Women find creative retreat

VIRGINIA CITY - Inside an 1875 building once used as a hospital by the Sisters of Charity, 10 women are seeking a healing retreat from the hectic world through creative expression.

Little did they know was that an ink-blot test would start the process. In this case, watercolor substituted for the ink.

The group of women, those working in their last careers before they retire or just starting retirement, stand around a board displaying their recently completed artwork. They used a simple method called "monoprint," which involves painting a tile and then pressing the image onto a small card. The print is then touched up with more paint or colored pencils.

The teacher, who calls herself a painter rather than an artist, in deference to the great masters, holds up a card printed with a yellow blob over a bigger brown smudge. She sees a sun peaking out from behind mountains.

Carolyn Bartlett, a retired teacher from Reno, suggests a place of retreat.

"It looks like an island in Hawaii," she says.

It's a Saturday morning. and the studio inside the St. Mary's Art Center smells like coffee. Sunlight streams in under the window screens and onto the hardwood floor.

"You are only limited by your imagination," says the teacher, Lynn Rigoni.

She encourages the students to flip their pictures around. The sun becomes a meadow, or a bag of popcorn.

The teacher says that this is an adventure. It's just a piece of paper. Don't be afraid of it. Let the art speak to you. Let loose.

In a world where imagination is the key to the artistic kingdom, the right-brained minority are struggling to see animals in the clouds.

Toni Poloni, of Truckee, isn't quite convinced about her own ability to let loose. After working in several precise occupations, Poloni has relaxed into a career as a paralegal.

"I'm waiting for it to speak to me," she says, while staring at her print and turning it in several directions. Her laugher conveys futility.

"Too much critical thinking," she says. She can see pictures in others' art, but not her own.

Poloni says she comes to retreats such as these for the opportunity to relax and be creative. She met up with an old friend, and while at the retreat, finds three others she had known in high school. By lunch, the women talk to each other like sorority sisters.

When it comes time to share, Poloni isn't the only one in the room with a painting of paint, rather than a sun, bag of popcorn or flower. Every spot of paint is a work of art.

"All right, Toni! She got loose! She's a loose woman!" says the teacher.

Here the effort is praised, almost as much as a Cezanne.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

If you go

WHAT: St. Mary's Art and Retreat Center hosts Girl's Day Out retreat

WHEN: Once every quarter, dates to be announced

WHERE: 55 N. R St., Virginia City

COST: Day package is $75; overnight package is $115; two-day package is $150

INFORMATION: Call 847-7774 or visit www.stmarysartcenter.org