In September of 2022, thanks to the Efroymson Fund and the Harrison Center, I had the amazing opportunity to break away from the lockdown mentality that has plagued us for the past few years and travel across the Atlantic for an artist residency with the Samos School of Critical Thinking. Along with seven other Indy artists, I embarked on a journey to the gorgeous green island of Samos, Greece in the Aegean Sea to learn from and create with our passionate and talented mentor, Christos Koutsouras. (Do yourself a favor and google him!)

I admit that I was nervous! My travel experiences in the past were very different, spreading out over multiple cities or countries on a single trip, and often full of adventures from scuba diving to backpacking to solo road trips across the country. What on earth am I going to do on one small island for three full weeks? Am I going to get bored? Am I going to have to actually draw and make art? I’m a jeweler...!

Sara B. Biniecki
*Aegean Ring*
Chrysocolla shattuckite and sterling silver
Size 7.5

To answer those questions, there was no lack of things to keep us busy and interested on the island. We explored beautiful beaches, each one more gorgeous than the last and all with their own unique flavor. We experienced the island’s wealth of history, art, and archeology. We adventured through fragrant green forests and olive groves, some of us fording waters and climbing rocks while others stopped to channel the beauty into sketches, watercolors, and little works of art.

Kate Oberreich
*1000 Blues: #7*
Mixed media
16” x 20"

Aaron Dodd
*Radiant Cave*
Acrylic on Cradled Panel
48" x 60"

We played often in the Aegean Sea, sometimes letting our inner children giggle and experience the waves taking us for rides and the fish nibbling our calves, a few of us taking it another level up and adventuring out on a sea kayaking tour; other times using the vivid blue salt water to create art, splashing and washing the cyanotypes we created on the beach with all of Mama Nature’s island bounty.

We created art– in the studio, in the park, on the street corner, in museums, by the sea, all around this amazing little island. And we walked... (and walked and walked and walked)! We walked together, and we walked alone, up and down the staircases upon staircases of uneven steps, through winding cobblestone streets, past pink flowering trees and crumbling buildings, noticing the unique architecture and textures, taking in the friendly and accepting culture of the Samos people, gathering inspiration and memories, and delighting in all of the magic this little green island offered us.

Luke Crawley
Sideries 9
Acrylic on cradled wood panel
24” x 19"

Quincy Owens
*Catch*
Hardwood Veneer and Light
31” x 26” x 36”

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that was all in one a wild adventure, a restful reset, a creative schooling, and a vast wealth of inspiration. The island of Samos, our group of beautiful humans, and this truly unique experience changed me in ways I am not sure I even fully understand just yet. I have a sneaking suspicion that the other artists feel the same…

Robin Owens
*Land Observations 1-3*
Aluminum on Wood

Samos Beta is currently on display in the Speck Gallery, and will be for the month of January. See this exhibit in person, or browse more of these works on our online gallery.