Fall 'Harvest' is THE season to be in the rural rolling foothills of Appalachia that can be superbly splendid array of foliage and layers of landscape you can see from a variety of vistas in the region. Several rooms available for a variety of mediums during the fall into winter months. Apply today for consideration for 1, 2, 3 or 4 week options. In an extreme contrast to contemporary society, make plans to rest and reboot during this lovely season to allow your creativity FLOW like the BUFFALO river on our 17 acre slice of beauty in the rural rolling hills of Mid-South Tennessee 20 minutes drive from a few small towns and mostly farm land as neighbors, 90 minutes drive SW of Nashville. Those staying longer than two weeks will receive a complimentary Forest Therapy guided walk on the land.
Plan for your residency to escape the hubbub of the normal world and enter a special place where time is a bit squishy and there’s little light pollution. The fall is likely to bring an array of colors and a muted palette, but still lots of pops of green. You'll see the end of the wildflowers and 'weeds' providing the pollinators with some final bits of food. We will likely be working on the fall / winter garden if you want to get your hands dirty. Prepare to hunker down in this adult camp environment without a formal schedule that allows you to find your own rhythm and routine.
If you get inspiration from people-watching, there are numerous festivals throughout the month of October in the region including Nashville.
If nature is your muse, inspiration, or collaborator, then you will want to sink into the fall experience that Tennessee can offer. Sometimes the weather will be absolutely perfect without much humidity, yet cooling off in the evenings for a fun campfire.
While it's frowned upon to spend more time off-site to feed your regular habits of coffee shops, fast food or just eating out, there are lots of areas in the region perfect for nature exploring with your sketchbook, tablet, camera, or portable easels either at the festivals or maybe you want to visit area wineries. Perhaps you like to thrift and salvage, so those opportunities are in the area as well.
THEME?
Harvesting your creative ideas. Are you trying to work on a proposal, a portfolio, a new direction? This is a time of year to make plans for 2024 and sink into the upcoming winter. Take advantage of the flow and time where you can be productive during the day and spend more time staring at the stars. Please explain in your application. This is not a requirement, but will be taken into consideration in the selection process.
NATURE BENEFITS?
Venture on the land and learn to go slow while you listen to the sounds of nature. Spend time on our river frontage as the water will be crisp and the landscape ever changing or take a short drive to the numerous natural features in the area on the Natchez Trace Parkway or local state parks. You'll likely still be able to see leaves on the trees and enjoy the crisp evenings with a fire. Want to rake and channel your inner child with star-gazing or hanging out with the donkeys, then this may just be the residency for you.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Full Moon & annual solar eclipse: Sunday October 9
- New Moon & annual solar eclipse: Saturday October 14
- Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The first quarter moon may block some of the dim meteors in the evening, but it will set shortly after midnight. This will leave dark skies for what could be a good morning show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- Full Moon & partial lunar eclipse (creating an amber moon): Saturday October 28
- New Moon: Monday November 13
- November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. The crescent moon will set before midnight leaving dark skies for what should be a great early morning show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
INTERESTED IN VISITING NASHVILLE OR AREA CITIES? Why not book-end your residency with this adventure. The first weekend of October is annual Oktoberfest and other festivals and at the end of October you may be interested in exploring the city of Nashville during the Halloween season as the normal spectacle of groups in costumes is on holiday steroids combining the celebrations of Halloween with the broad array of Bachelorette and Bachelor parties meandering the downtown district. For those who love photography or to observe people as inspiration for your writing, theatrical performance pursuits, or fine art possibly photography of neon and urban activities, then this spectacle is just up your alley.
* No guarantee as to the number of participants at any one time with maximum space typically for 9 people. Based on personal interests in your residency and the participant make-up at that time, there may be group outings to the nearby festivals.
RESIDENCY AND LODGING FEES BASED ON LENGTH OF STAY. PLEASE REVIEW in the FAQ section HERE.
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE I APPLY?
Please visit the FAQ for much more information, but below is a bulleted list of some things to consider.
- no shoes inside, please bring socks/slippers
- being conscious about our 'footprint' in the world in regards to our consumption of packaging is important. Must washes dishes after every meal, take out trash and recycling daily (sorting according to our local options and the upcycling on site), be willing to compost organic matter including your tea and coffee, and develop a daily habit such as sweeping and wiping down the counters.
- there is broadband in two houses with a farm antennae signal across the 5 acres where the buildings are located. Depending on your cell phone provider, your phone may not work or text only.
- prefer participants who are into healthy eating or curious about options and organic gardening, but have not gone down the chem trail rabbit hole.
- food and transport are not included, except for group meals on the full and new moon. You may choose to have meals prepared for you or for assistance in picking up groceries you've ordered.
