Resident Recipients
Testimonials from our artist and writer residents
“The residency came at a time of several converging transitions. I’ve been without a studio for 10 years and forgot what a difference it makes to put work up on the walls and see it as a whole. It gave me real clarity on how to move forward.
I also loved being able to step outside to that amazing view and paint or just ponder. There is just something special about Block Island. Magic happens here. The residency struck the perfect balance of time and flexibility to shape my project as I needed, and support and connection when I wanted it. The welcome dinner, taxi and bee tour, library talk, and reception made me feel woven into the island and its people.
One of the most meaningful moments was at the open studio when people recognized friends and neighbors in the paintings, even though my characters were rabbits. They commented that they saw a side of the island rarely captured in art made for visitors. Connecting with people who live here and learning what lights them up gave this experience a depth that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. This residency gave me the time, space, and clarity to move forward—it genuinely marks a turning point in my work and my life.”
“I was lucky to be a part of the Spring 2026 Sea Breeze Artist Residency. It was one of the best residencies I have ever experienced! Andrea and her team ensure you are comfortable and have everything you need during your time on Block Island. Breakfast and lunch were served in the cutest baskets every day. The food was unbelievable and fresh. Waking up every morning and drinking my coffee on the porch while looking at the ocean was such a treat. The whole experience felt like a gift. Precious, uninterrupted time to work and a beautiful island to soak up every day. I spent many days taking long walks in the bluffs and painting en plein air.
I also really enjoyed connecting with the Block Island Arts Council and the local community. Everyone is so welcoming and seems genuinely interested in and supportive of your work. I taught a community silk painting workshop during my stay and was pleasantly surprised by how many people attended and enjoyed the experience.
My time at the Sea Breeze Artist Residency was very special. Block Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth, any time spent there is an eye-opening gift! I highly recommend this residency.”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency gave me something I hadn’t realized I was missing: the time and space to restore my poetic voice. The studio, the ocean light, the breakfast baskets arriving each morning like a small, reliable kindness. All of it created a rhythm that felt almost effortless, and I sank into it gratefully.
Block Island in the off-season has a particular presence that gets into your bones. I spent my days biking down roads I didn’t know the names of, hiking out to beaches I’d never seen, standing at the edge of things and letting the wind do what it wanted. I found places that felt genuinely undiscovered, or at least, undiscovered by me, and that sense of wandering without agenda fed the
poems in ways I couldn’t have planned. The island has a way of bringing what is necessary to the surface.
What surprised me most was the people. I came expecting solitude, and I found it, but I also found a community that welcomed me with a warmth and generosity I didn’t anticipate. Every
conversation, every chance encounter, and every person I met on a trail or over dinner was as inspiring as the landscape itself. The residents of Block Island carry a deep love for this place, and
it’s impossible not to be moved by that. I left with new poems, new friendships, and a reaffirmed sense of who I am as a writer. I am so grateful to Andrea and everyone at Sea Breeze for creating
something this rare.”
“My experience was nothing short of magical- the island was the perfect place to create. Arriving at the Sea Breeze, I felt a quiet focus set in, as the scenery offered endless inspiration. I spent my days writing by the seaside, biking through forest trails, and wandering the town. There is a sense of community on Block Island that exists nowhere else I’ve been- connections blossomed naturally, and strangers radiated warmth. Ten days in this electric environment yielded more for my writing practice than ten weeks in my ordinary life. This residency has been such an incredible gift.”
“Having a studio so close to the ocean—with an open view of it—was profoundly inspiring. The environment of the residency is enchanting. Being on a small island embraced by the sea and surrounded by quiet offered me a creative solitude that deeply nourished my work. The setting of the residency is magnificent—a carefully tended garden, charming houses, and a warm atmosphere throughout. The team was kind, discreet, and always attentive, and the meals were simple, delicious, and made with care.
What touched me most was the warm welcome from the island community. The opening dinner created an immediate sense of connection—with the residency team, the other artists, and local residents. Giving a workshop at the school was a joy—an exchange that felt both playful and meaningful. Participating in the artists’ talk and speaking with residents afterward added another layer of depth to my stay. The taxi tour remains one of my favorite memories—it offered fascinating insights into the islanders’ dedication to preserving their land and its history.
