Welcome to!
The Dock
I am hosting this artist residency and I just know you will love it! I’ve been blessed with access to this house, my families lake house, right here, lake front, central NC, mountains all around.
An hour from charlotte, an hour from Greensboro, two from the triangle. Close!
I quit my job for this, thats how strong the pull to do this was! Art is like that, a magnet. But also something to share, like how I want to share this with you!
You inspire me and so does this place. The water wants a story and the twin trees and me. I want a story and I want you to be a part of it because I know deep in my bones that artists are the best storytellers, the ones who can feel into an experience with eyes that see magic.
The dock is humble and oddly, so are the mountains. The glitter shimmering across the water, ephemeral and perfect invites you just as I do.
The offering of time away from your everyday, getting to a new place is inspiring to the observant ones, shake off the slough of mundanity a bit, replenish your heart with a new experience.
Anyway, I love you, and want to bring you into what I am in.
Residencies are competitive and sometimes hard to get away for. But a long weekend? A nurturing residency? Maybe this is for you, dear creator.
I will end with this nugget of wisdom I received from a fictional fortune teller in a work of fiction from the seventies. “When change is on the table, take it.”
Testimony
“So much serene magic in watching the sun set over the dock, listening to the lake through the windows at night, waking up to walk to the water and gaze into the mountains. It opened my gaze of wonder, and your delicious dinners nurtured my soul. Everything felt possible, and supported, and playful. So many ideas and feelings of peace still percolating. Loved that we could break away during the day and come together to share in the evenings. gratitude <3 -Skylar Gudasz Singer/Songwrite @skylargudasz
Meet your hosts!
Hi Kennedy aka Banditi here! The fluffy one is Atlas! I was turned down from a residency one year and that is what prompted this whole project...lol. I spent the last three years as a farm hand on my best friends organic flower and veggie farm, then before that traveling around this part of the world in my camper with a partner. And WAY before that, I went to an art school! I am working to finish a collage tarot deck and a/a billion stories/poems that are coming out of it. I truly believe sharing is caring and that is why I am inviting you to this artist residency, hope to see you here!
Testimony
“The dock gave me the isolation I craved without the sacrifice of my creature comforts. The homespun vibe in the house transitioned me into my writing mind almost instantly, and my stories emerged in doses of writing and non-writing. The stellar food, enchanting dock, and expansive conversations all enlivened me exactly when I needed a surge. The giant mimosa tree and the hummingbirds did their magic too.”
-Michelle Dove Writer @doversions
The Juicy Deets!
The offering: A get-away residency, Thursday-Sunday with a lakefront view, a few delicious meals, a place to lay your head, a hot shower or bath, a few cheers and maybe a soak in the sun or a splash in the water. But most of all a serene space to work on your project, music, writing, masterpiece!
When: Check out the summer dates above! Best place to keep an eye out for sweet updates is my newsletter.
Transportation/Grocery: Preference for driving yourself to the house, but can arrange to carpool with me or other residents if need be. There is access to groceries about 15 minutes from the house in nearby Albemarle,(–think Ingles, ALDI, Food Lion).
Location:
On Lake Tillery, in the heart of Uwharrie, with a view of Morrow Mountain state park just cross the lake.
Accommodation: The house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Both available rooms have queen–size beds, sheets and towels provided. Desks in the bedrooms for working and outdoor patios with tables for work if changing your setting helps your process. WiFi available, if that is something that helps you.
The camper sleeps one, has a mini fridge, a/c/heater, stovetop and kitchen table/workspace (and the wifi reaches!) Also, a good option for someone wanting more distance due to covid 19. Kayak, Canoe and floaties all avail! Also, the house is big enough for “social distancing,” and if you'd feel more comfortable eating together outside or alone that is totally welcome too!
Meals: Communal kitchen. I will prepare delicious vegetarian organic centric dinners for sharing, please bring your own breakfast and lunch foods, feel free to heat up leftovers from communal dinners if there are some! Once your stay is full, meal sharing/hosting can be arranged. Let me know if you have dietary restrictions or food preferences to mind in preparing for your stay. Dinner will be post sunset to provide community and sound boarding for projects if so desired.
Energy: This space is for creative process not partying–hardying (but like a few drinks no big ya kno). I would like to have prospective residents keep that in mind in order to respect the energy and maximize precious time. It is a shared space, communal consideration encouraged. This is a femme centered space to nurture and care for craft. I believe everyone has an inner femme so all are included with this in heart.
With that in mind, the residency is for three people at a time, and I intend for this to be a safe space for folks who identify as femmes, so let me know if you have a preference for the other resident attending your weekend to also identify as femme.
Costs: I am asking for a financial gift of $300.00 for the long weekend stay, which will help me offset the costs of using this beautiful lake front space. A $50.00 deposit will be requested to hold your spot and will count towards your final financial gift but will not be refundable if you are unable to attend. If cost is the reason you wouldn't be able to accept this invitation, please let me know as there are a few scholarship spots available.
On using the word ‘Artist’
I walked up to a group of people I admired at this wedding we were all at, coming into a conversation, they look at me, "what would you say you are, an artist or a creative?" The little spirit in me responded, "an artist!" They all shruggily say, "oh most of us said creative." and from that moment I was like, f that! (respectfully, obvi if you would choose creative) being an artist is a state of mind not some attainable accolade or hoighty toight. So much color and beauty, emotions and mess, goosebumps and magic! Every person's life is art, and you being the person living it are the artist. So if you were feeling like, "I'm no artist" when you read this, I invite you to run that by your inner child and see what their thoughts might be.
Testimony
“After completing this weekend of light and love, I feel reconnected with my celebratory spirit. Whether through rituals, creation, or even simple conversations on the dock, every task and action becomes a celebration of spirit, nature, and self.”
Ariana Nakamine Professional Dancer @ariananaka
Who its NOT for: this may not be for you if,
-your need is for partying, I don't think there is anything wrong with this way of release, just is not the energy of this space.
-you don't see misogyny, sexism, mansplaining or patriarchy as problematic.
-you are actively untethered from your mental health, this is a working space, not a 'therapuetic' retreat, I am not a provider of mental health support and seek to create a safe space for all in attendance.
-you can't find your inner femme anywhere, like maybe, this just isn't accessible to you right now?
“The dock is humble and oddly, so are the mountains. The glitter shimmering across the water, ephemeral and perfect invites you just as I do.”
crystals + magic,
Bandit
P.S. Hope to see you here!