Life at Ox-Bow

Experience Life at Ox-Bow

Ox-Bow Overview: Yesterday & Today

Frederick Fursman and Walter Clute, two faculty members from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, founded Ox-Bow in 1910. Each summer, artists, students, and educators gather along the lagoon in beautiful Saugatuck, Michigan, located two and a half hours from Chicago. With programs that cater to degreeseeking students, professional artists, and those new to the field, Ox-Bow is a protected place where creative processes break down, reform, and mature. At Ox-Bow, we encourage you to experiment, take risks, be playful, and trust your instincts; to engage with other artists; to remain open to new experiences and contribute your unique perspective to our vital and historic community.

Life at Ox-Bow in 2021

Our new Experience Ox-Bow offerings, along with our beloved Art on the Meadow workshops, invite you to get to know OxBow in new and invigorating ways. Book an immersive private class with your pod in one of our specialty studios. Add a private studio rental to your stay, or simply revel in our lush natural landscape during your time on campus. You can also truly be our guest by renting a historic cabin. Combine these elements into your very own customized Ox-Bow experience. Cabin and studio rentals are offered on a special, limited basis as space allows. We remain committed to low participant thresholds in support of ongoing COVID mitigation efforts.

So, what exactly will campus life look like at Ox-Bow in 2021? We are cautiously offering a new, condensed version of our residential summer classes, which can be taken for college credit. We expect that the result will be an enlivened campus community made up of faculty, students, staff, and visiting artists—with a smaller population than in years past, for the sake of social distance. Our food service and sanitation routines will continue to comply with CDC recommendations, and we will make the most of our copious open-air spaces.

Meals: Students and rental guests enjoy healthy and delicious meals prepared each day by our talented kitchen staff. Locally sourced ingredients are used as much as possible. Our chefs are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions; please let the Ox-Bow office know of any food allergies or special diet requirements before you come to campus.

POLICIES TO NOTE

Companion/Guest Policy No companions, guests, or pets are permitted during your time on campus. All residential housing and studio facilities are limited to artists assigned to those spaces.

Studio Policies Each studio has specific policies in place to ensure the safety of students and equipment. Additionally, these policies ensure that all participants receive a quality education with equal access to faculty and equipment.

Safety Measures at Ox-Bow

Enrollment Our 2021 programming is focused on workshops and events geared toward smaller numbers of people. Ox-Bow will allow a maximum of 45 residential participants on campus per program-period.

Spaces » Access to the ground floor of the Ox-Bow Inn is primarily limited to staff. Participants will have access only during designated meal pickup times. » We have implemented separate work spaces in studios, limited tool and equipment sharing, and heightened sanitation of high-traffic areas. » Only Ox-Bow faculty, staff, and students in a given workshop/class will enter designated studios/ classrooms. » Whenever possible, workshops and events will take place in sheltered

outdoor/open-air spaces for maximum ventilation. » We will ensure that windows and doors with screens remain open as much as possible, keep fans running, and maximize airflow and ventilation. » In the warmer months, two 20-by-40-foot open-air tents on the Meadow facilitate outdoor gatherings. » No groups larger than 20 people will gather outdoors. » No groups larger than 12 people will gather indoors. » Residential participants will stay in single-occupancy rooms.

Dining » When the dining room is open for meal retrieval, markings on the floor will direct flow of traffic and spacing. » Meals will be served by staff wearing personal protective equipment. » A plexiglass shield will separate participants and staff at the main serving station. » Prepackaged, grab-and-go snacks will be available for residential participants. » We will not allow the reuse of cups or plates for seconds. » Participants will deposit all dirty dishes directly into tubs filled with a soap/detergent solution. » We will dine in diffused, demarcated, and primarily outdoor seating areas. » Food service practices will evolve as needed.

Cleaning » Housekeeping staff use antiviral cleaning agents for all cleaning purposes. » Housekeeping staff clean and disinfect public bathrooms and other hightraffic areas twice daily. » DIY cleaning kits will be available in common areas of all dorms, in all cabins, and

in all studios. Housekeeping staff will replenish these kits as necessary. All community members will be expected to pitch in to keep themselves and their spaces clean. » All public bathrooms are equipped with paper towel dispensers. » Hand sanitizer dispensers are available in high-traffic areas.

In Case of Illness » All community members will be asked to familiarize themselves with COVID symptoms; we will make this information available through orientations, as well as postings on our website and on campus. We will also provide printouts with detailed information about local medical facilities. » If you are experiencing symptoms, tell core staff immediately. » Staff will take the temperature of any student demonstrating potential COVID symptoms. » All students with COVIDlike symptoms (cough and fever) will be asked to leave campus and seek medical care at the Campus Director’s discretion. » In the event that anyone currently on campus has an active case of COVID or exhibits COVID-like symptoms, the Ox-Bow campus will close immediately. We will assist participants in making arrangements to leave campus. Ox-Bow will remain closed for two weeks prior to reopening. » Ox-Bow will work with the required outside health departments for contact tracing. » Ox-Bow’s staff cannot provide medical care or transportation to a care facility.