10/12/2026
Ruminations on the idea of a writing "retreat" from Shannaghe's current resident, Eric Weiner. I've never liked the term "retreat" applied to artistic residencies. I think of Napoleon trying to get out of Moscow, not a good vibe. Or lazy beach days buffeted from thoughts or fears. I've never seen an artist bring a gun to a residency, and I've never seen one bring a beach umbrella either. Residency is a conversation with oneself and one's project; and it isn't necessarily an easy conversation. It's likely syncopated. It's always surprising. It's a gift and a challenge. It's not a retreat.
It's true I frequently worry about how it's going over there in Shannaghe, our barn/residency. (Is she struggling? Has he just thrown out the whole draft?) But most of the time I know that good things come from time spent alone in creative endeavor and inquiry. Good things come from engaging. In Weiner's essay you'll find a whole list of artists--Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas--who agree. Here it is.
Tuning Out The Noise
