“A most excellent generative and generous residency! Uninterrupted and supported time (delicious food! sumptuous room! kind people!) on one of the most beautiful islands on earth makes for a creative dream come true. Two things in particular feel indicative of my time at Sea Breeze, and feel representative of the days allowed for reflection, rumination, and creating: 1) the Inn’s stunning surreal, and serene view- of a pond, followed by the drop off of a cliff, followed by the ocean- that changes with the weather and time of day like a mood ring. This view, just like the residency itself, is so rich with gorgeous inspiration, interpretation, and metaphor. 2) On one of my many long walks, I walked down the long stairs of the Mohegan bluffs, walked around the bends of the windy beach to a remote stretch to find thirty heartfelt and yearning adult wishes folded up and crammed into a glass bottle. I have never found anything like it.

Thank you to everyone who makes this residency possible. I will continue to see the sun ripple across the water’s surface, hear the waves, the busy birdsong, the rain on the roof, the exciting wind battering the shore, see the herons glide over the salt pods, the seals pop their heads up beyond the surf, and return to the inspired spot within me that you provided!”

“ Firstly, it must be said that Block Island itself is impossibly beautiful. You arrive on the ferry, and the first introduction to the landscape is sweeping sandy bluffs that stand in stark contrast to the frothy water and the intense, radiating blue of a sunny sky (or the purple-gray pucker of storm clouds, depending on the day). You disembark into the most charming New England seaside town.

Andrea, the force behind the Sea Breeze Residency, as well as the Innkeeper, was kind enough to pick me up right at the ferry and take me back to the Inn. The property overlooks the ocean as well as a small, protected pond. The inn consists of several cottages sided with cedar shakes, and nestled in between is a lush and diverse garden of flowers, plants, shrubs, and small trees, lovingly cared for by Andrea and started by her mother, in whose memory the residency was founded.

In addition to the room where you stay there is a studio with a private entrance. It is spacious with tons of natural light and an unobstructed view of the water. In terms of amenities, there is a sizable table and a couple comfortable chairs as well as a dresser for storage and plenty of floor space if you need to lay out work (which I did). There is also a hose available outside if you need access to water for your practice.

Andrea and her fabulous team endeavor to make a supportive environment for creative work outside of the studio as well. Andrea generously greeted us with a welcome bag of local products and treats to make us feel right at home. Breakfast and lunch are provided by the extremely talented chef David, with assistance from Robyn and Amanda. Meals were delivered in baskets and consisted of fresh, seasonal ingredients with very balanced nutrition. This made for a truly carefree environment where I felt I had total permission and freedom to produce art without being distracted by outside obligations.

This residency was made all the more special for the interactions with the people of the island and with other residents. The writer in residence Eliza Minot at the Sea Breeze, and another artist Kari Varner, staying at the Low Season residency, were wonderful, talented souls and formed a welcome social cohort during my stay. Block Island is home to a remarkable community of year-round residents who are kind, generous, and super engaged. As part of the residency, you have the opportunity to present your work to the public. I was thrilled by how actively engaged the attendants were. The questions and conversations around the art and writing presented were thoughtful and inquisitive in the best of ways. It was such a treat to be able to get to know the islanders better, both during the talks and more casually chatting at the reception after.

Outside of art, the community is passionate about their home and happy to share their lives and experiences as well. At the beginning of our stay, we took a taxi tour from an extremely knowledgeable local guide who clued us into the rich context of the environment and the island, which was invaluable for orienting myself quickly. We also had the chance to visit Bodhi’s Bees, meet a professional beekeeper, learn about her profession and bees in general, and even suited up in full beekeeper gear to try honey straight from the hive, an experience I will not soon forget!

On the whole, it was a magical ten days. The Sea Breeze Artist Residency was profoundly creatively reinvigorating for me and my practice. I made great strides in my cut paper illustrations (which will ultimately be made into a book) and left the island on an absolute high. I cannot recommend the residency, the wonderful folks at the Sea Breeze Inn, and the entirety of Block Island and its community enough. What an absolute gem, I can’t wait to go back.”

