5 & 5 with Terri Pollack
Assistant Gallery Manager Jaede Bayala recently asked Gallery Assistant Terri Pollack about her experience during her February residency at Escape to Create in Seaside, Florida. Terri currently has an exhibition of works created during her residency on view at the Bunker Center through Sunday, April 26, 2026. Gallery hours are 12 - 6 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
About Escape to Create: The white sandy beaches of Northwest Florida are the stunning backdrop to the picturesque walking community of Seaside. Gracious cottage accommodations support full immersion in work with the Gulf of Mexico a constant source of inspiration, reflection, and renewal. Time slows while walking or biking along miles of scenic coastal paths. Round table dinners, enjoyed in the ambiance of a private home, are a favorite weekly tradition among “Escapees.” Architecturally distinct venues provide intimate settings for showcasing the creative work of our artists. These and many other gifts from our community create an unforgettable multi-disciplinary creative retreat.
Learn more about the Bunker Center for the Arts & Escape to Create below.
Q: How did you structure your time at the residency?
A: I structured my days with morning walks and coffee, then studio until lunchtime, then ate and walked or rode my bike through the trails, back to studio until dinner then had dinner drinks or played cards with my cohorts. We also took walks and had outings together. I was really pleased with how much time I got to spend in the studio and in nature.
Q: What were you able to discover about the environment through plein air drawings/paintings?
A: I was enthralled with watching the birds on the beach, the way the water moved the sand and finding shells, sand dollars and watching the sunset almost every day. I was always weary of coming across alligators when walking through the trails by the lake, there were signs up but I never saw one. I did see a herd of deer in the woods, they were not very timid and I was able to get pretty close. When I would draw or watercolor outside I would get lost in the moment and try to capture the feeling and essence of being there in the moment.
Q: Did you learn anything unexpected?
A: The experience helped me gain confidence in myself and my work, talking with new people about my work and speaking in public. Each Wednesday we would gather and have dinners with our hosts and fellow artists and each Wednesday we'd talk about what we had been doing and the progress we made etc.
Q: What was your favorite part of the residency?
A: My favorite part of the residency... that's hard to say, the ocean, the beach, the company... the time to create without having nothing else to draw my focus away.
Q: Did this type of residency inspire you to participate in more in the future?
A: Absolutely, 100% my goal is to do a residency every year or every other year. I'm going to Venice this September, I think the following year I'll do something closer to home.
You can learn more about the Bunker Center for the Arts here:https://www.bunkercenter.com/
Gallery hours are 12-6 pm, Wednesday - Sunday.
“Seaside” by Terri Pollack remains on view through Sunday, April 26th.
Apply for an Escape to Create Residency at:https://www.escape2create.org/apply
Deadline to apply is July 31, 2026.