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waywardretreats.bsky.social
Wayward Retreats
@waywardretreats.bsky.social
220 followers 22 following 37 posts
A creative retreat for those pursuing their artistic calling as a vocation. Waywardretreats.com
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waywardretreats.bsky.social
With applications rolling, please contact us with any questions you may have! There's a lot of info on our website about eligibility, the house, our scholarships, our programming and more, but you can always email us and ask anything we didn't cover. Contact (at) waywardretreats.com
A steaming teapot. Text reads: "questions for us?"
March 3, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Reposted by Wayward Retreats
evafunderburgh.com
Wayward was an integral part of me become the artist I am today. It is such an incredible, treasured thing.
waywardretreats.bsky.social Wayward Retreats @waywardretreats.bsky.social · Mar 1
2 weeks left to apply to the 2025 Wayward Retreat! Creatives from any medium are invited to join us at our cozy, inspiring house on Quadra Island. Remember: there's no cell service or wifi there, so if you need a week where the news can't get you, come reset yourself with us. Waywardretreats.com
Retreaters sit around a small bonfire on a beach using driftwood as benches. One gives an enthusiastic thumbs up. Retreaters gather around a long table for dinner, raising glasses. Retreaters chat and work on different projects on a sunny porch. A retreater writers in a notebook on a cushion laid out in the sun on the porch.
March 2, 2025 at 4:36 AM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
2 weeks left to apply to the 2025 Wayward Retreat! Creatives from any medium are invited to join us at our cozy, inspiring house on Quadra Island. Remember: there's no cell service or wifi there, so if you need a week where the news can't get you, come reset yourself with us. Waywardretreats.com
Retreaters sit around a small bonfire on a beach using driftwood as benches. One gives an enthusiastic thumbs up. Retreaters gather around a long table for dinner, raising glasses. Retreaters chat and work on different projects on a sunny porch. A retreater writers in a notebook on a cushion laid out in the sun on the porch.
March 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
From 2024 alum Alice Lee:
alright here's a super sappy post. last year, i went to @waywardretreats, an artist retreat in the wilderness (Quadra island), and it was one of the best experiences. last year was an intensely difficult year for me, went thru a destabilizing break up that just threw me out of whack u know? I think I was "getting there" pre-retreat, but i was definitely putting myself thru the motions of my routine before, which sometimes is what u just gotta do. wayward was the first week where I actually felt like "normal" me again. stable, happy, free. I drew A LOT. moved my body physically to the point of falling into bed exhausted everyday. but most of all, the PEOPLE. I love my queer art commune I feel like the retreat expanded my brain and heart be of the amazing friends i made there. felt loved seen and inspired by these artists (i miss yall!) I'm not saying wayward will solve all your problems but personally it cleared my skin and watered my crops. I emerged hydrated and nourished, bright eyes. like im feeling really good in my life / art these days and i think wayward was one of the initial sparks of this current wave. anyhoo highly rec 10000/10 @waywardretreats
February 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Applications are rolling in for our 2025 retreat, and we're getting excited to meet the artists who will join us this fall! Waywardretreats.com
Photo collage of hands holding a newt, hands inking an illustration, hands holding forager mushrooms, hands painting a sculpture, hands holding s seashells. Text reads: Wayward 2025 retreat dates: Sept 28 - Oct 5. Applications due by March 15.
February 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
A lot of our produce at the retreat comes from Lauren’s garden, which she documented via this illustrated map. It changes every year, but with a fall retreat, we're looking forward to a lot of apples, greens, garlic, squashes and more.

Applications open until March 15 at Waywardretreats.com
Hand drawn line art map of the garden at the retreat house, with a decorative border featuring drawings of significant flora and fauna.
February 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Miss you Lauren!
laurenmwong.bsky.social Lauren M. Wong @laurenmwong.bsky.social · Feb 21
This retreat transformed me. Gave me a tranquil space to create, breathe, cry, laugh, and collaborate with my peers. Applications are open now 💚.
February 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Meet us at the house on the lake, the one that's equal parts cozy and inspiring.