“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency is an artist’s dream - 10 days with the freedom to devote yourself completely to your work. The Inn is beautiful and comfortable, and the breakfast baskets are legendary for a reason! I’m in the midst of tying up the strands of a long, complicated novel, and here I had the space and time to think and read, write and revise in a way I couldn’t do at home. I was extremely productive while I was here, and I came home riding on that momentum – thanks to the residency the end of my book is in sight. I am so grateful to Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat Knoll and the team at the Sea Breeze Inn for all the ways they made this possible.

Block Island itself is magical and inspiring. The skies, the lighthouses, the beaches, seals, fields and stone walls! I got up early every day and took a long walk, accompanied by glimpses of deer, ducks, and raptors. Although I wasn’t consciously thinking about my work, I’d get back to my desk to find that the solution to a knotty problem suddenly appeared. Painter Angelina Gualdoni and I had a chance to share thoughts about our work as we sampled the island’s wonderful restaurants. It was special to meet island residents and be welcomed as part of Block Island’s long, storied artistic community, culminating in a public Artists’ Talk and Q+A at the Island Free Library. A perfect experience.”

“I had an incredibly peaceful and productive time at the Sea Breeze Residency. Everyone there made me feel welcome and well supported throughout my stay, with a comfortable room, delicious breakfast, few interruptions to my time, and a studio with amazing light. Long work days were punctuated with bike rides, where I could explore Block Island’s beautiful nature preserves, lighthouse and beaches. Every night my fellow resident, Andrée and I admired the moon glow reflected in the ocean water before walking to a spot for dinner. The residency culminated with an artist talk at the local library, followed by a reception at Sea Breeze - this was a delightful opportunity to connect with people who live on Block Island year round, as well as members of the extended art community there. The whole experience was a wonderful balance of solitude, support and camaraderie, and I thank Andrea and Sue for all their efforts in providing this opportunity.”

“My recent stay at the Sea Breeze Artist Residency on the beautiful Block Island provided me with a guest room of my own and a studio overlooking the ocean. After my morning runs, the delicious breakfast, prepared by the on-site chef, I was able to sink into uninterrupted work. Overall the experience was a perfect residency respite!”

“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency perfectly suited the way I’ve always wanted to work on my writing. The organizers, Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat, were supportive, generous, and accommodating in all the ways I needed. The setting on Block Island had an old New England majesty that was inspiring. Because it was so quiet, I slept well, waking up early every morning to start writing immediately. And just about the time I was ready to take a break, a delicious breakfast arrived freshly prepared by the residency’s chef. The location made it easy to have periods of walking and thinking when I needed to work through a specific passage or idea. I could easily walk to the town’s Free Library, to Crescent Beach, or to a beautiful lighthouse a little over a mile away. I quickly built a momentum that helped me accomplish my goals—both for word count and quality of the writing. On the last day of the two-person residency, the visual artist and I gave talks at the Free Library. The attendees showed that support for artists extends beyond the residency. Every day I think about and am thankful for the benefits this residency yielded. The uplift and motivation I received during the Sea Breeze Artist Residency continue to resonate. What a gift!”

“I had the good fortune to be able to stay at the Sea Breeze in April of 2023 for an artist residency. It was an incredibly creative and productive time, supported by Andrea and the staff. The Sea Breeze is a truly special place, you could spend your entire time just there, never leaving, meditating on the native plants, birds, ponds and ocean views. I also enjoyed bike rides, bird watching, gathering natural materials on the many trails and beaches, chatting with community members, and the legendary breakfast baskets! Having the uninterrupted time and space to make work was a treasure. My residency culminated in an Earth Day celebration, inviting the community to make art in collaboration with a local beekeeper and indigo-dyeing workshop. The event was a great example of the community-minded spirit of Block Island and the Sea Breeze. I grew so much as an artist from my time there, and am always grateful for the support the residency offered.” ”