New manager for Dunedin art retreat

For two people in Dunedin, saving an art retreat from extinction together feels as though it was meant to be.

Since 1996, Lynn Connell has run Creativity Art Retreat on County Road 9, hosting bands of painters, writers, sculptors and singers for week-long art workshops by the Noisy River.

However, with less and less time to devote to the business these days (Lynn manages a children’s orphanage she helped found in Tanzania), she was considering closing the retreat down.

Luckily, Shelley Yampolsky, who has attended workshops at Creativity for a number of years, spoke up in time.

“Lynn wasn’t sure if she could [still] do it,” says Shelley. “So I said, ‘We should talk’.”

It turned out that Shelley was looking to make a change in her own life in Toronto, where she ran a marketing business.

Lynn thought the idea was perfect. And she felt that she and Shelley were on the same page when it came to ideas about the retreat.

“It was organic,” they say in unison.

So far, the new arrangement is working well. Although she now manages the business side of things, Shelley (who has a background in painting and sculpture) enjoys being around the creative community.

And Lynn is thrilled the retreat can continue in the capable hands of Shelley, whom she describes as being “out of this world.”

Lynn says that the whole point of the retreat is to bring out the best and most honest in people. According to Lynn, Shelley’s character and personality are perfect for doing this.

Shelley arrives in Dunedin on Fridays to prepare the retreat for its weekend guests. The retreat includes a kitchen, sitting area and dining room, bedrooms and studio space plus outdoor area.

She greets the visitors when they arrive and gives them some history about Dunedin. Together, they go over the rules for keeping quiet in the community and discuss rules for parking.

“By the time dinner happens, the guests become close,” says Lynn.

“We make sure they feel well cared for because the creative process is so intense,” adds Shelley.

These days, Shelley is happy with her decision to spend more time in the country over the summer.

“It was a good move for me,” says Shelley. “Not for the money, but because it’s about bringing people together.”

Not surprisingly, Lynn heartily agrees. “It’s all about community,” she says.

Creativity Art Retreat holds workshops all summer long. For information on what’s coming up, visit www.creativityartretreat.com.