Applications for the September 2025 Wayward Retreat are open now through March 15. More information and answers to many questions can be found at Waywardretreats.com
A collage of photos from around the retreat house, including a cozy chair, quilt-draped beds, a bedroom with a balcony and a rolltop desk, the back porch of the house hung with fishing buoys found on the beach, and a closeup on a cabinet shelf full of shells and small objects. A collage of photos from around the house, incuding: a view of the skylight over the stairs; a view looking past some monstera plants toward the kitchen; a fire in the living room woodstore; a collection of objects on a shelf showing a small animal skull and small art objects; a closeup on a bookshelf featuring titles like "Edible wild plants," "healing herbs, and "make light work in groups"; a view of the living room couch beyond a table made of driftwood.
February 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
A fall Wayward often means prime mushroom foraging! Last year we gathered chantarelle, oyster and lobster mushrooms, which went into breakfast congee and dinner side dishes. Artists can apply now open until March 15 at Waywardretreats.com
A collage of four photos featuring retreaters looking for mushrooms in a forest, a bag of recently gathered chanterelles, and retreaters happily showing off their mushroom finds
February 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
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leslielevings.bsky.social
Shing really said it. I love showing people around the house, pointing out art by alum retreaters, projects we helped Lauren complete, or relaying lore around certain items in the house. The lineage feels alive, and now we're a part of it. It makes the house feel like it's haunted by loving spirits.
shing.bsky.social shing yin khor @shing.bsky.social · Feb 18
One of the most special things to me about Wayward is we go to an island where one of our organizers lives, in a house that their family built - we eat food from her garden, there is Wayward art on the walls. There is a lineage of connectedness with land and space. Apps open now! waywardretreats.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
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leslielevings.bsky.social
We're fortunate that our host is a director of the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society. She's taught me so much about the salmon, and I've even had a chance to help her improve their run in a dry season.
The back of our host Lauren as she rows a canoe. Her hoodie features art of salmon and text that says Quadra Salmon
February 18, 2025 at 7:15 AM
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leslielevings.bsky.social
One possibility with the 2025 Wayward session is that we might be there at the right time to catch the salmon running up the creek. I've been there for it once before and it's special. Applications open now! @waywardretreats.bsky.social
February 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Artists who have come to Wayward in the past often say it better than we could:
"I don't think I could ever describe the transformative and magical experience of Wayward to someone who hasn't experienced it for themselves. This was an artist retreat that reminded me what art, and life, is for-joy, connection, community, silliness, and more. I left Wayward fuller than I could have imagined. There's nothing like taking a writing break by jumping into the lake, or living your best forest life eating salmonberries off the trees. The retreat is thoughtfully curated from beginning to end, which really makes entering and leaving feel like stepping into and out of a portal." - MANAHIL BANDUKWALA, POET + ARTIST A view of a living room looking through an open door to a sunny garden and forest. Text reads: JOIN US SEPTEMBER 2025 APPLICATIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 15
February 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Today is the day! We'll be accepting applications between now and March 15 for our 2025 Wayward Retreat. Check our site for more info, and reach out with any questions you may have. Waywardretreats.com
Looking past jars full of art supplies on a shelf, we see a retreater through a window as they sit on the porch, stretching out their wrists and preparing to write something amazing
February 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
So much of what happens at the retreat feels impossible to explain. We craft opportunities for surprise, delight and play that our retreaters take and run with. The results are unique each time, but there's always magic and laughter involved.
A retreater crouches in front a strange assemblage of artists with a painted sign reading "the portal potty" on top A retreater holds out their hands and an empty jar as another person wearing kitchen gloves, a fern, and sunglasses offers them something from behind a curtain. A retreater tosses something under their raised reg as other retreaters watch on. A painted green poster with green froggy eyes reads "FROGS: a new ritual theatrical experience by Andrew Lloyd Webfoot"
February 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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leslielevings.bsky.social
Artists: Need a breather? Get some time away from... everything... & space to hear your own creative voice with us at the Wayward Retreat. Applications for our Fall 2025 session open on SATURDAY! If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to ask me truly anything. @waywardretreats.bsky.social
February 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
It’s a new year and Wayward is almost ready to begin admissions for our next creative retreat! The 2025 session will run September 28 to October 5, and applications will open February 15. More updates soon, but in the meantime many questions can be answered on our website at Waywardretreats.com
Two retreaters forage for mushrooms in the ferns of a forest. Text reads: join us in September 2025. Applications open February 15.
