“I don’t paint dreams or nightmares; I paint my own reality.” - Frida Kahlo.
From the beginning, we dreamt of using Mèlisses as a space to bring creative minds together to become inspired and then share their newfound inspiration with the world. While working with food, foraging, styling, photography, and handmade crafts, we aim to preserve the beauty surrounding us on Andros. This time through new mediums: fabrics, painting and canvas.
Imagine breathtaking scenery combined with unique culinary experiences, visits to beautiful towns, swims in the crystal clear Aegean Sea and a serene sunset each evening. That’s just a taste of what this experience is all about.
Join us for this wonderful gathering, during which Andros will provide endless inspiration for painting or drawing a Greek paradise and a stunning setting for learning about and practising the craft of working with natural dyes.
This retreat is open to everyone, regardless of your level of expertise, and will provide a comprehensive and creative approach to your artistic journey.
Kathryn Davey will share the wisdom of working with plant-extracted dyes forged from the surrounding area and about hand-dyeing natural fabrics in a sustainable way. Blakely Little will delve into all the elements required by a work of art. From setting up a scene, using tools properly and understanding creative processes to the fundamentals of composition and colour palette, her lessons will be sure to enhance your very own creativity.
You'll walk away from this retreat feeling enriched and inspired by the stunning beauty of Andros. There’s something wholesome and cyclical with every element of this retreat – from sourcing ingredients from the land, preparing meals in the kitchen with what we foraged, using the scraps for natural dying, all along painting what we see as we go. Not to forget you’ll take a set of bespoke artworks and naturally dyed items home.
Here’s some more practical information about the retreat:
WHERE:
Mèlisses, Andros, Greece.
WHEN:
October 14th - 18th 2024
Check-in: From 11 AM (we will be serving all participants brunch and plan on having a few afternoon activities)
Check-out: By 11 AM (if you would like, you can extend your stay after the retreat – see below in the pricing section for more information)
YOUR HOSTS:
Kathryn Davey - is a self-taught designer and natural dyer based in Dublin, Ireland. During this retreat, she will teach you how to work with sustainably-sourced natural dyes. Kathryn discovered the beauty of working with natural dyes while raising her daughters in San Francisco many years ago, and since then, she has shared her extensive knowledge with passionate people from all over the world. She is committed to building a brand based on sustainable production, and her environmentally conscious approach, combined with her gentle charisma, make her one of Mèlisses’ favourite hosts.
Blakely Little - is an artist, illustrator and full-time creative from Charleston, South Carolina. You can connect Blakely’s artwork with her very personal expression of joy and beauty. She will be guiding us through various techniques and activities to spark inspiration as well as teaching new and unexpected approaches to painting and drawing to help us better articulate ourselves through art.
Allegra Pomilio - Mèlisses’ founder and art director. Her knowledge of hospitality and gastronomy, combined with her photography and visual art skills, strikes the perfect balance on Andros. Born and raised in Abruzzo, Italy, Allegra opened Mèlisses at 24, creating a space for like-minded souls to slow down, embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle, and seek visual inspiration. Featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast traveller and more, her second home became more than a simple hospitality venue, but rather a cherished and sought after creative retreat for travellers, creatives, epicures and many more worldwide. Every year, with her team, she hosts curated gatherings focused on discovering the island's wonders, each time with a different perspective and with fresh eyes.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Five days and four nights accommodation at Mèlisses;
All meals during the workshop, including all dinners, lunches, breakfasts, aperitivos/snacks, drinks and refreshments
Daily painting/drawing demos and classes with Blakely to familiarise you with the basics of painting techniques, tools and composition and help you define your unique style;
Daily natural dye classes and hands-on sessions with Kathryn. These will include working with plants from around the property to create dyes and applying these to natural fibres;
Classes on how to create natural inks and paints that could be used on paper;
A seasonal hands-on cooking class using the best of what’s in season on Andros – we will also be painting some ingredients.
All materials and tools;
Exploring and documenting the island and its most secluded corners;
One meal in a local taverna;
Full use of all Mèlisses facilities;
All transfers on the island to and from the house.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare and/or transportation to and from the island. Travel insurance (highly recommended).
