spook Trail' winding through the mysterious dark
forest. Each habitat has its own wildlife. The cold Maine shore
is filled with delicious mussels (harvested at low tides), sea urchins,
crabs, lobsters and sea cucumbers. The fields have songbirds and
monarch butterflies, and caterpillars turning into chrysalis in
the milkweed stalks. Cormorants, osprey and sea duck are on the
water and rocks. Seals are commonly seen in the water or sunning
themselves on ledges at high tide; porpoises rising and diving in
pairs are seen by the keen observer.
ACTIVITIES
In addition to art related activities (such as sketching
and painting in the landscape), there are many other opportunities
for recreation. Swimming and snorkeling in the water is always refreshing
(though a wet suit is definitely recommended for longer swims).
There are several rowboats available for exploring the shore. Mussel
gathering is a rewarding pastime. A network of trails on the island's
perimeter provides ample territory for good walking. For those who
like action, trapping crabs under the dock always provides excitement.
For those who like tranquil recreation, the Game house has a billiard
table and ping-pong table.
For commissions, competitions, and teaching
information, please address inquiries to:
Joshua Winer/Mural Arts
Boston, Massachusetts
Telephone: 617.930.6010
Email: jw@joshuawiner.com |