January 26, 2025 at 11:24 PM
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joviellety.bsky.social
Had many highlights this year but I think my favorite was my internet-less week on a remote island off the coast of Canada with @waywardretreats.bsky.social. Genuinely life changing~ 🌸🩵🐸
December 31, 2024 at 6:11 PM
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pamwishbow.bsky.social
I forget the things I make the second they're out of sight. Every year I make things for the goodie bags @waywardretreats.bsky.social gives to participants and this year the theme of the retreat was Forge. I went a little nuts with dandelions and thistle which are high in iron
photo of a group of goodie bag items: a pendulum on a string, a folded pamphlet, a paper notebook, and a metal mug A mug design with a thistle motif, with blacksmithing tools, a salamander in a fire, and hands a notebook cover design of dandelions, chains, and anvils. It says "forge" with a W in a blank space that would be on the front the front and back of an accordion folded pamphlet on a quick and dirty way to use a pendulum
January 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Our June session was full of frogs, huckleberries, oysters, birthdays, ravens, music, typewriter poems, shadow puppets, and the magic of so many different kinds of incredible artists who each brought their own unique perspective to the island.
A group of artists sitting on stone steps, many caught mid-laugh or making faces reminiscent of a frog Two artists walking through a forest, looking up at the trees An artist sits down at a wooden desk to experiment with an old typewriter Two artists sit on porch steps to work on squeezing a big pile of lemons while a third opens a bottle of ink while perusing a field guide to amphibians
July 11, 2024 at 4:46 PM
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joviellety.bsky.social
It'a been a week since I've come back from this art retreat, and I can't overstate what a magical and healing experience it was. I'll be thinking about it for a very long time. Art friends, next time applications open, I heartily recommend Wayward~ 💖
waywardretreats.bsky.social Wayward Retreats @waywardretreats.bsky.social · Jul 2
Another Wayward Retreat session has come to a close! We're still feeling the warm glow of this community of incredible artists. Each one showed up ready to dig into their own creative depths as well as get silly with us, and our gratitude to them is profound.
A group of artists gathered beside a lake Same group of artists, now posed like total goobers
July 4, 2024 at 8:09 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Another Wayward Retreat session has come to a close! We're still feeling the warm glow of this community of incredible artists. Each one showed up ready to dig into their own creative depths as well as get silly with us, and our gratitude to them is profound.
A group of artists gathered beside a lake Same group of artists, now posed like total goobers
July 2, 2024 at 4:55 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Applications for the 2024 Wayward Retreat close at the end of the year!
If you're one of those folks who likes to get things in under the wire, it's just about time! Waywardretreats.com
Four closeups: a plate of dolmas and a bowl of salad. Notebook and something called a "biomancy kit" o. A wood deck. A bag of forged mushrooms. A found wasp nest (old, no wasps) next to art supplies. Four photos: a table piled with books, yarn and a handwritten sign saying "shh, quiet hours!" A cheese board piled with snacks. Small bottles with a single flower in each, accompanied by a handwritten sign explaining the plant and its uses. A book, notebook pen on a wood deck. Four photos: a collection of objects including a mug, a bandana and a field guide to weeds. A fluffy orange cat waiting at a glass door. A focaccia covered in herbs and surrounded by flowers and grapes. A collection of small objects including a hand-carved wooden spoon, salmon vertebrae, and dried poppies.
December 29, 2023 at 6:15 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Painters, writers, dancers, sculptors, composers— all kinds of artists need a place where they can reconnect with their creative voice. Whether you’re feeling stuck or lost on your path or know exactly where you’re going, we have something for you.

Applications open now.
Nine retreaters stand in a line on a rocky beach, looking out over the water toward wooded shores and a small island in the bay.
November 27, 2023 at 9:17 PM
waywardretreats.bsky.social
Meet us at the house on the lake, the one that's equal parts cozy and inspiring.

Applications for the June 2024 Wayward Retreat are open now through the end of the year. More information and answers to many questions can be found at Waywardretreats.com
Six photos of details from the Wayward Retreat house: a circular painting near a skylight; large monstera leaves growing near the kitchen; a wood stove; a collection of small objects, including a create skull and a painting of a fish; books on a shelf with titles like "edible wild plants" and "healing herbs"; a living room with a couch, a bookshelf, and a table made from driftwood. A collection of photos from around the Wayward Retreat house: an armchair under a window, the front porch of the house with a collection of round buoys hanging from the eaves, a bedroom with a desk and balcony, a collection of seashells.
November 23, 2023 at 1:27 AM