THE WAYWARD LIFE
The Wayward retreat is an engaging and supportive space for women and other marginalized gender artists to create work, explore collaboration, experiment, recharge, and develop new skills to help on your artistic journey.
The retreat is HELD at our beautiful house on remote and beautiful Quadra Island, British Columbia. Here between the old growth forest and the lake, there is no internet or cell phone service at the house — nothing to distract you from your inner voice or your community of talented peers.
Time and space to work.
The location of our retreat provides space for solitude and focus, both in nature and in our very comfortable house.
A beautiful setting.
Our home on Quadra Island is secluded in a lush forest on the edge of a lake, and the nearby beaches are covered with fresh oysters.
Creative collaboration.
We curate space and design opportunities to collaborate with your fellow retreaters and hosts in magical and unexpected ways.
Great food.
Seriously, we do it right.
Refocus your creative career on beautiful Quadra Island.
FROM PAST RETREATERS
"I don't think I could ever describe the transformative and magical experience of Wayward to someone who hasn't experienced it for themselves. This was an artist retreat that reminded me what art, and life, is for—joy, connection, community, silliness, and more. I left Wayward fuller than I could have imagined. There's nothing like taking a writing break by jumping into the lake, or living your best forest life eating salmonberries off the trees. The retreat is thoughtfully curated from beginning to end, which really makes entering and leaving feel like stepping into and out of a portal."
–Manahil Bandukwala, poet + artist
“This retreat was such a unique and powerful experience for me. Never before in my creative life have I ever been so completely isolated and at the same time so fully surrounded and supported by fellow artists. This was such an open and welcoming environment – so filled with creativity and joy – that coming back home and readjusting to my ‘normal’ life was almost a hardship. I’m counting down the weeks until the next retreat, where I’m sure the magic will be rekindled in a new and exciting way, and where isolation and companionship and creativity somehow come hand in hand.”
— Katy DiSavino, television writer + playwright
“It turns out that having a space to make stuff that you can just enjoy (instead of worrying how it integrates with your personal brand or what the price point will be) is incredibly critical. Honestly, making things simply for the joy of it is something that can get lost in your (highly rewarding and personally satisfying) art career. The retreat ended up being an amazing time, an incredibly nurturing physical and emotional space.”
— Eva Funderburgh, sculptor + ceramicist
“The Quadra Island retreat was galvanizing and therapeutic in equal measures, with pacing that rewarded both solo creativity and socializing. During the day, I could strike out on my own into the lush woods, pull the rowboat out on the lake for a contemplative float, or strip down and take a refreshing swim without fear or worry. I had personal space and time to write, think, chill with music, or interact with nature on my own terms. In the evenings, being surrounded by other creatives–many in different fields than mine–allowed me to hear how others tackled their own challenges, or thought of their own practice. Months later, I still find myself considering how the other participants would tackle an obstacle currently in my way.”
— Sarra Scherb, narrative designer + Writer
Join us!
