The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

the arts by Joanne F. Villeneuve I t had been a long, frenetic week: hours spent in heavy traffic, demanding assignments at work, topped only by my two-and-a-half-year-old's tantrums. That Sunday morning, fall expressed itself with a great downpour of rain. I sighed as I walked onto the Bowen Island ferry. I half expected my meeting with authors and co-directors of the Island-Stay Learning Experiences (ISLE ) courses. Audrey and Paul Grescoe. to somehow add to my woes. However, once the boat left Horseshoe Bay, heading west on the dark green waters. I felt the tension slowly leave me. My fears completely vanished as the ferry landed in Snug Cove. Summer's great throngs of tourists were conspicuously missing. Greeting me on the dock, the Grescoes were most charming and happy to indulge me in my quest to find out about ISLE. We started our afternoon together by walking to a large pond flowing into the sea. where ducks noisily made their presence known and the calm bay waters reflected both the trees on the shore and the island's way of life. Nonplussed by the rain. Audrey and Paul enthusiastically explained that participants in the ISLE courses are encouraged to stroll from the ferry to clear the cobwebs cluttering their minds. The courses allow free time for unwinding along other wellgroomed trails on the island. This particular path, known as the promenade in local circles, leads directly to the Lodge at the Old Dorm, one of the Island's newest B & B's. where the courses are held. Steeped in island history, the newly renovated Lodge was once a residence for men at the Union Steamship Company's Bowen Island Inn. It welcomed me with warmth generated from a rustic wood stove and enticing aromas from Dan Parkin's kitchen. A former sailor and businessman who has a few interesting stories of his own to share. Parkin Arts Enthusiasts Offered Alternatives to the Rat Race owns the lodge. His interest stems from promoting the arts on the island, whereas the Grescoes are attempting to offer a mixture of courses not offered elsewhere. Parkin wants to encourage people to get away from the stress of everyday life. "|There's| always been a very positive association with Bowen. It's a destination which has touched so many people." His palatable concoctions and luxurious accommodations--which house original artworks and soaker tubs--make a seductive backdrop for the courses. During a lunch of pasta with smoked salmon and braised vegetables. Audrey and Paul explained how ISLE had come to be. For the last few years, the Grescoes. along with their friends and colleagues Vancouver artists Paul and Babette Deggan. have been teaching at the Summer Centre for the Arts in France. The philosophy at the centre is one of gathering like-minded people who wish to learn in a charming and informal, live-in setting. Audrey Grescoe thought they should bring this idea home for the off-season. "I love teaching." explained Audrey. "That's the impetus: to teach in this lovely setting and to do something for the community." In collaboration with Capilano College Extension Program the first semester of ISLE is well under way. And what better place for this welcomed addition to West Coast experiences than B.C.'s Isle of Pleasure: Bowen Island. Reality makes it difficult for most of us to gather enough energy after a long day to head back out to nurture extra-curricular interests. These allinclusive weekend courses are the ideal solution to offset a fast-track life. From Friday evening until Sunday afternoon, respected instruc- tors impart their experiences and knowledge to small groups of art. literary or film enthusiasts. Discussions and hands-on exercises enable participants to hone their skills. ISLE offers two courses this November: C B C Radio's resident film critic Rick Staehling will impart the secrets behind the making of movies and how to recognize the determining elements of a film's worth and Paul Deggan, whose work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy of London, will guide art enthusiasts through the intricacies of portraiture. Along with sessions at the Lodge, a spacious local studio complete with a wall of windows overlooking the sea serves as a classroom for the portraiture weekend. All in all, the Island-Slay Learning Experiences are a far cry from traditional courses. Plans are already under-way for a wider range of ISLE weekend courses next semester. A chamber music seminar will be considered for the upcoming semester, as music is one of the arts which has been missed in this semester's course selection. Later that Sunday afternoon, as 1 left on the ferry, the mini "getaway" I had experienced left me content that I had discussed some ideas with people who share a common passion for the arts. Now. if only I could fit an entire ISLE weekend into my schedule...-" Joanne F.Villenueve is a freelance and translator living in Coquidam. writer Courses are limited in size and the $375 course fee includes six delicious meals, interactive small group instruction, ferry travel. For more 984-4901. Pictured above is the pond that leads into the harbour. Photo:]oanne F. Villeneuve information College at call Capilano shared and accommodation