SOU’WESTER EVENTS!
Discover what’s happening during your next stay or plan a visit around our free live music, workshops, wellness offerings and more!
S P E C I A L K I D S S H O W
Mr. Ben!!!
Mr. Ben plays live music for kids and families in and around Portland, OR. His shows are the perfect blend of entertainment and education. Your child can participate as much or as little as they choose — they are free to explore new musical ideas and concepts at their own pace and in their own way.
So when you come to a Mr. Ben show, you can feel good about the fact that you are taking an active role in your child’s cognitive development, laying the foundation for their musical education, and helping to dispel the myth that only some people have musical potential. Who knew you could do all that just by attending a live children’s music show?
This event is free, all ages, and open to the public!
Art Exhibit
We’ve Never Met Before Today
by artists Becca Van K and Andrew Cortes
August 9 through November 3, 2019
A new art exhibit in a vintage travel trailer turned into a permanent art gallery, at The Sou’wester Lodge
‘We’ve Never Met Before Today’ is an exhibition featuring sensory textiles and fiber landscapes by east coast artist Becca Van K and sculpture-like mosaic-based work by west coast artist Andrew Cortes. This show will also include collaborations in needlepoint and mosaics between these two artists who share similar themes and were brought together by residencies at the Sou’wester that spurred them to become creative partners in this exhibition.
“We’ve Never Met Before Today is the result of two Sou’wester artists-in-residence’s Instagram connection in the immediate aftermath of their respective times at the Lodge in the winter of 2018. Like ships in the night (Cortes one week, Van K the next), the artists never had the opportunity to meet in person, but serendipitously found each other on social media through Sou’wester posts. The two have formed a kinship and collaborative relationship through their mutual reverence for each other’s work. Until the show’s installation, they have never met in person, as Cortes is a resident of Los Angeles, CA, and Van K is from New York’s Hudson Valley. Shipping works from coast to coast, they work together to create elaborate studies in spiritual, meditative repetition and love for the natural world. Each piece contains mosaic mementos from Cortes’s travels and each Van K needlepoint is directly inspired by a landscape that she has visited. This exhibition is a combination of individual works and collaborations.”
OPENING RECEPTION on Friday August 9, 6pm-9pm.
OPEN: Fri/Sat/Sun 9am-9pm (and by request: visit the lodge front desk and we’ll open the gallery for you)
Art Gallery & Opening Reception free and open to the public.
Becca Van K (b. 1991, Chicago) is a mixed media artist based in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work is highly sensory, with a strong focus on tactile comfort, the sounds of house & techno music, and vibrant colors & patterns which she explores through various handcraft and fiber art methods. Listening exclusively to dance music mixes when working puts her in a repetitious, meditative rhythm through which she transcribes her sensorial experiences. Her work has most recently been exhibited at Basilica Hudson’s 24-HOUR DRONE (Hudson, NY), Trestle Gallery (Brooklyn, NY), Geoffrey Young Gallery (Great Barrington, MA), Hastings College (Hastings, NE), and Paradice Palase (Brooklyn, NY). Torn between city nightlife and the woods of the Catskill Mountains, she’d only leave New York if there were techno clubs in the desert.
Andrew Philip Cortes is a first generation Southern California Native, who in growing up split his time between the rural suburbs near rolling cow pasture hills where his parents settled and the city of Los Angeles. He attended University at California State Long Beach followed by a move to New York City where he lived and worked in Gowanus, Brooklyn for several years expanding his creative vision into woodwork, installation, and sound art. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he came full circle settling in the neighborhood of Cypress Park, where his family had immigrated to in the 60’s. His practice was re-imagined in his grandfathers old workshed and does not shy away from a deep often spiritual like connection to his past and its entanglement with the natural world. A marriage of painting, sculpture, mosaic, and textile materials, his reference points for his work grows from ongoing travels through the west coast of America, the deserts, mountains, and forests he explores collecting stones, driftwood, and taking photographs as he travels. He has developed a system in which he is even able to work on sculpture while on the road to directly be able to connect with his surroundings on site. Ultimately though, his traveling ideas materialize fully when they make their way back to his studio and abode where their energies find a new home to live. Andrew lives and works in Los Angeles, California with his two cats Mosh and Peatree. He spends his time surfing and rock climbing when he’s not in his studio always adhering to a strict code of pursuing the fleeting moment.
