Art Visits Nature–spend time in a living museum!
A quiet time to create . . .
In the quiet of Sandy Neck Beach Park, the rustic cottage at the halfway point stands in the middle of the dunes, marsh and water. It provides solitude, scenic landscapes and an endless source of beauty and inspiration. The Town of Barnstable, in partnership with the Cape Cod Art Center, offers day excursions to this unspoiled landscape. It is a special place to create and immerse yourself in the great outdoors. From time to time a Sandy Neck Beach Park naturalist will travel out with the group and share their firsthand knowledge and expertise of this “living museum”.
Who is this for?
This artist experience is for the plein air painter, photographer, musician or writer who craves some time away to create without the usual everyday interruptions. The cottage is rustic. While out you will be exposed to the elements, and need to dress appropriately.
When can I go?
Trips are often scheduled for fall weekends as the colors in the marsh are heightened by the sun, as well as early and late spring. You will be transported by a Beach Ranger for the 3.5 mile drive through the dunes. The excursions are six hours long, trip times vary.
How do I sign up?
- Complete the application form.
- Applications will be considered as they are received
- Excursion dates will be filled on a first-come first-served basis
- Eight people max can be transported out to the cabin for a day
- Trips may be postponed/cancelled for low enrollment/weather
What is the program cost?
Fees are listed on the application form.
Participants have asked if they can give more and others have donated a portion of the proceeds they made from the sale of one of their art pieces created while out at the House at the Halfway Point to Sandy Neck Beach park. All donations are welcome. Donations and program fees directly support this program.
Are there refunds?
- If the trip is cancelled by the Cape Cod Art Center participants receive a full refund.
- All cancellations by participant incur $25.00 processing fee
- up to two weeks prior to excursion date, participant will receive full refund less processing fee
- within two weeks of the excursion, no refund unless the spot can be filled. If so, payment will be refunded less processing fee
Where and when do I send payment?
Once you have received confirmation for excursion dates, mail payment to:
CAPE COD ART CENTER
RE: Art Meets Nature
P.O. Box 85
Barnstable, MA 02630
Check payable to: Cape Cod Art Center
For questions contact:
Kate Walls Gallery Manager, Cape Cod Art Center
508-362-2909, manager@capecodartcenter.org
Melissa Chartrand, Arts & Culture Coordinator
508-862-4767, Melissa.Chartrand@town.barnstable.ma.us
ARTSBarnstable.com
2023 DATES:
May 7/ Noon - 6
May 13/ Noon -6
May 20/ 11-5
May 21/ 11-5
June 10/ 9-3 : SPECIAL WORKSHOP, with Nancy Orbe, SOLD OUT!
June 11/ 9-3 : SPECIAL WORKSHOP, with Anne Tochka, details below all dates
June 24/ 9-3 : SPECIAL WORKSHOP, with Robin Wessman. details below all dates
June 25/ 9-3
September 9/ Noon-6
September 10/ Noon-6
September 23/ 11-5
September 24/ 11-5
October 7/ 9-3
October 8/ 9-3
October 21/ 9-3
October 22/ 9-3
WORKSHOPS:
June 11, 2023: Plein Air Workshop Painting in the Dunes with Anne Tochka:
June 24, 2023: Plein Air Workshop Painting with Robin Wessman:
From the mouths of the artists...
PRIOR PARTICIPANT COMMENTS:
“I thought our time on Sandy Neck was great! We had an extremely high tide and the house was almost completely surrounded by water, as well as some fog, both of which made for some interesting photo opportunities. We also had periods of blue sky, which allowed us to get up on the dunes, for views of both sides of the peninsula."
"I went to Google Earth and found the House at the Halfway Point at:
41 degrees 43’ 56.09”N 70 degrees 19’ 56.07”W. It is easiest to find the road running between the marsh and dunes and follow it along until reaching those coordinates. We crossed the dunes on a road east of the house, which is also visible from Google Earth. “
“Surely a unique opportunity to see a beautiful and remote part of the cape. For me the view from high on the dunes had an other worldly and primitive quality that is difficult to encounter these days.”
“It was truly a great day. Just one of the highlights…while we were high on the dunes, hundreds of swallows were swarming right above us!”
“I spent so much time exploring that I only had time for some sketches, but I just downloaded my photos and everyone could become a painting if I could paint faster! I can’t wait to start working on the sketches and the best of the photos! This experience has been so worthwhile to me. I would love to return as often as possible.”
“It was a wonderful experience! From the time we were out to the naturalists expert commentary on birds, animals, plants, etc-to the beauty of the whole area-I was awe struck. Im so glad I signed up for it. “
“If you like to shoot landscapes, I’d recommend this program. It is a great experience with nice people and an awesome location for photographers."
"I especially like the Great Marsh. The dunes and beach are interesting and beautiful in their own way, but the marsh really does it for me. I hope to photograph the marsh at regular intervals over the course of the next year, in different seasons. I’d like to document the subtle changes. “
“I so enjoyed my art trip to Sandy Neck. I spent the day at the House at the Halfway Point with a small group of congenial painters; the scenery was spectacular, and the weather was cooperative. It was terrific!"
“I loved it. My plan going out was to do a pencil sketch an hour but the colors were so amazing. I couldn’t stand just working in graphite so I broke out my little travel box. So what I ended up doing was a small painting every couple of hours throughout the day. I would wander and photograph whatever appealed to me compositionally, texture or color wise. Then I filled in details back in my studio the day after, while the experience was still fresh in my heart and mind.”