Chautauqua October Getaway

PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP AT THE SPENCER OFFERS ARTISTIC WEEKEND GETAWAY IN BEAUTIFUL CHAUTAUQUA-LAKE ERIE REGION

This fall, The Spencer is offering a very special weekend getaway for painters and would-be painters who are interested in learning the art of plein air painting. From October 6-8th, The Spencer, a literary-themed hotel located on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution, is hosting a Plein Air Workshop to be conducted with Carol L. Douglas, a well-known regional artist and instructor with work in public and private collections, as well as the Chair of New York Plein Air Painters, the area’s chapter of the premier society of plein air painters.

Douglas studied with Cornelia Foss, Joseph Peller and others at the Art Students League in New York, and with Stephen Carpenter in Rochester. She teaches from her Rochester studio as well as en plein air. Her work has been shown in solo and group shows, including in two Chautauqua National Exhibitions.

During the Plein Air Workshop at The Spencer, participants will enjoy a walking tour of the Chautauqua grounds on the evening of Friday, October 6th with Carol L. Douglas, followed by a wine and cheese reception. On Saturday, October 7th, guests will participate in two three-hour instructional sessions, completing the day’s workshop with a group critique of participants’ work. In the evening, an elegant off-site group dinner will be hosted for the guests. On Sunday, participants will finish with a three-hour painting session, followed by a short group debriefing, with painters invited to stay on the grounds to paint uninstructed following the completion of the workshop. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to participants on both Saturday and Sunday. The cost of the Plein Air Workshop at The Spencer is $599 per person.

For more information and reservations, contact 1-800-398-1306 or visit http://www.thespencer.com/

The Spencer is celebrating 100 years of history in 2006. Each room at The Spencer pays homage to a renowned author, depicting scenes from their most famous works. For instance, in the C.S. Lewis (Room 302), a mural dedicated to “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” depicts the image of stepping into Narnia, complete with the famed wardrobe. In the Isak Dinesen (Room 203), a play on the “Out of Africa” theme allows guests to slumber under their very own dream-like safari tent, while the Jules Verne (Room 306) gives the playful feel of sleeping up in a balloon traveling “Around the World in Eighty Days.

In addition to the imaginative murals, each room at The Spencer is beautifully furnished with English lace, Strauss crystal, oriental carpets and Victorian antiques. Custom upholstery and drapes add to the sophisticated stylishness of this premier property.

In 1997, The Spencer underwent a $3 million renovation to modernize the 26-room property while restoring many architecturally-significant features of the hotel to provide guests with an unparalleled getaway experience. Today guests at The Spencer can enjoy distinctive and imaginative small hotel surroundings while taking advantage of one of the most renowned cultural and learning centers for the arts and humanities in the Americas.

The Spencer is close to many other interesting attractions including the Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum, the 1891 Fredonia Opera House, the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center, the Audubon Nature Center & Sanctuary, and The Summer Wind Steamboat. Visitors to The Spencer can also enjoy area activities such as golfing at the nearby course designed by Donald Ross, tennis, winery tours along the Erie wine trail; hiking and biking the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails, hot-air ballooning, fishing, boating, canoeing and horseback riding. The Spencer staff can assist with arrangements.
The Spencer is located in the heart of the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution, a not-for-profit, 750-acre educational center located on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State, where approximately 7,500 persons are in residence during a nine-week summer season, which runs from June 24 – August 27, 2006, enjoying courses in art, music, dance, theater, writing skills and a wide variety of special interests. The Spencer is located off I-90 at exit 60 for the Chautauqua Institution, and is just 9 miles west of Jamestown, NY; and a one-hour drive from Buffalo, NY and Erie, PA.

For more information or reservations, please dial The Spencer at 1-800-398-1306 or visit www.thespencer.com

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com