It’s now been almost a week that I’ve been at the Grunewald Guild here in the mountains of Washington state, and I’m thoroughly excited for the months ahead. I’m staying in what’s called the Riverhouse, as it directly overlooks the river flowing 50 feet away from the back porch. This porch is one of my favourite places so far to sit and enjoy the area, as it’s fully screened in to keep the bugs away (mosquitos remain my arch-nemesis) and is beautifully lit with string lights in the evenings. The quiet rush of the flowing water is a constant and peaceful sound, and a wide range of birds fill the trees and air with their calls too. (There’s one critter that makes a fascinating little clicking sound sometimes and I can never find it, but it intrigues me.) I was surprised by how windy it gets here in the side of the valley given the mountains on either side and the tall pines packed pretty densely around us, but the breeze is nonetheless refreshing and gives the sense that the forest itself is breathing. There’s really just so much about the space here that I love, everything seems so contentedly alive and welcoming – the bright purple and red-orange flowers, the neon lime green moss, and the spiders weaving intricate lace across the corners of the porch.

Most of the projects I’ve been helping with so far have been focused on organizing and cleaning up some of the studio spaces in preparation for the start of summer programming, but today I helped ‘turn’ a bunch of the bedrooms, larger shared spaces, and outdoor landscaping to get them ready for when more guests come in a couple weeks. With the help of 3 other full-time staff members and a resident artist, we cleaned bedrooms, bathrooms, and studio and living spaces in four different buildings. Making beds and preparing bedding bundles were some of my favourite tasks, as well as wiping down all the surfaces and cleaning mirrors. We also walked quick loops around the buildings to check for wasp and other pest nests, and made sure all supply cabinets were stocked, whether with linens or a wide range of art supplies.

When I’m not helping organize and prepare spaces though, the staff here are really supportive and encourage me to explore my creativity and express the inspiration I experience. The campus is beautifully curated to inspire this sort of reflection and thoughtful consideration of the surroundings and one’s place within them, and that’s one theme I’ve been pondering more recently. The experience I’ve already had here in the mountains of Washington has been overwhelmingly one of intimate connection and intentional relationships both with the natural environment, and with the staff, volunteers, and guests here at the Guild. I’ve been trying to develop a better understanding of my relationships with the communities around me, and the time I’m spending here is definitely a helpful stepping stone in crossing that river.

Bianca Olfert, Grunewald Guild