Georgraphy of the Imagination: Iceland September 14 - 19, 2024

Join us on a curated exploration of this northern region of Iceland, a magical place that will take you away from the ordinary and familiar and inspire your journey of imagination. Over the week immersive experiences will include multi-sensory prompts for writing, image-making, and other creative exercises that expand and stretch your imagination. At the end of the week, you’ll have a journal of your travel experience that is deeply personal and uniquely tied to the Icelandic landscape.

You’ll be writing every morning from prompts and exploring the Siglufjordur area in the afternoons. You can write in any style or genre that suits you, and we welcome people at all levels of writing experience as well as photographers, painters, and other artists who want to add some words to their images.

In Northern Iceland surrounded by mountains, the town of Siglufjordur sits at the head of a fjord on the edge of the Greenland Sea. Once a thriving herring fishing town, Siglufjordur now has interesting shops and restaurants and is the setting for books written by the Icelandic mystery writer Ragnar Johansson, and the basis for the Icelandic TV series Trapped.

Our lodge has spectacular views, single or double occupancy rooms, and shared bathrooms. All meals are prepared by our fabulous chef, Kirke Olson, and shared around a long table in the Thorrablot style (see below). Imagine yourself sitting in an extraordinary geothermal-heated hot tub overlooking the fjord, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, feeling fulfilled from your creativity-infused day!

Your leaders:

Meg Weston and Jane Pirone will be your co-facilitators, working with prompts that give you the opportunity to combine sensory detail, imagery, and words to capture layered connections to place, time, characters and worldbuilding. We’ll be joined by Kirke Olson, writer, chef, psychologist also an ANFT-certified forest therapy guide.

Meg Weston leads writing retreats connected to geological hot spots such as Iceland, Hawaii, and other places around the world. She is a photographer, poet and non-fiction writer who is passionate about the forces that shape the earth and the stories that shape our lives. She’s been traveling to Iceland since 1974, photographing volcanic activity, and leading writing retreats there since 2014.

Jane Pirone’s creative and transdisciplinary practice engages with living systems, storytelling, and participatory futures from critical, queer and post-human perspectives. Jane is on the faculty of Parsons School of Design and leads international workshops focusing on creativity and collaboration.

Both Meg and Jane are trained as AWA (Amherst Writers & Artists) facilitators, and use these practices that help guide you past the inner critique to access your unique voice.

Kirke Olson is a psychologist who applies research results from positive psychology, neuroscience and mindfulness to his work with schools and other professionals. He is an ANFT-certified forest therapy guide, a writer, and also our esteemed chef!

Lodging:

A comfy, private 11 bedroom lodge in Siglufjordur, beautifully situated in the north of Iceland on a fjord and surrounded by glorious mountain scenery. All rooms are private, with shared bathroom facilities, a sauna, and an extraordinary 10-person hot tub with a view of the fjord. The entire lodge will be occupied only by our group.

Meals:

Our food will be prepared with joy, love, curiosity for Icelandic recipes, as well as respect for your culinary restrictions by an experienced cook and fellow writer, Kirke Olson.  Included in the price will be continental breakfasts, prepared self-serve lunches and full dinner when served at our lodge.  Evening meals may be served in the spirit of the Icelandic tradition of Thorrablot when participants have a sacramental feast (a blot) and recite poems to honor the Norse god Thor.

Workshop Fee: $2200 (double occupancy), $3200 (single occupancy).

The prices include lodging from Saturday September 14th through Thursday morning September 19. We’ll pick you up from the Akureyri airport on Saturday and drive you to the lodge where you can settle in to your room and share dinner with the group. We’ll check out of the lodge Thursday morning, proceed to the Forest Lagoon spa (optional) before heading back to the Akureyri airport for your flight. Your workshop fee includes transportation to/from Akureyri airport and to any group excursions. Basic materials needed for the workshop will be provided. The price does not cover transportation to/from Iceland, any meals eaten out (away from lodge), alcohol, or opt-in excursion/entrance fees.

We will have one rental van and you don’t need to rent a car. However, those traveling with companions are encouraged to rent their own car for independent travel in the area. If you haven’t been to Iceland before, you may want to plan for a few extra days before or after the workshop to explore the city of Reykjavik before flying home, or perhaps you’ll want to rent a car and drive to Lake Myvatn for a few nights to explore more of northern Iceland. The experience we offer is unique - of settling in and getting to deeply know one place while you focus on writing and creativity. We’re always happy to give advice for touring before or after the workshop.

TO REGISTER: Email thepoetscornermaine@gmail.com or call Meg Weston 207-650-8937 with any questions.

The workshop is limited in size:  No more than. 8-12 participants (depending on double/single occupany in the rooms).

Register Early to reserve your place. 

 A $500 non-refundable fee is requested upon registration, with the balance due by June 1, 2024.