Andrea’s presence and care throughout the residency made all the difference. Warm, generous, and deeply committed, she embodies the spirit that makes this place so unique.”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency exceeded all expectations. We fell easily into a rhythm with local events, spontaneous conversations, and generative wanders. I will most remember sitting with the daily picnic basket meals and observing the next phase of the moon coming through pink sunset. The timing of the residency is brilliant, weather still allowing for tumbles in waves, yet beaches empty of tourists. The place was ours. The organizers attentive and generous. Cycling around, I knew the street names. Boarding the ferry, I recognized faces.
The experience mirrored the island itself—compact yet concentrated in character. Everywhere was water’s edge, which kept the mind open wide to the horizon but the feet planted certain on earth. The effect on my writing was an assuredness tapping out like a metronome. It was one of the most near to perfect opportunities of my life.”
“A most excellent generative and generous residency! Uninterrupted and supported time (delicious food! sumptuous room! kind people!) on one of the most beautiful islands on earth makes for a creative dream come true. Two things in particular feel indicative of my time at Sea Breeze, and feel representative of the days allowed for reflection, rumination, and creating: 1) the Inn’s stunning surreal, and serene view- of a pond, followed by the drop off of a cliff, followed by the ocean- that changes with the weather and time of day like a mood ring. This view, just like the residency itself, is so rich with gorgeous inspiration, interpretation, and metaphor. 2) On one of my many long walks, I walked down the long stairs of the Mohegan bluffs, walked around the bends of the windy beach to a remote stretch to find thirty heartfelt and yearning adult wishes folded up and crammed into a glass bottle. I have never found anything like it.
Thank you to everyone who makes this residency possible. I will continue to see the sun ripple across the water’s surface, hear the waves, the busy birdsong, the rain on the roof, the exciting wind battering the shore, see the herons glide over the salt pods, the seals pop their heads up beyond the surf, and return to the inspired spot within me that you provided!”
“You arrive on the ferry, and the first introduction to the landscape is sweeping sandy bluffs that stand in stark contrast to the frothy water. You disembark into the most charming New England seaside town. Andrea, the force behind the Sea Breeze Residency, as well as the Innkeeper, picked me up right at the ferry, a 5 minute ride to the Inn. The property overlooks the ocean as well as a small, protected pond. The inn consists of several cottages and nestled in between is a lush and diverse garden, cared for by Andrea and started by her mother, in whose memory the residency was founded.
In addition to the room where you stay there is a studio with a private entrance. It is spacious with tons of natural light and an unobstructed view of the water. There is also a hose available outside if you need access to water for your practice.
Meals were delivered in baskets, this made for a truly carefree environment where I felt I had total permission and freedom to produce art without being distracted by outside obligations.
This residency was made all the more special for the interactions with the people of the island and with other residents, wonderful, talented souls and we formed a welcome social cohort during my stay. Block Island is home to a remarkable community of year-round residents who are kind, generous, and super engaged. As part of the residency, you have the opportunity to present your work to the public. The questions and conversations around the art and writing presented were thoughtful and inquisitive in the best of ways.
At the beginning of our stay, we took a taxi tour from an extremely knowledgeable local guide who clued us into the rich context of the environment and the island, which was invaluable for orienting myself quickly.
The Sea Breeze Artist Residency was profoundly creatively reinvigorating for me and my practice. I made great strides in my cut paper illustrations. I cannot recommend the residency, the wonderful folks at the Sea Breeze Inn, and the entirety of Block Island and its community enough. ”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency is an artist’s dream - 10 days with the freedom to devote yourself completely to your work. The Inn is beautiful and comfortable, and the breakfast baskets are legendary for a reason! I’m in the midst of tying up the strands of a long, complicated novel, and here I had the space and time to think and read, write and revise in a way I couldn’t do at home. I was extremely productive while I was here, and I came home riding on that momentum – thanks to the residency the end of my book is in sight. I am so grateful to Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat Knoll and the team at the Sea Breeze Inn for all the ways they made this possible.
