Written by Maria Ekaterina Photo by Roger Gupta Photography @rogerguptaphotography
Ace Adventure Resort in West Virginia has acquired a notable standing in the festival world through its prosperous, positively admirable, and unforgettable event 1st weekend of June, called Mountain Music Festival. With its premium surroundings on top of Wonderland Mountain, Ace Adventure Resort is evolving to a year-round event venue with music and sensational artists who relish a weekend of transformative art therapy via events such as “Pigment Sanctuary Art Party” hosted by Pigment Sanctuary.
Ashton Hill, DBA Kettle Headed creations by Ashton Hill co-hosted this occasion with Lacey Vilandry who are co-founders of Pigment Sanctuary LLC. Their mission statement shined through each workshop, conversation, and interaction throughout this quick 3-day retreat. From friendly hugs and greetings Friday morning to the “I don’t want to leave” hugs on Sunday afternoon, the weekend’s success was measured by all the little markers in between. Morning Yoga with Wild Roots on Friday, unlocked our cores, awakened our verve, and gave way to an afternoon of transformational workshops. Kaitlyn Page hosted a 2-day watercolor workshop explaining assorted terminology, that students put into exercise creating their own watercolor compositions of art to take home. Mid-day introspection hosted by Selomon, who with partner Shannon Shine own and operate “Project Bring Me To Life”. Taking advantage of the natural beauty ACE has to offer, Solomon took participants on a meditating walk to see amazing waterfalls on Saturday. There is so much natural beauty to explore at Ace Adventure Resort year around.
The afternoons incorporated Lacey Vilandry Mischtech-ish Explorations which guide artists to have healthier trust in the process of creating art. Her workshop opened up with each artist starting on a piece of art, then passing it around & letting others add to it. Once you held your started piece, Lacey would add another curveball to examine, orient and exercise. Her out-of-the-box strategies help uphold the creative outpour alive. Sculpture with Found Objects with Isaac Preston remade the lost into newfound craftwork. Constructing meaningful art in the afternoon carried an unrestricted discussion led by Randal Roberts. Articulating to discovering inspiration, constructing your art, and committing your life to construct exquisite, meaningful pieces of art, that will ultimately develop their own meaning, once it has outlived the artist. To work up our appetite Brittney Isphording conducted a “Intermediate Class – Hoop, There It Is!” getting artists to learn and introduce tricks as solo acts, but further as a collective that can accomplish remarkable collaborations that are unimaginable to do alone. Have you ever tried to do a 3-4 person hoop chest roll? It’s humbling and inspirational at the same time.
To fuel up, breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided by staff at The Lost Paddle were top-notch. Breakfast staples like pancakes, fruit, biscuits, and gravy next to OJ & Coffee kept everyone full and ready to groove into the night. Lunch and Dinner options included delicious options like a variety of Pizza, spaghetti, and meatballs in addition to BBQ next to salads, fruits, and other delicious tastes. Saturday Cacoa and Ecstatic Dance with Wild Roots opened up the night to Mr Jennings, Beat Kitty and Buddhagraph Spaceship. They brought the nightlife in full view with their epic sets Friday and Saturday nights. Beat Kitty taught a DJ workshop before taking the stage Friday night blending with Jr. Jennings. Buddhagraph Spaceship put on a stellar show as artists spun fire, continued working on their live artworks, or danced to the music.
The Pigment Sanctuary collective community bring, develop, and deliver many measurable cheerful occasions for people to participate in, observe and celebrate. Finding your start as an artist or the strength to work past your creative blocks can happen with the Pigment Sanctuary. People who are ready to share their honest individual experiences as an artist with others, bring strength through its transparency of reality. Walking away from this art party, it’s easy to feel The Pigment Sanctuary artists ready to help others find their way while appreciating the value individual creative freedom brings to any community. It is crucial to our human existence to have safe spaces for our bodies, minds and spirits to share, create and express ourselves. The Pigment Sanctuary Art Party is a yearly event held at Ace Adventure Resort in West Virginia aimed at curating a safe space for artists to learn, grow and participate in everything from yoga, meditation, watercolors, flow arts, fire flow arts, sculpture building, group discussions and much, much more. Those Mountain Music Festival ticket holders will get to see The Pigment Sanctuary on the momentous weekend this June. Visit The Pigment Sanctuary website to learn more about their year around events & how you as an artist, or artist to be can participate.
