Two current students and one Haverford alumna spent the summer drawing inspiration for their art from the natural beauty of a small fishing village off the coast of Newfoundland.

Richenda Cope '05, Hannah-Ruth Miller '10, and Goda Trakumaite '10 were artists-in-residence at Fogo Island, courtesy of a program sponsored by Mark '78 and Johanna Chehi. The program allows fine arts students and alumni to focus on their art and become acquainted with village culture while staying at the Chehis' harborside cottage. At the end of the residency, the three women displayed their work in a self-designed gallery.

"The best thing about being there was having so much time to paint with so little distraction," says Richenda Cope, who focused on landscapes during her weeks on the island. "It was an amazing privilege to not have to worry about anything other than making art."

Goda Trakumaite, who created pen and ink drawings of the area, also enjoyed exploring the island with her fellow artists and two local guides.“They took us out on hikes and fishing expeditions, showed us rocky islands covered in puffins, and cooked us moose,” she says.

Before the residency, Trakumaite says she hadn't exactly considered herself an artist.“But I felt that the opportunity to be one and to call myself one could be really interesting and valuable,” she says.“I was right.”

For more information about the Fogo Island residency program, go to www.haverford.edu/news/stories/13541/32 or contact Emily Cronin, Associate Director of the Humanities Center, at ecronin [at] haverford.edu.

-Brenna McBride