« Click here for the 2008 Schedule » Rock Barra is a private artist’s retreat for the contemplation and practice of the creative and healing arts located on the northeast corner of Prince Edward Island. The property is a spectacular twenty-acre site with grand views of the sunrise and sunset over the ocean, sand dunes, a fresh water pond, a spunky little river, fresh water springs, six acres of woods with a walking trail, woodland flowers and herbs, and a fabulous beach. Our dear friend, Sam Sniderman (Sam the Record Man), owns the property. Sam owned a string of record stores across the country and has helped to launch the careers of countless Canadian musicians. A sweet and generous man, Sam works tirelessly to give back to the musical community. In that spirit he granted a fifty-year lease on the property to create the Rock Barra Artist’s Retreat. The first summer we hacked our way through the roses and bayberries to set up a tiny camper. Soon after we found our first Airstream, a 1965 Safari, at the time home to a bevy of wild creatures including raccoons, birds and mice! Thus began our love affair with the silver beauties. Our collection now includes a 1973 Sovereign, a 1963 Caravel, and an eighteen-foot Avion. We have spent hundreds of hours restoring these treasures and share them with creative friends and family at what some call “Silver Beach”! In summer of 2003 we rented the property to Rebecca Miller, daughter of the playwright Arthur Miller, to film her screenplay The Ballad of Jack and Rose starring her husband Daniel Day-Lewis. The film, released in spring 2005 is the story of a failed hippie-commune. The scenery of the Rock Barra site is one of the most prominent aspects of the film. As part of the set they constructed a large bermed (partially underground) building with a sod roof. This structure is now a studio, providing a lovely space in which to present workshops. At Rock Barra Retreat, our intention is to create a sacred space for the creative and healing arts. We've designed lovely walking trails, a seven-coil labyrinth, and a stone circle. The retreat is open to the public only for daytime workshops. As time goes on we may begin presenting longer programs and possibly offer overnight accommodation at this drug and alcohol free retreat. Sightseers are asked to respect the privacy of this special site. For a list of local accommodations contact Tourism P.E.I. at 1-800-463-4734. All general inquires about Rock Barra Retreat (www.rockbarraretreat.com), or requests to facilitate a workshop at Rock Barra for your group, can be sent to teresa@teresadoyle.com. Workshops This summer we are proud to be offering a wide variety of workshops, see the list below. Participants are reminded to bring a brown bag lunch to all events and don’t forget to bring a bathing suit. Other Activites This summer plan to visit our popular Sound Sculpture Garden. This project was a great success last year. The public is invited to attend our open house. To visit at other times contact us by email. New this year - Seeds and Songs - house concerts that celebrate great music and great food. Local farmers are welcome to attend free of charge. Gardeners are encouraged to bring heritage seeds to share. On August 23, (rain date August 24) from 3:00 until sunset plan to attend the second annual Fire, Flame and Flavor: An Outdoor Feast with Chef Michael Smith and the ingredients of Prince Edward Island. Last year’s event was the culinary event of the season and this year we are presenting live music as well! Tickets are $150, with a limit of twenty people. This is a fundraiser for Rock Barra. Thank you Michael! For ideas on how you can support our activities at Rock Barra Retreat kindly get in touch. Events Schedule Work Weekend Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20 Bring your tool belt and help restore and maintain this beautiful site! Contact us at 902-838-2973 or teresa@teresadoyle.com if you would like to help. Sound Sculpture Open House Sunday, July 20, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Come experience these unique pieces made from old farm machinery and fishing gear. Donations are graciously accepted. Ancient Healing Wisdom of Africa; dance, drumming and storytelling with Ifo Ikede Sunday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $50. Awaken the consciousness with Afrocentric/indigenous pathways to unleashing and opening the mind. Through drumming, dancing and storytelling we learn to be synchronous and reconnect with holistic paths to creating healthy communities. With your guide Ifo Ikede (aka Afrohealer). Visit www.afrohealer.com, call 902-367-5717 or email at ifo@UAnet.ns.ca or ifosmith@yahoo.com. Tim Chaisson in Concert Sunday, July 27, 7:30 p.m. | Tickets: $10 (Free for local farmers). This year we are presenting some house concerts at Rock Barra Retreat. Come enjoy some great music in an intimate acoustic setting. Teresa Doyle will host each evening. As a thank you to the good folks that grow our food we are offering free tickets to farmers for all of our concerts and encouraging gardeners to bring heritage seeds to trade. We are very proud to be presenting local performer Tim Chaisson at