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Art Masterclass with Myrsini Alexandridi
                13-17 May 2026
                  Crete, Greece

A journey where tradition becomes canvas, and history becomes art. Crete holds a long history where memory and tradition remain alive in daily life. In this workshop, artist Myrsini Alexandridi will guide us through a creative journey that bridges the past and the present. Together we will look at Cretan symbols, stories and traditions as inspiration for contemporary expression. Our tools will not be limited to paper: we will paint on tiles and ceramic plates transforming these timeless objects into vessels of new expression. This retreat is an invitation to work with memory, to let the roots of the past inspire us while creating something contemporary and personal. Between individual experimentation and shared exercises, we will discover how tradition can become a starting point for fresh visual narratives, carrying history forward through our own hands.

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Myrsini Alexandridi
 

Myrsini Alexandridi was born in 1991 in Greece and is currently based in Stockholm, Sweden. Originally trained as an architect at the National Technical University of Athens and The Berlage institute in Delft, she has allowed her architectural background to shape and form her artistic practice. Her work is situated at the intersection of architecture, painting and ceramics, with the ceramic tile serving as both her medium and conceptual anchor. Each tile functions as an autonomous unit, yet when combined they form larger compositions reminiscent of architectural grids, Mediterranean landscapes and abstraction. Rooted in Greek cultural and visual heritage — mythological motifs, folk art references, the colours and forms of the islands — her practice engages with belonging, identity and transformation. At the same time, living in Stockholm has brought a Nordic clarity and restraint into her visual language, creating a dialogue between the expressive vibrancy of the Mediterranean and the minimalism of the North. Myrsini’s creative process is deeply hands-on: starting from pencil sketches that divide the composition into individual tile-units, she proceeds to paint, glaze and assemble the result, emphasising the craft of ceramics as much as the concept. Her ambition is to elevate the tile, traditionally a functional architectural or domestic surface, into a carrier of memory, culture, and contemporary artistic expression. Through her work she seeks to explore how discrete elements (the tiles) recombine into a unified whole, mirroring how memory, place and identity are constructed and layered. Her practice remains both intimate and monumental, grounded in heritage yet open to new interpretations of form,space and materiality. Find her work  here.

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THE EXPERIENCE

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Dear Island invites you into a holistic experience where art, nature, and imagination intertwine. Set against the wild beauty of Crete, this retreat embraces the island’s rhythm — its hospitality, its flavors, its slower pace — to awaken creativity both personal and shared.

Mornings begin in the garden, with breakfasts and lunches freshly prepared from Cretan delicacies, fragrant with olive oil and herbs. Between creative sessions, you might drift into the pool’s cool water or wander down to the quiet, untouched beach nearby.

As the sun begins to set, we’ll gather for dinners at Gramvousa, the village’s beloved farm-to-table restaurant, savoring dishes made from the land that surrounds us. And perhaps, after, we’ll raise a glass to the sea and the colors of the evening sky.

This is a space to connect — with kindred spirits, with nature, and with your own creative flow — in an atmosphere of ease, inspiration, and shared discovery.​​

THE VENUE

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Dear island art retreats are held in the picturesque village of Kaliviani, located in the northwest part of Crete, just 44 km from Chania city and about an hour’s drive from Chania airport. Surrounded by olive groves, the village offers a few small shops, traditional tavernas, and restaurants, and is only a 20-minute walk from the nearest beach.

The masterclasses  take place in a charming 100-year-old stone villa featuring five bedrooms and stunning views of both the mountains and the sea. The ground floor preserves its original arches and fireplace, as well as the stone chimney on the façade. A large table on the spacious veranda will serve as our main working area, while the lush garden—with its expansive swimming pool—is open for everyone to enjoy throughout the day.

Just below the main villa lies the cave studio where the guest teacher, Myrsini Alexandridi, will be hosted. This unique space, first inhabited around 1850 and later was used to store agricultural products such as olive oil, wheat, and wine. During World War II, it even served as a refuge for many local residents.

To link the past with the present, a new building was constructed in 2019 just across the street. Designed to accommodate three guests, it shares the same breathtaking mountain and sea views and stands as a contemporary continuation of the villa’s enduring story.

Who is this retreat for?

 

For designers, artists, visual creators or just

curious spirits eager to experiment, play, unlearn and connect with their wildest and most symbolic imaginary. We welcome beginners as well as professionals alike.

DATES

 

13-17 May 2026 (5 days/4 nights)

 

PRICES

  • private room with double bed & private bathroom €1800    (4 available ) 

  • private room with single/double bed & shared bathroom with 2 others €1600 (2 available) 

  • shared room with single bed & shared bathroom with 2 others €1500 (4 available) 

 

DISCOUNTS: For couples/friends sharing a room -20% 

 

All prices are excluded VAT 24%

 

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

 

  • 3 full day art masterclass with Myrsini Alexandridi

  • accommodation 4 nights 

  • full meals (4 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 3 lunches)

  • daily excursions, transfer included

  • visit to Chania Old Town

  • entrances to sites 

  • Organic Wine tasting

  • All materials for the workshop

 

 

Things to note:

 

The masterclass will be held in English. 

 

Transfer from/to the airport can be arranged either by public transport and/or taxi. 

 

If you are interested in extending your stay in Crete, we are happy to assist.

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