Resident Recipients
Testimonials from our artist and writer residents
“I had an incredibly peaceful and productive time at the Sea Breeze Residency. Everyone there made me feel welcome and well supported throughout my stay, with a comfortable room, delicious breakfast, few interruptions to my time, and a studio with amazing light. Long work days were punctuated with bike rides, where I could explore Block Island’s beautiful nature preserves, lighthouse and beaches. Every night my fellow resident, Andrée and I admired the moon glow reflected in the ocean water before walking to a spot for dinner. The residency culminated with an artist talk at the local library, followed by a reception at Sea Breeze - this was a delightful opportunity to connect with people who live on Block Island year round, as well as members of the extended art community there. The whole experience was a wonderful balance of solitude, support and camaraderie, and I thank Andrea and Sue for all their efforts in providing this opportunity.”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency is an artist’s dream - 10 days with the freedom to devote yourself completely to your work. The Inn is beautiful and comfortable, and the breakfast baskets are legendary for a reason! I’m in the midst of tying up the strands of a long, complicated novel, and here I had the space and time to think and read, write and revise in a way I couldn’t do at home. I was extremely productive while I was here, and I came home riding on that momentum – thanks to the residency the end of my book is in sight. I am so grateful to Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat Knoll and the team at the Sea Breeze Inn for all the ways they made this possible.
Block Island itself is magical and inspiring. The skies, the lighthouses, the beaches, seals, fields and stone walls! I got up early every day and took a long walk, accompanied by glimpses of deer, ducks, and raptors. Although I wasn’t consciously thinking about my work, I’d get back to my desk to find that the solution to a knotty problem suddenly appeared. Painter Angelina Gualdoni and I had a chance to share thoughts about our work as we sampled the island’s wonderful restaurants. It was special to meet island residents and be welcomed as part of Block Island’s long, storied artistic community, culminating in a public Artists’ Talk and Q+A at the Island Free Library. A perfect experience.”
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“My recent stay at the Sea Breeze Artist Residency on the beautiful Block Island provided me with a guest room of my own and a studio overlooking the ocean. After my morning runs, the delicious breakfast, prepared by the on-site chef, I was able to sink into uninterrupted work. Overall the experience was a perfect residency respite!”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency perfectly suited the way I’ve always wanted to work on my writing. The organizers, Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat, were supportive, generous, and accommodating in all the ways I needed. The setting on Block Island had an old New England majesty that was inspiring. Because it was so quiet, I slept well, waking up early every morning to start writing immediately. And just about the time I was ready to take a break, a delicious breakfast arrived freshly prepared by the residency’s chef. The location made it easy to have periods of walking and thinking when I needed to work through a specific passage or idea. I could easily walk to the town’s Free Library, to Crescent Beach, or to a beautiful lighthouse a little over a mile away. I quickly built a momentum that helped me accomplish my goals—both for word count and quality of the writing. On the last day of the two-person residency, the visual artist and I gave talks at the Free Library. The attendees showed that support for artists extends beyond the residency. Every day I think about and am thankful for the benefits this residency yielded. The uplift and motivation I received during the Sea Breeze Artist Residency continue to resonate. What a gift!”
“I had the good fortune to be able to stay at the Sea Breeze in April of 2023 for an artist residency. It was an incredibly creative and productive time, supported by Andrea and the staff. The Sea Breeze is a truly special place, you could spend your entire time just there, never leaving, meditating on the native plants, birds, ponds and ocean views. I also enjoyed bike rides, bird watching, gathering natural materials on the many trails and beaches, chatting with community members, and the legendary breakfast baskets! Having the uninterrupted time and space to make work was a treasure. My residency culminated in an Earth Day celebration, inviting the community to make art in collaboration with a local beekeeper and indigo-dyeing workshop. The event was a great example of the community-minded spirit of Block Island and the Sea Breeze. I grew so much as an artist from my time there, and am always grateful for the support the residency offered.” ”
In the Press
“The Sea Breeze Inn has announced that Lisa Corinne Davis and Alvin Hall will be their artist and writer in residence this May. The Sea Breeze Inn is situated on a hill with sweeping views of the ocean. This tranquil setting is ideal for creative people who might not otherwise have such an opportunity to have uninterrupted time to work.
Each residency session provides two individuals, a visual artist and a writer, with private rooms and bathrooms, a spacious and private studio for the visual artist, deliveries of delicious, healthy breakfasts, and bicycles for exploring the island….”