Block Island itself is magical and inspiring. The skies, the lighthouses, the beaches, seals, fields and stone walls! I got up early every day and took a long walk, accompanied by glimpses of deer, ducks, and raptors. Although I wasn’t consciously thinking about my work, I’d get back to my desk to find that the solution to a knotty problem suddenly appeared. Painter Angelina Gualdoni and I had a chance to share thoughts about our work as we sampled the island’s wonderful restaurants. It was special to meet island residents and be welcomed as part of Block Island’s long, storied artistic community, culminating in a public Artists’ Talk and Q+A at the Island Free Library. A perfect experience.”
“I had an incredibly peaceful and productive time at the Sea Breeze Residency. Everyone there made me feel welcome and well supported throughout my stay, with a comfortable room, delicious breakfast, few interruptions to my time, and a studio with amazing light. Long work days were punctuated with bike rides, where I could explore Block Island’s beautiful nature preserves, lighthouse and beaches. Every night my fellow resident, Andrée and I admired the moon glow reflected in the ocean water before walking to a spot for dinner. The residency culminated with an artist talk at the local library, followed by a reception at Sea Breeze - this was a delightful opportunity to connect with people who live on Block Island year round, as well as members of the extended art community there. The whole experience was a wonderful balance of solitude, support and camaraderie, and I thank Andrea and Sue for all their efforts in providing this opportunity.”
“My recent stay at the Sea Breeze Artist Residency on the beautiful Block Island provided me with a guest room of my own and a studio overlooking the ocean. After my morning runs, the delicious breakfast, prepared by the on-site chef, I was able to sink into uninterrupted work. Overall the experience was a perfect residency respite!”
“The Sea Breeze Artist Residency perfectly suited the way I’ve always wanted to work on my writing. The organizers, Andrea Moynier and Sue Muskat, were supportive, generous, and accommodating in all the ways I needed. The setting on Block Island had an old New England majesty that was inspiring. Because it was so quiet, I slept well, waking up early every morning to start writing immediately. And just about the time I was ready to take a break, a delicious breakfast arrived freshly prepared by the residency’s chef. The location made it easy to have periods of walking and thinking when I needed to work through a specific passage or idea. I could easily walk to the town’s Free Library, to Crescent Beach, or to a beautiful lighthouse a little over a mile away. I quickly built a momentum that helped me accomplish my goals—both for word count and quality of the writing. On the last day of the two-person residency, the visual artist and I gave talks at the Free Library. The attendees showed that support for artists extends beyond the residency. Every day I think about and am thankful for the benefits this residency yielded. The uplift and motivation I received during the Sea Breeze Artist Residency continue to resonate. What a gift!”
“I had the good fortune to be able to stay at the Sea Breeze in April of 2023 for an artist residency. It was an incredibly creative and productive time, supported by Andrea and the staff. The Sea Breeze is a truly special place, you could spend your entire time just there, never leaving, meditating on the native plants, birds, ponds and ocean views. I also enjoyed bike rides, bird watching, gathering natural materials on the many trails and beaches, chatting with community members, and the legendary breakfast baskets! Having the uninterrupted time and space to make work was a treasure. My residency culminated in an Earth Day celebration, inviting the community to make art in collaboration with a local beekeeper and indigo-dyeing workshop. The event was a great example of the community-minded spirit of Block Island and the Sea Breeze. I grew so much as an artist from my time there, and am always grateful for the support the residency offered.” ”
In the Press
“The Sea Breeze Inn has announced that Lisa Corinne Davis and Alvin Hall will be their artist and writer in residence this May. The Sea Breeze Inn is situated on a hill with sweeping views of the ocean. This tranquil setting is ideal for creative people who might not otherwise have such an opportunity to have uninterrupted time to work.
Each residency session provides two individuals, a visual artist and a writer, with private rooms and bathrooms, a spacious and private studio for the visual artist, deliveries of delicious, healthy breakfasts, and bicycles for exploring the island….”