This trailer is a 1960’s Aloha made in Aloha, Oregon. It was rescued from a neglected RV park in the northern part of the Long Beach Peninsula. Now repaired and transformed into an art space, this art gallery is part of our Artist Residency Program and our non-profit organization, Sou’wester Arts.
Spring/Summer 2019 Workshop Series
How the Light Gets In with instructor Suzie Kassouf
It can feel unbearable to carry the pain of our world in this unprecedented era of social upheaval and ecological destruction. Luckily, the task of tending to our broken world can infuse us with life-affirming purpose, connection and joy. Through vinyasa, meditation, group activities and time spent in nature, we will learn to honor our pain as a precious signifier of our compassion and care for our world. Most importantly, we will develop in ourselves a robust and muscular hope, rooted in the very unpredictability of these times. Leonard Cohen implores us, “ring the bells that still can ring/ forget your perfect offering/ there is a crack in everything/ that’s how the light gets in.” I look forward to sharing this with you.
Suzie Kassouf is an educator, yoga instructor and climate justice activist. After 10 years of personal practice, she completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training at The People’s Yoga with Suniti Dernovsek in 2018. She has worked extensively on multiple campaigns including Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential Run and the 2018 Portland Clean Energy Fund. Suzie believes strongly that our world is desperate for healing on multiple levels, and that true liberation can be found in community and service to others. She is passionate about marrying activism and spirituality and strives to courageously live the path of nonviolence in her life and work.
COST: sliding scale $40, $30, or $20
BRING:Pen, paper, yoga mat and a reusable bag. Please wear clothes comfortable for practicing yoga, walking on the beach and in the woods, and sitting for meditation. *optional: meditation cushion, blanket, yoga props. Sharing food is a powerful tool for deepening connection and building community. Please bring a dish to share as you are willing and able as well as an individual plate/bowl and utensils. Hot tea and coffee provided.
12 students max.
RSVP: souwesterfrontdesk@gmail.com or 360-642-2542 between 9am-9pm
The Sou’wester Lodge at 3728 J Place, Seaview, WA 98644
This class is part of the Spring/Summer 2019 Workshop Series. All classes are open to the public and all skill levels welcome. Visit www.souwesterlodge.com/art/workshops to see the full schedule of artist-led workshops.
Following the release of his latest album, Pearls to Swine, and his I Came to Sing the Song EP, both via Fat Possum in 2016 and 2017 respectively, Adam Torres has established himself as a powerful and poignant performer and songwriter. His explorations find him sitting equally within psych-folk and indie, and flavored by his affinity for his family’s roots in the U.S. Southwest. The resulting music offers deep, introspective journeys, both intimate and memorable.
This event is free, all ages, and open to the public!
Spring/Summer 2019 Workshop Series
Carve a Wooden Spoon: A Carving and Green Woodworking Workshop with Emilie Rigby
canceled – Learn to safely use a myriad of hand tools in order to carve your own wooden spoon! In this class we will be splitting logs of freshly cut wood and using hatchets and knives to carve them into beautiful and useful objects. You will leave this class with a spoon and enough knowledge to continue the craft. Tools available for purchase at the end of class.
Emilie Rigby is a self-proclaimed “crazy spoon lady.” She carved her first spoon 8 years ago, while sitting around a campfire with some friends. After 4 hours she had a very ugly spoon and some blisters to show for her effort. She realized that she had spent those four hours living completely in the moment. 8 years and thousands of spoons later, she is teaching others how to carve so that they too can live in the moment. These days, you can find her in Portland, OR driving around in her camper van and picking up logs from development sites to turn into spoons.
COST: $30 plus a $10 materials fee (Please pay material fee directly to the instructor.)
BRING:water and a journal, please bring a sack lunch and/or snack (Hot tea and coffee provided.)
This workshop is for students age 13 and up. Minors need to be accompanied by an adult. 15 students max.
RSVP: souwesterfrontdesk@gmail.com or 360-642-2542 between 9am-9pm
The Sou’wester Lodge at 3728 J Place, Seaview, WA 98644
This class is part of the Spring/Summer 2019 Workshop Series. All classes are open to the public and all skill levels welcome. Visit www.souwesterlodge.com/art/workshops to see the full schedule of artist-led workshops.
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Scott Taylor, crafts ethereal folk tinged with country funk & plastic soul influences. Following the disbandment of No Go Know, New Victorian sprouted roots as a pointed downshift into nuanced reflection. Self-recorded over a period of several years in between duties as a husband, father and mental health social worker, “High Mass,” presents a resonant song cycle detailing loss and reformation.
