MONSON – For the third consecutive year, the Monson Seminar has brought students from the University of Maine at Farmington, and this year, two other UMaine campuses as well, to Monson Arts. 

Students apply with an idea for a project that they would like to focus on during their three weeks in Monson. This year, twelve students were selected to reside in properties around town owned by Monson Arts. They received access to their own studio space in the studio building and they were provided three free gourmet meals each day from The Quarry restaurant made by James Beard Award-winning chef Marilou Ranta. 

Each student’s project is unique and there are various genres ranging from writing to visual art to music. For example, Victoria Oliveira worked on adapting her screenplay into a graphic novel, Sam Hammar wrote poetry and created a new poetic form, and Crystal Reynolds created visual art about the power of words.

The Monson Seminar was a pivotal time for many of the students. Anna Heneise said she came to Monson with a novel in progress but soon felt she had to acknowledge the need to set aside that creative project and focus on a more literary piece. She decided to work on a personal essay that she described as necessary even though it caused her “emotional turmoil.” Heneise felt that Monson provided the time, space, and support she needed to conquer this project.

Hammar felt similarly, saying he had to “learn how to be alone,” and do a lot of self-reflection before being able to dive deeper into his work. “This was the first time I’ve been told my art can be lifelong,” he said. He also said that after the Monson Seminar, he knew what it felt like to be “well-fed all the time,” further proving the importance of this free program.

Each of these students expressed that the highlights of their experience at Monson Arts included meeting and being inspired by like-minded people as well as the immense support that they received from their instructors Kristen Case, Aaron Wyanski, and Noelle Dubay.

Case said that she loves teaching this seminar and she hopes to teach it for the rest of her life. “This is the most meaningful teaching I’ve ever done,” she said. “I’m so astonished every time by the quality of the work that is produced, by the depth of the bonds that are forged, and the community that is created. It’s just a miracle to witness.”