For years I have seen mention of the Monhegan Artists Residency but never applied. I think lack of time, and quite possibly confidence, always stopped me. This year I took the leap and realized I had nothing to lose.

I can’t tell you how excited I was when I got the call in April that I had been chosen for the teachers residency and that the board enjoyed my work. I spent the next several weeks and months dreaming of the trip and what I might make while I was there. In June, I boarded the Balmy Day Cruises ferry for a 2-week adventure on Monhegan Island. Those two weeks were filled with a lot of emotions—sometimes lonely but often empowering. I have never had an opportunity to just sit and be creative, alone for an extended period of time. At home in my daily life, like all of us, I am pulled away by children, chores, responsibilities, television and social media. On the island I experienced life without those distractions. I could set my own schedule, waking up to coffee and some pre-planning in the studio and then work time, a hike in the mid afternoon and ending the night with a glass of wine and some reflection on what I had done that day. I would dream up ideas in my sleep at night and wake up to try them out the next day.

As I said, at times the adventure could be a little lonely. I missed my dog and the comfort of my routine schedule, but having those distractions taken away pushed me to take risks in my work and go beyond what I had been doing for the last few years. I realized how important it is to allow yourself time to just be in the moment and play.

I create sculptural, yet functional pieces by imprinting large slabs with my ancestors clothing, lace and handiworks that I have saved throughout the years. From there I create vases, utensil holders, teapots and other structures that invoke a feeling of gesture. I am particularly interested by fashion from the 1800-1900s and use old family photos and fashion history books to inspire me.

As a ceramic artist, creating large and rather fragile works, it was a challenge to get things home safely. There is not a kiln on the island, so I had to transport the Greenware home as carefully as possible. One hundred feet of bubble wrap protected some of the work but many pieces suffered fractures and breaks. When I arrived home and unwrapped things, my heart sank. After a good cry, I actually came to accept the nature of the media and fully embraced the fact that this experience was more about the process and less about the product—something I try to push with my students in the classroom. I was now that kid, having to reflect and accept what was in front of me. This actually lead to my investigating repair methods and not giving up on my bone dry, broken clan. I spent several days back in my studio carefully repairing and tending to the work in order to restore it to a comfortable state. Now a dozen or so bisque-fired works wait for me to again allow myself the time to be alone with them, making glazing decisions and finalizing who and what they will be.

I will be forever appreciative of this opportunity and the people who made it possible. The opportunities we have before us in the state of Maine are amazing and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it all. If you are at all doubting whether or not you should apply next year, DON’T. You could be next year’s Artist in Residency and Monhegan Island should not be missed!

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Monhegan Artist Residency Review: Heather O’Neil