Notes from a travelling printmaker
Barbara Milman Discovers Skopelos

Alone, but Not Entirely
I went to Skopelos for two weeks last November. Everything was a surprise - in the sense that I knew absolutely nothing about where I was going. The nicest thing was just how beautiful everything was -- including the studio. The weather was wonderful too (unusual for November). The other, equally nice thing, was having nothing I had to do - other than
what I wanted to do - go for walks, work in the studio.

In spite of the fact that it was the off season and there was little activity on the island or at the Foundation, I was not lonesome - in fact, what I was looking for was somewhere very far from home and all its responsibilities - being alone was one of the main benefits of Skopelos in the winter. But not altogether alone - the first week there were two Australian printmakers (on runs a graduate program in printmaking in Australia, and I learned a lot from her). The second week I had the studio to myself. And Jill was there, and someone else who had been at a workshop in the summer. Jill & Gloria are both very friendly and they look after the artists.

The Facilities
The print studio is well set up, they provide inks and paper, etc. There are three studios, one
studio has two intaglio presses (one small, one for 22x30 sheets), and one vacuum press one studio is set up for silk screen, and the third studio has a big litho press (I do not think it has been set up). There is also a computer room. There was only a PC, a flat scanner, and a laser printer when I was there, but they are getting more computer equipment. The woman who runs it, Gloria Carr, is very helpful and may be able to meet special requirements.

For residents the cost is $60/day for a small apartment near the studio and 24-hour use of the studio. The apartments are a few minutes downhill from the studio. It takes about 15 - 20 minutes to walk from the studio down to the town and waterfront (a longer to walk back
uphill). It is very quiet in the winter months -- there are virtually no tourists, no movies, few restaurants or cafes, newspapers are a day late (except in bad weather, when they may be even later), the only way to get to the Island is by ferry. People are friendly, even if you do
not speak Greek. The interior of the Island is mountainous and covered with pine forests.

I stayed in a small apartment with a minimal kitchen --so on nights when I did not eat with the other artists or with Jill, I made myself dinner (a Greek salad!). I also fixed breakfast & lunch for myself. There are some grocery stores in walking distance (a bit of hike, actually) towards the town. There are some cafes open in the winter (also a hike down the road), if you don't want to make your own food. There is a kitchen in the studio if an artist wants to make meals there.

The Next Time
And if I did it again - which I may very well do -- I might plan a couple of more days in Athens. I just stayed there one day, walked up to the Parthenon (which unfortunately is full of scaffolding because they are fixing everything up for the 2004 Olympics). The one other
thing I would do is learn a little Greek before going back.

All in all it was an almost entirely positive experience -- I was sorry to have to leave. But for someone who is looking for more company, rather than some solitude, going in the summer might be better.

The Skopelos Foundation is new - it has only been in operation a couple of years. It has workshops in printmaking and ceramics in July and August. The rest of the year it is open for residencies by print artists and ceramicists. Information about applying for a residency is
available online on their website: http://www.skopart.org.

See interview with Jill Somer of the Skopelos Foundation