Retreat: Almost Nothing
An exercise in art and meditation

Thought alone doesn't answer any questions.
Thought is selective and therefore exclusive. Thus, avoiding the possibility of the inclusion of everything, beyond the known, beyond the knower.
That what is cannot be understood by thought alone.
Thought is often in the way of your work and a hindrance to your creativity.

This is a workshop/retreat that incorporates secular, non-traditional, Buddhist-based mindfulness meditation-exercises into your art practice.
To raise awareness; to allow yourself to open up to what you don't know; to free yourself from habits and conventions; gaining insight and opening up to the complexity of everything. We will explore this in practice with numerous simple drawing exercises.

Not to focus on sharpening your pencil but on sharpening your mind.
If meditation can be your anchor, art can be your grounding. The one informs the other.
Together we will engage in a creative open dialogue exploring how we retrieve information, process it, and communicate it to the outside world. We will attempt to learn more who we are as a person, as an artist, about the world we are part of, and what we care to share, and what we are willing to contribute.

Focusing on technical stuff, on academically/classically trained skills is mostly a distraction, can be an avoidance of going deeper, of addressing and accepting to what the story really is that you are compelled to share. Deeper connectivity or focusing has very little to do with surface and lines and paint but much more with sharpening your mind and your ability to open up and to listen within.
The pencil is only a tool. Another tool is meditation.

We are not adding anything to what is already inside us - we are only trying to retrieve it. When we allow ourselves to listen, we will hear.
We will learn to unlearn, to unclutter, to question, and to let go so what is will emerge. We will find more clarity and insight through the practice of not doing. In that no-thing lies stillness, which is presence. Accepting with openness and curiosity what is.
Stillness is the opening for all creativity. That we will nurture and transform into mindful action. That, which we call art, is the awakening out of the illusion of what is not.

Technical description:
Inviting all levels of experience, working in any medium and any substrate, as we address fundamental issues concerning connectivity, mind and action, inside listening, and enhancing our abilities of experiencing
Maximum number of participants:10
During the first 6 days, in the remote countryside of the West coast, we will be trying to do as much nothing as possible. Paper and pencil is all we need there.
On Friday we will drive to the South-West corner of Iceland where we will have studio space, to paint, print, collage, or do drawing - whichever technique you choose - focusing on the work/the process of your art making.
Fee of $1,650.- includes the following:
1. Accommodation from August 31st-September 8th, 8 nights
2. Full board in Snaefellsnes and lunch when working in the studio
3. 3 course dinner September 8th
4. Class time with Bernd Haussmann for 7 days at Hvita husio
5. Bernd is available at the working studio based on need and by request
6. Daily meditation with guidance
7. Studio fee for 9 days + material when at Hvita husio
8. Please bring your own preferred material for the last 2 1/2 days at working studio
9. Transportation in Iceland
10. Airport pickup
11. Additional cost might occur if a single room is required
To be clear: The goal is not to take home a finished work of art, but new ideas and more options of connecting to yourself through your art and meditation. Please bring as few ideas as you can; materials you want to work with during the last 2 1/2 days.
For reservations any questions/clarifications please contact Bernd Haussmann directly at behaussmann@gmail.com