Mentored Residencies

The Aegean Reinvented

The Aegean Center took a much-needed break during the Covid pandemic, marking our first pause in nearly 60 years. As with countless others the pandemic radically interrupted our lives, including the life of the Center. While the pandemic brought many challenges, it also gave us the gift of time for reflection and discussion. This pause allowed us to assess our lives and the future of the Center, as we considered a caution from Socrates about the dangers and baroness of a too busy life. During these almost three years, we thoughtfully reviewed our past and present. Ultimately, we decided to reinvent The Aegean School, reconfirming the advantages of being a small, independent academy and commitment to our founding principles. We hold our belief that small-group intensive learning offers significant benefits, allowing students to delve deeply into their studies and develop their skills more quickly than traditional methods.

The result is we reorganized course offerings to provide the best possible education drawing from our extensive teaching experience. We have gained a lot of wisdom over the years of teaching and we have crystallized our pedagogy into a more coherent and succinct format. We now focus on short-term intensive courses in the spring and autumn when Paros is vibrant, creating an ideal environment for creativity. These sessions are designed for students of all ages, allowing a wider range of applicants. In our condensed format we maintain the high-quality instruction in painting, drawing, and photography that our students value. For example, instead of only two painting classes a week in our former semester curriculum, students now have four hours of painting class daily. We hold our belief that small-group intensive learning offers significant benefits, allowing students to delve deeply into their studies and develop their skills more quickly than traditional methods.

The Mentored Residency

This year, we introduced new short intensive courses and opened our school in March and April for residencies, a practice we've maintained since 2022. The mentored residency program offers dedicated studio space and 5 to 6 hours of personalized one-on-one sessions and collaborative tutorials with Jane Pack each week. These interactions help you clarify your artistic goals and guide your creative process. Together, we will create a common language to express the deeper thoughts and emotions behind your work. While art captures the essence of feelings, words can often fall short. Our studio conversations are rich and collaborative, encouraging deeper exploration alongside your work. Spending one or two months immersed in art and sharing ideas with peers can significantly enhance your artistic growth. March and April in Paros are quiet, beautiful, and welcoming, providing an ideal setting for reflection and creativity with minimal distractions. You can enjoy nature, stunning sunsets, and delicious local cuisine. In a constantly changing, often chaotic world, finding peace mentally and physically is essential. We invite our valued alumni to return to the lovely shores of Paros, or if you’re considering visiting for the first time, each can benefit from the Aegean Center’s environment and expertise. The Stoic philosopher Heraclitus, whose insights are anchored in the notion that tα “πάντα ρει”... that everything is in flux, articulated it beautifully: “Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become.” Additionally, the Roman Stoic Seneca the Younger, underscores a vital perspective when he states: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” We invite you to come and join us at the Aegean, where a new artistic journey awaits.