I recently road-tripped from Wisconsin to South Dakota to participate in Douglas Beasley’s annual Dramatic Portrait: Figure in the Badlands Workshop, which has been on my wishlist for the past few years.
This photography workshop experience is well known for the fantastic group of people who attend, along with the dramatic portraits that are created in this remote, and sacred land with its sculpted soil, sweeping vistas and extraordinary light.
Recent events in the world surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others have brought into focus where we can do better, and be better. If you read my recent newsletter, you’ll know I am actively working on an action plan to better shape my mission at Open Air Places in a more diverse and inclusive way and I look forward to publishing that soon.
I admit, it’s been a challenge to stay active on this platform with all of the uncertainty in the world, and my own worries that I’ll do or say the wrong thing promoting travel or retreats (my two main gigs) when obviously those two things are responsibly on hold right now. I feel deeply that words matter, messaging matters and I always want to be an authentic voice sharing positivity and inspiration in everything that I do here.
This month I had a fun trip on my calendar - a week of Island Time in Hawaii where I intended to explore a handful of unique places to stay. This planning is in preparation for a 2021 retreat that I am producing with my friend and photographer, Douglas Beasley. The COVID-19 pandemic has paused my travel plans this month, but I remain excited to bring this trip to fruition when traveling is safe again.
Inspired this week by Kitty O’Meara’s “In The Time Of Pandemic” poem posted on her lovely blog The Daily Round: Living From The Spirit Level I wanted to share some of the ways I am staying inspired at home during this time of social distancing.
I’d love to hear what you are doing (….or not doing) in the comments below. Please feel free to share your silver linings! We’re all in this together.
XOXO
JENNA
If you’re anything like me, your ideal weekend escape is probably filled with beautiful cabins secluded in nature, proximity to Lake Superior and plenty of time for rest and reflection. Enter the space that rolls all of these goals into one: The RicePod™ - the first of the Salmela Architect cabins at Wild Rice Retreat, in Bayfield, WI.
I recently road-tripped from Wisconsin to South Dakota to participate in Douglas Beasley’s annual Dramatic Portrait: Figure in the Badlands Workshop, which has been on my wishlist for the past few years.
This photography workshop experience is well known for the fantastic group of people who attend, along with the dramatic portraits that are created in this remote, and sacred land with its sculpted soil, sweeping vistas and extraordinary light.
Recent events in the world surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others have brought into focus where we can do better, and be better. If you read my recent newsletter, you’ll know I am actively working on an action plan to better shape my mission at Open Air Places in a more diverse and inclusive way and I look forward to publishing that soon.
I admit, it’s been a challenge to stay active on this platform with all of the uncertainty in the world, and my own worries that I’ll do or say the wrong thing promoting travel or retreats (my two main gigs) when obviously those two things are responsibly on hold right now. I feel deeply that words matter, messaging matters and I always want to be an authentic voice sharing positivity and inspiration in everything that I do here.
This month I had a fun trip on my calendar - a week of Island Time in Hawaii where I intended to explore a handful of unique places to stay. This planning is in preparation for a 2021 retreat that I am producing with my friend and photographer, Douglas Beasley. The COVID-19 pandemic has paused my travel plans this month, but I remain excited to bring this trip to fruition when traveling is safe again.
Inspired this week by Kitty O’Meara’s “In The Time Of Pandemic” poem posted on her lovely blog The Daily Round: Living From The Spirit Level I wanted to share some of the ways I am staying inspired at home during this time of social distancing.
I’d love to hear what you are doing (….or not doing) in the comments below. Please feel free to share your silver linings! We’re all in this together.
XOXO
JENNA
If you’re anything like me, your ideal weekend escape is probably filled with beautiful cabins secluded in nature, proximity to Lake Superior and plenty of time for rest and reflection. Enter the space that rolls all of these goals into one: The RicePod™ - the first of the Salmela Architect cabins at Wild Rice Retreat, in Bayfield, WI.
In these final days leading up to the 10-day photography retreat I am producing with Douglas Beasley in Guatemala, September 13-22, 2019 I have been thinking about all the things that make for a rich and fullfilling workshop experience.
I’ve learned that setting aside time to focus on my creativity during a retreat or workshop is one of the best gifts I can offer myself, so I always want to make the most of it. One way of ensuring that this happens is to prepare for that time in an intentional way.
Read on for a short list of the steps I take to prepare myself for a week of in-depth creativity!
When my Open Air Places guests ask for the best place in town to enjoy a cocktail, I send them 4 miles north of Bayfield along Hwy 13, to the COPPER CROW DISTILLERY.
Located one block past Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, the distillery is a charcoal colored building, nestled into the pines. The architecture aptly resembles a crow, soaring overhead with wings outstretched.
While the distillery has only been established for several years, it looks as though it’s been at home here forever.
Earlier this year I put together a list of goals and experiences that I would like to make time for this year to nourish myself creatively. One of the bullet points on my list was reading a dozen new books.
We are halfway through the year, and I am halfway through my list! Read on for my reading list highlights.
As I write this blog from the spacious porch of the HARBOR HILL HOUSE in Bayfield, Wisconsin the morning sun is turning Lake Superior into bed of shimmering diamonds.
The Madeline Island Ferry is making it’s morning crossing over to Madeline Island, and the air around me is scented with the sweet smell of the flowers hanging heavy in their baskets.
I feel lucky to be in this place, enjoying a cup of coffee with the splendor of nature surrounding me.
When I close my eyes and think about summertime, I conjure up warm afternoons on sparkling Lake Superior, complete with picnics, my camera and afternoons to while away. Bonus days include the promise of catching the sunset streaking across the sky of a hidden bay somewhere.
Since 2011 the community of Bayfield, Wisconsin has been a second home for me, and I really sharing with others how special this place is. Over the years I’ve perfected my list of hidden beaches on the mainland, and the Apostle Islands where I can find agates, or add to my collection of naturally occurring driftwood telescopes. Maybe someday I’ll publish my list, but for now, I just want to share one spot that never fails to inspire me.
