SAN JUAN ISLAND ART RESIDENCY SEPTEMBER 2025 

Taking advantage of Teresa Gillespie's alumni status, we returned for the sixth time to spend 5 days (September 2 -- 7, 2025) making art at the University of Washington's Whiteley Center on San Juan Island. Dedicated to approved creative projects, the Center is part of a marine research facility called the Friday Harbor Labs. We stayed in Cabin #3, a one-bedroom facility within the complex of six cabins specifically designed for professors, graduate students, and alumni pursuing creative work.

This time Teresa focused on watercolor sketches in her sketchbook and watercolor pads of island scenes, continuing her exploration of nature themes that have proven successful in recent exhibitions. Gary worked on 4 abstract collages, building on his multimedia approach that incorporates found papers, newspaper ads, crossword puzzles, and various cloth and tissue materials.

Teresa Gillespie, JD (University of Washington 1985) is a published poet, accomplished violinist and visual artist who has built an impressive exhibition record. She was recently featured at the La Conner Birding Festival in January 2025 where she showed 30 Japanese style wood cut prints of regional birds, selling half the prints on display to festival participants.

Her art prints have also appeared in shows at the Oak Harbor Public Library in August 2023 and May 2024, and her work was part of a 2006 retrospective covering 30 years of work at the Northwest University Hurst Gallery in Kirkland. Her new watercolor sketches will be submitted to art and literary journals for publication and may appear in future local shows.

GJ Gillespie is a collage artist living in a 1928 Tudor Revival farmhouse overlooking Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. Inspired by art history, especially mid-century abstract expressionism and the "Northwest Mystics" who produced haunting images from this region 70 years ago, he is winner of 22 awards with art appearing in 70 shows and more than 195 publications (including 23 covers).

His previous Whiteley Center work has been published in literary journals including Willows Wept Review (cover), Arboreal Literary Magazine, Red Cedar Review, and exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art.

When not making art, he runs his sketchbook company Leda Art Supply. His new collages will be submitted to literary journals and some will be shown in upcoming show at the Coupeville Public Library.

This September 2025 residency continues the artists' established goal to "blend science and art, realism and imagination" in the unique environment where scientific research meets natural beauty. Art made by both Gary and Teresa will be posted on their web pages and social media.