ACCOMMODATION:
Mèlisses is a home away from home for the curious mind on the wild isle of Andros. Here, we aim to honour and embrace the local land. Located near the beautiful bay of Paleopoli where, underwater, you can still see ruins of the old city; it was once the main port of Andros. Your wake-up is with wide views of the extraordinary uninhabited island of Ghiaros, which is considered legendary and protected for its marine wildlife.
Isolated and remote, Mèlisses strongly embraces and celebrates the mindset and flair of the Mediterranean: slow living, taking in the seasons and bringing together a community of like-minded souls. This allows for a peaceful pace in each of our four accommodations. Inside, smart interior design is crafted with a mixture of Hellenic antique furniture and a hint of Italian extravagance, a careful blending of founder Allegra’s heritage in Abruzzo and her new home in Greece. Our outdoor spaces are designed for conviviality and breathtaking sea views, best experienced with one of our breakfast feasts – our favourite, local tsoureki bread, french toast and figs from the tree. Not to forget our secret hidden swim spot, the perfect place to dive into bright blue waters and cool down on hot stones and the Aegean breeze.
This is Mèlisses.
HOW TO REACH US:
For this specific retreat, we encourage our participants to book the following ferry boat from Rafina port to Andros on the 14th of October.
Superferry boat 7.50 am Rafina / Andros (1h 55 duration). It will be available to reserve here, from May onwards.
Please consult our Mèlisses guidelines and FAQs here for all details and extra information. We will be sure to share further information about your stay prior to your arrival, including our curated guide to Athens. Do also take note you will not need to rent a car for your trip, we will take care of the transportation for you.
PRICING & ROOMS:
We have six unique rooms available for our guests. Whether you travel solo or wish to share accommodation with friends or partners, please review the rooms ahead of time, as you will be required to select your desired room when reserving a spot in the workshop.
Prices below are per person and include accommodation, workshop, meals and activities. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Equally, if you would like to extend your stay beyond the retreat, you can add on a night after the 18th of October.
The Sea Urchin suite (private room, ensuite bathroom)
Solo: €3.700
Shared with partner or friend: €3.200 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 18th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person. We also work as a regular B&B.
The Red Mullet suite (private room, ensuite bathroom)
Solo: €3.700
Shared with partner or friend: €3.200 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 18th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person. We also work as a regular B&B.
Master Bedroom (private room, shared common areas)
Solo: €3.450
Shared with partner or friend: €2.900 per personYou can extend your stay (for the night of the 18th) for an additional €350 per night. The cost is to be considered per person. We also work as a regular B&B.
Bunk bed** (private room, shared common areas)
Solo: €2.650
Shared with a friend or another participant: €2.350 per personYou can extend your stay (for the night of the 18th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person. We also work as a regular B&B.
**Please note: Bunk Beds can be reserved individually (Top and Bottom). If you choose to book a single bunk bed, you will be responsible for paying the Solo price if no one else books the other bed. If you have any questions about this, please contact us at info@melissesandros.com
The Oyster rooms (two independent rooms with one shared bathroom)
Room One:
Solo: €3.200
Shared with partner or friend: €2.700 per personRoom Two:
Solo: €3.200
Shared with partner or friend: €2.700 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 18th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person. We also work as a regular B&B.
*If you would like to extend your trip beyond the retreat, we can help organise your few extra days with us. We can arrange transfers, visits to the Neoclassical capital of Chora, organic farms, beautiful beaches and some of our favourite taverns. We do need to specify that this is an extra fee as part of your extended stay and not part of the retreat. We only include breakfast as categorised by our B&B offering.
CANCELLATION POLICY AND PAYMENT:
To participate, full payment will be required upon registration, paid through a bank wire transfer.
Please know that there will be NO REFUNDS due to the nature of this retreat. If you must cancel, we can accept someone to take your place. You must have your travel insurance to participate. Please contact us for any additional information.
*The retreat will be cancelled if we do not reach the minimum number of participants. If this is the case, you will be given at least two months' notice before the scheduled start day of the workshop, and your retreat deposit will be refunded 100%. Refunds will be through international bank wire transfers only, and we won’t be able to refund any travel arrangements made.
The itinerary is a guide, and we reserve the right to make changes in case of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances for which we may need to alter the order of our outings or replace them with something equally wonderful.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
You must agree to our Terms and Conditions to attend this retreat.
