Art in the Woods is a 5-night immersive artist residency taking place September 7 - 13, 2025 at Hideout Mountain, a 40-acre retreat space located in Santa Ysabel, California. This open call invites a small group of selected visual artists to create permanent or semi-permanent works throughout the property, inspired by the surrounding nature and cultural landscape.
Selected artists will get to stay for 5 nights in one of our cabins with all meals and materials included, and they will be given designated outdoor locations to develop site-specific works, ranging from painting, sculpture, and wood carving to installations or architectural interventions. At the heart of this residency is a mission to integrate creativity with the natural environment, leaving behind public-facing art for future guests to enjoy.
Winner Announcement - Aug 22nd
✨ Here’s our agenda!
Sunday 9/7 - 6 PM
Open Lecture: Natural History of Warner Valley
Special Talk by Scott Tremor, biologist and curator at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Scott will introduce the local species and surrounding environment, drawing from his extensive work in Lake Henshaw and nearby areas.
Tuesday 9/9 - 7:30 AM
Morning Bird-walk at Hideout Mountain
Guided Bird Walk with Lisa Allen, ornithologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Explore the local birdlife in a beautiful morning walk.
Contribution: $10
Friday 9/12 - 12 PM
Resident Artists Showcase & Jury Evaluation
Open Bar Gathering: Join us at Josie’s Hideout Saloon to see the artists present their works to the jury. We’ll walk the property together with the judges and go through each location listening to each artist present their creations.
Friday 9/12 - 6 PM
Dancing in the Woods: Closing Night
After dinner, resident DJ Chris Renzulli (Pacific Beach Records) will spin vinyl to keep us dancing all night. Contribution: $20
Saturday 9/13 - 12 PM
Art in the Woods: Open House
Join us at Josie’s Hideout Saloon for food and drinks, then take a walk through Hideout Mountain to experience the art created during the residency. Meet the artists, see their work in the landscape, and celebrate creativity in nature. The evening will conclude with the Winner Announcement and Live Music to mark the close of the residency.