this first concert of the season. Visit www.timothychaisson.com. Sound Yoga; Singing from the Core with Teresa Doyle Friday, August 1, 7:00 p.m. until noon Sunday, August 3 | Cost: $160. Call Teresa at 902-838-2973 for more info or go to www.teresadoyle.com/workshops for a review of the workshop. October Browne in Concert Sunday, August 3, 8:00 p.m. | Tickets: $10 (Free for local farmers). Toronto-based Celtic guitarist and singer October Browne will perform an intimate house concert. Visit www.octoberbrowne.com. Dancing the Inner Diva with Julia Sauve Saturday, August 9, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Cost: $50. Diva, an Italian word meaning ‘goddess’. Come embrace, revitalize, and celebrate the power of your feminine energy. We’ll explore the ‘sacred’ diva through dance, movement, creativity, and nature. Creating Heaven on Earth with Martin Rutte Sunday, August 10, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost: $100. It is time for a new global story of hope, engagement, and the fulfillment of our dream for a world that works. Creating Heaven on Earth is a forum in which you identify the actions that make the most difference in accomplishing this goal. Come and discover your part in this next chapter of the human journey. For more information go to www.projectheavenonearth.com. Robert and Andrew MacIsaac in concert Sunday, August 10, 8:00 p.m. | Cost: $10 (Free for local farmers). A mile east of Rock Barra Retreat is the ancestral home of the grandparents of these two talented brothers. The MacIsaac brothers work hard to maintain the family homestead and use it as a place to create and record their music. We are delighted to be hosting the boys from Rock Barra and expect this will be the first of many concerts for them. Painting with Sandi Komst Thursday, August 14, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Cost: 50. On location oil/watercolour/acrylic in a beach setting. Supply list: bring whatever you need to comfortably paint outdoors, a lunch and a bathing suit. Visit www.outofourmindsgallery.com. Register with Sandi at 962-3612. Shen Zhen Qigong with Zane de Noncourt Friday, August 15, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $60. Sheng Zhen Qigong (“Chee– gong”) is a series of gentle, graceful, repetitive movements intended for self-healing: to relax the body, calm the emotions and lift the heart. For general information see www.shengzhen.org. The Instructor, Zane de Noncourt, knows from lived experience that practicing Qigong restores health, flexibility, and it helps us to get in touch with the pulsating energy or our body, the universe, and the oneness of all things. In this one day qigong intro we will work with laughing, standing, and sitting forms of Sheng Zhen Qigong. Yoga on the Beach with Rachel Leslie, RYT Saturday, August 16, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $30, snacks included. Come and spend an afternoon on the beach exploring yoga and meditation. Rachel’s blend yoga is suitable for all levels. No experience is necessary. Vegan snacks will be served at the end of the practice. Wild Women’s Organic Spa with Irene Novaczek Sunday, August 17, Noon until 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $40. This is a unique Island spa experience featuring Island clay, organic herbs and seaplants. Relax and renew! Fire, Flame and Flavor: an outdoor feast with Chef Michael Smith and the ingredients of Prince Edward Island Saturday, August 23 (rain date Sunday, August 24), 3:00 p.m. until sunset. | Cost: $150 per person. Last year this was the culinary event of the season. This year we are adding live music. Proceeds go to Rock Barra Artist Retreat. Thank you Michael! Visit www.chefmichael.tv. Tuning the Human Instrument with Monica Lacey, RYT Saturday, August 30, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $60. An uplifting day of Kundalini Yoga, meditation, relaxation, and written exercises for radiance, awareness, balance and harmony. Please bring your own lunch, water bottle, and journal. Wear comfortable clothing. Monica is certified in Kundaliniand Ten Body Yoga. Contact innerharmonics@gmail.com. The Fine Art of Chinese Tea: A Tasting Workshop with Patricia Craig Sunday, August 31, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Cost: $30. Come experience tea as a connoisseur’s art form. Chinese gongfu tea is the fine art of tasting and appreciating tea. This workshop will introduce you to the four major categories of tea (white, green, oolong, and black), with side-by-side tastings that will develop your palate for fine, premium teas and teach you the steps in preparing gongfu tea for guests. Directions Take highway #16 east from St Peter’s. When you enter the district of Rock Barra watch for Big Pond road on the left. Go down Big Pond Road for a kilometer. The Road turns sharply to the left. Do not go left. Continue straight and take the second driveway on the left #211. If you are traveling from Souris take the Souris Line Road to hwy #16, turn right, travel two kilometers and watch for the Big Pond Road going down to the shore. For questions and additional information, email teresa@teresadoyle.com or call 902-838-2973.