New Victorian are currently prepping two EPs for release in 2019, while continuing to tour throughout the Pacific Northwest.
This event is free, all ages, and open to the public!
Summer 2019 Wellness Retreat Series
Let That Shift Go!
Cultivating Compassion During Shifty Times
with Shanna Gillette
Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” But changing our old habits and patterns can be challenging. Just like your car or smartphone, the better you understand how to operate something, the more efficiently it will work. Your body and mind are no different. Ancient yogic science knows we are all connected and we need each other now more than ever. Happiness is not some destination to reach for outside of ourselves. True inner peace lies within.
Western medicine teaches us that mind, body & spirit are all separate entities. Our individualistic culture disconnects us from nature, from each other, and from ourselves. We’ve been taught to devalue community and cooperation and to favor competition. But the times they are a changing – quickly.
Are you ready to begin the journey back home to yourself?
During this retreat, learn ancient yogic techniques mixed with mindfulness and proven methods to connect to our divine essence through the art of embodied movement. We will create a caring, non-judgmental space for somatic exploration; a safe container to explore grounding energies, heart-centered movement, and our own natural rhythms through gentle guided instruction. One part physical, one part mental, and one part open-hearted exploration, this retreat will reconnect your mind, body & spirit to help to awaken you to your true potential without limitations. Find your breath. Express your truth. Learn to become the master of your own mind. Transform the weight you’ve been carrying into something new. Join us for three amazing days designed to help you emerge from the ashes and let that shift go.
Offerings will include:
Daily yoga and guided meditation, movement methods for somatic release, neuroscience & mindfulness education, individual therapeutic sessions, stress reduction techniques, restorative yoga in the evenings by candlelight, nature walks and beach time during the day & healthy meals cooked together (optional).
Shanna Gillette is a certified yoga instructor, empowerment coach, intuitive guide and motivational speaker. She holds a degree in consciousness studies and has an extensive background in neuroscience, meditative techniques, theology, and more recently, conscious dance. She has been facilitating classes and workshops for the last two years throughout Washington and Oregon guiding people through the process of becoming aware of their own destructive, repetitive thinking patterns/habits along with tangible, practical methods to reprogram for more happiness and success. “Basically,” she says, “I teach people how to be nicer to themselves.” She is available for private sessions, group & corporate workshops, retreats and on-line at justbevibration.com.
Schedule (subject to change):
MONDAY
3p Check in, settle in, explore, eat
7-8p Introductions, Intention setting
8-9p Restorative Yoga + Yoga Nidra
9-10p Sauna (optional)
TUESDAY
8-9a – Light Breakfast + Coffee/Tea
9-10a – Connecting to Nature – Barefoot Beach Bliss
10-11a – Snack + Mindfulness Exercises
11a-12p – Yoga Inspired Creative Movement (on the beach, weather permitting)
12-4p – Free time to explore, have lunch & rest.
4-6p – Exploring the Shift Discussion (location TBD) + Individual Wellness Sessions (optional massage, sauna)
6p – Preparation + Dinner (Vegetarian)
7:30-9p – Bhakti Yoga + Guided Meditation
9-10p Sauna (optional)
WEDNESDAY
9a – Light Breakfast
10a-12p – Creating Affirmations & Practices for Mind/Body/Spirit + Closing + Checkout
BEGINS: Monday at 5pm
ENDS: Wednesday at 12pm
COST: $115, plus lodging
BRING: A yoga mat, notebook & pen, pillow, a sense of curiosity, and an open heart and mind. (Chairs available to those who cannot sit on the floor for long periods.)
BOOK ONLINE by clicking BOOK NOW (at top of page), enter the date range and the access code SHIFT
*For SHARED LODGING OPTIONS please contact souwesterwellness@gmail.com
The Sou’wester Lodge at 3728 J Place, Seaview, WA 98644
This class is part of the Summer 2019 Wellness Retreat Series. All classes are open to the public and all skill levels welcome.
Visit www.souwesterlodge.com/wellness/retreats to see the full schedule of retreats.