- please plan for settling into the space and your routine, and that the time here is squishy. Many people find that once they have rested a few days and are not distracted by normal life, that the routine provides a really productive opportunity exceeding the goals for what to accomplish daily or during the time allocated.
- although there is storage for clothes and supplies in your room, the space is limited so make sure you are packing light and planning for a simplistic experience.
- laundry access limited
Applications are reviewed as they arrive. If you and your project are a good fit, you'll receive a contract to confirm your spot that should be signed within 7 to 10 days.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Let your creativity FLOW LIKE THE BUFFALO river on the edge of our acreage. Applicants with nature as their muse, inspiration, or collaborator will receive priority.
Individuals must be able to let the normal world and lifestyle go during your stay and it is encouraged that you utilize the time and access to the benefits of being away from contemporary society. If you cannot go a day without your favorite coffee shop visit, have fast food on the brain, or need lots of people around to function, this is not the place for you.
Be prepared for a different sense of time here and your project goals may actually go faster because you don't have your normal life distractions. You must agree to all of the policies which include contributing to the facility and land in some capacity as well as general, regular cleaning like washing dishes daily and other daily chores that as a creative philosophy allow your mind to wander and your inner gut to rejuvenate.
There are three residency lodging options depending on the time of year, group size, and your individual goals. Limited options for month or longer stays, please inquire. Ideally suited for those seeking 1, 2, or 3 week options. Plan on arriving on a Sunday, preferrably, unless otherwise coordinating around other departing schedules. If you can only spend time within those interims, you must still book for the full week(s). Those interested in longer term stays are most definitely welcome, however, there are limited room options available for month or more and there will be additional components to the application process after the first review.
The Raspberry Residency House features 3 bedrooms, two baths, and a communal living space. This lodging is available for 1, 2, or 3 week stays only and will include a once a week housekeeping for the common areas to add onto your daily chore contribution. The room options are two single occupancy with shared bath and an ensuite with a full bed and twin bunk. Fall/Winter seasons may have one month openings depending on the circumstances.
The Lemon Lodge can sleep up to 12 so it is available for groups or events. The Lemon Lodge is only available during certain times of the year in between other scheduled events. The common area is available for perusing the library and community space when not otherwise occupied. The room options include an ensuite with King and twin as well as a private room with full bed and shared bath. The loft sleeps up to 7 and is only available for either group stays or if the Residency House is fully occupied.
The Camphaus is the only lodging available for terms of one month or longer. Those applying for longer stays will have an interview via video conference. Longer term participants must not be allergic to pets and must confirm ability to live longer term in a rural environment with the various flora and fauna you will encounter. The room options include an ensuite with a Queen and twin bunk and a private room with Queen and a daybed couch with the shared bath on the hall.
It is expected that participants will treat the lodging and studio spaces as well as the landscape and animals with the utmost respect to have the opportunity to spend time at this special place. Participants sign a contract that requires washing dishes daily, taking trash and recycling out daily, composting organic waste, general cleaning as a creative philosophy daily includes sweeping or other basic chores like wiping down the kitchen counter, table, etc. Participants will be required to contribute approximately 30 minutes additionally beyond 'chores' each day (or in a bulk session) to the care and maintenance of the land in some capacity and may be given several options based on the season or what projects need priority which could include weeding or gardening, being an extra hand on a physical project, marking trails, picking up sticks, and more that should be considered a mindfulness approach to your creative process. All participants are encouraged to spend as much time as possible with the donkeys and other animals as a special aspect of this opportunity.
Please visit https://www.sarasvati.space/residency-overview for the most up to date information on rooms and residency fees. As an emerging residency that is artist-led, there is not a foundation or funds. The philosophy that a fee is an acknowledgement of the founder's investment in this special place and the creative exchange we all have as individuals, the non-human inhabitants, and the land itself.
Food and transportation are not included, but may be arranged separpately.
The residency fee provides the participant with furnished lodging and access to communal living arrangements as well as all of the features of the place which may or may not include a specific studio or designated workspace. Broadband and other utilities are included.
This is not a resort and it is expected that each participant will treat the living environment and the opportunity with respect by maintaining a clean habitable space, not limited to washing dishes and taking out trash/recycling daily. The creative philosophy inspired by shinto and research into how taking breaks helps the creative process is part of this policy. There may be a housekeeping service once a week to ensure that this is a clean and healthy environment.
Residencies are for the terms of 1, 2, or 3 weeks even if you cannot stay the entire week. You should plan on arriving during daylight hours on a Saturday or Sunday based on the availability and departure of previous room occupants. Month-long or longer stays that have been approved after an interview may coordinate a calendar month arrival/departure.
There are no grants, scholarships, or other funding available. If you are applying for funding, please let us know ahead of time if you need information.