No Boundaries 2009

This November I had the incredible experience of spending time at No Boundaries an artist colony held annually at Bald Head Island, NC. I wrote an article about No Boundaries for the November issue of Wilma Magazine and have posted the unedited version of it below. My personal experience was amazing. I jokingly called it "art camp, but with wine" to friends that asked about the time I spent there. It was an intensely creative environment. There were 15 artists of varying ages, backgrounds, and experience levels thrown together and told to create freely. There was collaboration, celebration, and unfettered conversation about how and why to make art. It recharged my batteries and reinforced why I make art. It was an absolute gift!

 

No Boundaries International

by Abby Spangel Perry

No Boundaries, an International artist colony that comes together on a biannual basis in early November, invites artists from around the world to spend two weeks on Bald Head Island for the sole purpose of creating art. The mission of the colony is to share ideas and culture with one another and the surrounding community with the belief that art has the power to break down political and geographic boundaries. Now in its 11^th season, NBI has been host to artists from across the globe.

No Boundaries came into being almost by happenstance. In 1994, Artist Pam Toll connected with the organizer of an artist colony in Macedonia through a friend studying in the newly formed nation. This connection set Pam on a path that bonds her to Macedonia to this day. Toll says she had “a profound awakening as an artist”. She found the freedom to create with what she endearingly called “her own tribe”. It was an experience that transcended nationality and reached the core of what it means to be an artist within a community of artists. The organizer of the colony charged Pam with the task of being an ambassador for the small nation. At the time, the country formerly part of Yugoslavia, had no embassy and was occupied by UN Peace Keeping troops.   After returning home, she found support from a letter she wrote to President Clinton advocating the need for cultural exchange. A response came from the State Department encouraging her to start an art colony in Wilmington stating “art is the best diplomacy”. The following year artist Gayle Tustin made the journey to Macedonia followed by Dick Roberts. With the three working together in three years the goal became realistic and in four years it came to fruition.

The community support in terms of goods, services, and donations are what have sustained the colony over the years. Kent Mitchell and Bald Head Island Corporation each year provides housing and transportation to the island. Members of the community cook meals. Businesses such as Great Harvest Bread, Jackson Beverage, and Tidal Creek have provided food and drink.  On one occasion a Bald Head resident cooked a Thanksgiving meal for the foreign visitors so they could experience the bounty of the American holiday.

No Boundaries has evolved over the years, receiving grants and creating alliances with organizations such as Wilmington’s Sister City Program and the international organization Paint a Future. It worked to bring artists from sister cities in China, Barbados, England, and Italy.  Paint a Future provided Pam the opportunity to work with international artists in Brazil. This year Gayle, Dick, and former NBI participant Bonnie England travelled to France under the same program. The circle of ties to artists around the world continually expands.

In the year between hosting artists from abroad, the colony provides regional artists the opportunity to come together and broaden their artistic experience.  When asked about her time as a participant in 2006 & 2008, Bonnie England jokes “each was a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to paint side by side with artists from all over the world; sharing ideas, techniques, visions, stories, and wine!” Bonnie looks forward to participating this year and sees the upcoming colony as ”another wonderful opportunity to meet, fun, interesting, talented artists from different parts of the globe and to paint, paint, paint without any tedious distractions “like paying bills, walking the dog, and cleaning the car!”