Clay Wheels & Striped Shirts: Skateboarding Films from the 1960s
Stephen Slappe is an artist and professor based in Portland, Oregon. Slappe’s work has exhibited and screened internationally in venues such as Centre Pompidou-Metz (France), Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s TBA Festival, The Horse Hospital (London), The Sarai Media Lab (New Delhi), Centre for Contemporary Art (Glasgow), and The Karachi Biennial (Pakistan). Slappe is an Associate Professor at Pacific Northwest College of Art where he created a Video & Sound department that focuses on experimental media production. He also operates an ongoing archival media project called Dead Media Hour, connecting neglected recordings of the past to present times.
Films will be shown in the Lodge Living Room. This screening is free & open to the public.
Summer 2019 Wellness Retreat Series
Lunar Being
with Suzy Olsen
CANCELLED
Under the waxing crescent moon, we will gather for a multiple day retreat focused on accessing the depths of our lunar selves. This retreat is designed to teach us how to better live in sync with the lunar cycles as well as with our own ‘lunar being’.
Each attendee will be given a copy of their natal astrological chart. The natal chart will be used to decipher the role of the moon in your life, as well as the complexities and uniqueness of your moon self. Through various teachings and activities, we will uncover how each of us can better utilize the powers of our moon beings in our daily lives to achieve greater fulfillment and wellness.
In astrology, the moon represents our inner realm and what we value most. Our innermost desires are reflected in the moon, as well as the secrets to unlocking those desires. La luna is the sacred hunter of the zodiac, feeding our soul what it needs most. Ever changing, the moon is elusive and mysterious. By better understanding the moon, we bring ourselves closer to harmonizing body, mind and spirit.
“ When you don’t follow your nature there is a hole in the universe where you were supposed to be.” – Dane Rudhyar
Expect to learn about and experience the following:
- Your personal natal astrological chart. You must know your exact birth time.
- Moon technology: How to work with lunar cycles and ritual to positively influence your life and well being.
- How the moon guides your life purpose and personal fulfillment.
- Sacred lunar traditions and rituals.
- Create your own unique magical moon ‘talisman’.
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
This retreat is open to people with all levels of experience and curiosity. If you have an interest in astrology and developing a deeper understanding of your ‘inner workings’, this experience is sure to be both inspiring and enriching.
Suzy Olsen is the creator and owner of Chariot, a spiritually focused housewares boutique and design studio located in Astoria, Oregon. In 2011, she officially began her career as a professional tarot reader and astrologer. These days, she performs private readings and several spiritual workshops from her store location. Her intuitive readings give insights on personal growth and healing, and her specialty is uncovering ‘hidden’ truths that may empower and inspire her clients.
In early childhood, she first noticed a strong connection to unseen forces, and began researching various occult subjects. Studying astrology has been a lifelong passion, beginning in the early teenage years. After training with numerous astrologers over the years, Suzy has combined both traditional and modern astrological methods in her practice. Many of her astrological techniques come from the ancient Hellenistic period, stemming back thousands of years.
Perhaps because she is ruled by the moon, she feels especially drawn to working with the lunar energies for personal development and ritual. She has hosted several astrology moon workshops at Chariot, writes a monthly ‘new moon newsletter’ and regularly hosts magical seasonal retreats in Nehalem, OR.
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
3-7pm
Arrival + Check-in + Settle in
7-9pm
Meet and Greet ‘Waxing Moon Mixer’
MONDAY
9:30am-12pm
Traditions and the Role of the Moon + the Signs
*Free Time*
3pm-6pm
The Divine Triad and the Houses of the Moon
TUESDAY
9:30am-12pm
Lunar Phases and Magical Workings
*Free Time*
4pm-6pm
Moon Talisman Making + Self Care
8pm-9:30pm
Ritual + Optional Sauna
WEDNESDAY
10-10:45am
Goodbyes and Head Home!
BEGINS: Sunday at 7pm
ENDS: Wednesday at 11am
COST: $225, plus lodging ($200 deposit reserves your space and is credited towards your total)
BRING: Journal and pen/pencil, comfy cushion and/or blanket for sitting and a water bottle. Wear comfortable clothing
Please sign up for the Lunar Being retreat by August 18th
BOOK ONLINE by clicking BOOK NOW, enter the date range and the access code LUNAR
*For SHARED LODGING OPTIONS please contact souwesterwellness@gmail.com
The Sou’wester Lodge at 3728 J Place, Seaview, WA 98644
This class is part of the Summer 2019 Wellness Retreat Series. All classes are open to the public and all skill levels welcome.
Visit www.souwesterlodge.com/wellness/retreats to see the full schedule of retreats.