Project Background

Madrona Center is a non-profit organization seeking to explore the relationship between artistic pursuit and sustainable living. We believe that all people need to express this connection creatively. The most fulfilling way for this to happen is within cooperating communities.

Location

The Center is situated on an historic five-acre homestead just seven minutes by ferry from Anacortes, WA on beautiful, Guemes Island, followed by a short walk past the general store and restaurant.

Current Projects

Children's Programs
Madrona Center is partnering with the Best S.E.L.F. children's summer program field trips with the goal of making available an encouraging and stimulating environment for kids to begin to learn about art, and, more importantly, to learn about themselves.

Biodiesel Co-op
The Madrona Center is sponsoring a co-op that will purchase 100% biodiesel in large quantity. A fueling site at the Center will be ready shortly. The co-op also hopes to begin processing its own biodiesel from waste vegetable oil in the near future.

Artist-in-residence Program
The Madrona Center is planning an artist-in-residence program for 2006. The Madrona House will be available for poets, writers, musicians, performers and visual artists for private and collaborative projects.

Glass Blowing Facility

The Madrona Center is experimenting with methods to use waste vegetable oil and biodiesel to operate glass kilns in 2006.

Future Plans

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) on our arable land.
  
• Shops for working in wood, stone and clay.
  
• Development of a glass blowing facility.
  
• Workshops, symposia and community projects that promote and encourage sustainable living.
  
• On site building will strive for low impact design using recycled and "green" materials as well as alternative fuels.

The historic farmhouse has just undergone renovation. It will be used for Madrona Center workshops, programs and residencies.

Madrona currently houses a papermaking, printmaking and bookbinding studio. A combination gallery/classroom and meeting place is also located at the farmhouse.

The old weathered barn will shelter future summer classes with visiting artists and our curious resident barn swallows watching from above!