Inspired Wanderings to…
This summer has seen Virginia travel to Maine after paying a visit to our new showroom in Boston, Studio 534.
From Port Clyde she took the out of season mail boat to Monhegan Island, which lies approximately 10 miles off the Atlantic coast of Maine and takes about 1.5 hrs to reach.
Monhegan Island has been a place known and frequented from the days of the Abenaki tribes of Northern New England. It was discovered by the Europeans in the 15th century and quickly became a prized fishing ground. English Puritan settlers arrived and in the early 19th century it started to become a favourite destination for artists and summer holiday houses. These houses are charmingly peppered all around the port and less so inland.
The island seems so well preserved, its as if time has stood still! The structure and design of its buildings are so well suited to the environment, that nothing modern would fit in as well.
In the 19th century, artists such as George Bellows, Eric Hudson and then in the 20th century the Wyeth Family, made Monhegan famous!
Artists, writers, musicians and fishermen created a vibrant community here, much of which we still see here today, very much in full demand and swing. Trippers come to see the artists studios, eat wonderful fish, hike on the rocky trails and go birdwatching.
Virginia loved so much about the island, its seemingly wild existence and its feeling of remoteness. The greyish weather beaten houses, endlessly being renovated against the next storms. The way the houses nestle and almost blend harmoniously into the landscape of sea, rock and fir trees. Bird calls screaming above the sound of crashing waves onto the rocks. The wonderful trails taking you around the island and the simple but fabulous small food outlets. Not forgetting the artist supply shops, lighthouse and museum which showcased much of the very best of New Englands art, that was made there.
“It is one of my favourite places to visit, reminiscent of Orkney and Shetland but on a smaller scale. You can walk around the island in under 3 hours.
The colours, smells and sounds feel unique here!
Our new and soon to be launched collection of stripes is inspired by much of what I experienced here”.
It is travels and experiences like this that inspire us to keep creating NEW designs, patterns and textures for the ever growing Virginia White Collection.
