About

Photo by: Thea Coughlin

Squam is a lake, a gathering, a community.

It is not a simple thing to sum up squam. If you really want to get a sense of what it’s like or what to expect—please read through some of the stories, watch the videos, or scan the raves. 

In essence, squam is hopeful, open-hearted and passionately committed to having fun, being goofy, diving in, singing out, and seeking beauty in our daily life. (Which is to say that it is not about being cool, being clever or making art with a capital A. It’s not about exchanging business cards or networking--and, it is definitely not about taking anything too seriously, ahem).

In 2008, Squam Art Workshops had is first gathering in New Hampshire on the shores of Squam Lake but soon became known simply as “squam." In that sense, the word meant a gathering of people who love all things creative, who care about being true to themselves, and who savor time spent in the beauty of a natural environment.

The retreat is designed for anyone who feels that their days have become one long sprint after a departing train. At squam, there is no to-do list to conquer, no errands to run. Instead, you have all the hours of the day to do what interests you most.

Each day has a variety of classes to choose from such as: painting, mixed media, drawing, writing, photography, cooking, food styling, yoga, knitting, embroidery, sewing, sculpture, jewelry making, journaling, and screenprinting. There are always optional evening events and each retreat has its own unique extras. For instance, both the Spring and Fall sessions have a marvelous Art Fair on the last night, squam by the sea has bonfires on the beach and SquamItalia! will have excursions to olive groves, open-air markets and wild dinner parties under the stars.

People who attend squam come from all over. To date, they have traveled from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, all provinces of Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Ireland, Qatar, and Japan.

The paradox of Squam is that although many elements are consistent-- a beautiful venue, remarkable teachers, the opportunity to pursue creativity full out-- you can never have the same experience twice. Each gathering is unto itself. And, if the stories and raves are to be believed—the only constant is the personal transformation that the retreat evokes, but even that, like a fleeting butterfly, defies being pinned in a box.