Housing and Travel Information
PBI at Ox-bow
Nestled on an old oxbow cut off from the Kalamazoo River near the edge of Lake Michigan, Ox-Bow has been a place of retreat for artists for over a hundred years. It is also the birthplace of PBI. The studios are large and comfortable, providing the space and facilities needed for PBI classes. Tuition includes room, board, and three workshops taught by world-class practioners.
Furthermore, so you have a good idea of what to expect during your time at PBI we recommend you review the following information carefully. Topics covered below include:
PBI Schedule
Life at Oxbow (facilities, weather, etc.)
What to Bring
How to Ship to Oxbow
Emergency Phone Numbers
And More!
Schedule
PBI consists of two 4-day sessions. During the first session, participants take one class in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Second session classes are more intensive, meeting for the whole day. There is a day off between the first and second sessions.
Daily life at PBI is a pleasant mix of intensive class time, group meals and independent work time in the studio. Guest lecturers, visiting artists and other events are scheduled some evenings during the session for entertainment and enrichment. Swimming and canoeing provide a break from studio work. Lake Michigan, with its’ beautiful beaches, can be reached by canoe or a short walk. There are a number of hiking trails through the woods on the Ox-Bow property and, for those wanting a workout, you can head down the road to the 100 steps, a staircase which takes you to the top of a dune overlooking Lake Michigan. A large fire-pit on the shore of the oxbow is a festive gathering place in the evenings. When the weather is inclement, people often get together on the large screened in porches in the Old Inn, the Dining Hall in the New Inn, or one of the fireplaces found throughout Ox-Bow.
Facilities
Ox-bow is a beautiful and rustic place. It is a campus of small buildings, many of which do not have heat or air conditioning. You will walk on gravel and dirt paths to get to and from your class studio, your dorm room and the dining hall. Please bring appropriate footwear and clothing: sturdy shoes, plan to dress in layers, be prepared for both very cold temperatures and hot temperatures.
Weather In May, the weather is subject to dramatic change, from cold rainy days in the 40’s, to hot, humid, sunny days in the 80’s. You should be prepared to sleep and work this range of conditions. The majority of sleeping rooms do not have heat or air conditioning. Please bring appropriate clothing. We suggest that you be prepared to dress in layers.
What to bring
Please bring or ship ahead (allow 2 weeks) via UPS, Federal Express or Parcel Post:
Bedding: Ox-Bow now supplies sheets and one light blanket. You should bring an additional blanket/comforter, sleeping bag or other warm bedding. Oxbow provides a pillow and pillowcase for each bed.
For the Shower: Bring a towel/washcloth and personal toiletries (including soap).
Clothing: Plan to dress in layers, be prepared for extreme heat/humidity and cold, rainy temperatures in the 40’s. Bring sturdy footware, flip-flops for shower, raincoat, and a
hat.
Also: A flashlight is a MUST in addition to sunscreen, insect repellant, clock, rain coat & other rain gear.
Optional: earplugs, radio, travel mug for coffee, sunglasses, music, water bottle, small fan and beach stuff (we can swim in Lake Michigan, but it will be cold). Holland is a short drive away with all the major large chains. Saugatuck & Douglas are few minutes if you are in need of sundries, liquor, or whatever.
Shipping / Contact
If shipping a box ahead of time, address the box to:
Your Name
Paper and Book Intensive
Oxbow School of Art
P.O. Box 216
3435 Rupprecht Way
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453
269-857-5811
Please Note: The P.O. Box number is absolutely necessary if you are sending anything through the USPS. You can also receive mail at this address during your stay at Ox-bow.
Emergency phone numbers:
Ox-Bow – 269.857-5811
If you have questions about arrival or camp, you can contact Giselle Simon directly at: giselle-simon@uiowa.edu or 319-335-5033
Cell phones & WI-FI
PBI offers a great opportunity to unplug. Cell phone reception is extremely poor at Ox-bow. Free WI-FI is available only in the main dining hall. (Between meals, the dining hall serves as an informal place to hang out & use the WI-FI). Use this digital sabbatical as an opportunity rather than a hindrance! You can give loved ones the Ox-Bow office number in case of emergencies: 269.857-5811
Laundry
There are no laundry facilities on campus, but there is a very nice laundromat in Douglas located a short drive from campus.
Wildlife
Ox-bow is centered in nature. There are beautiful walking trails to take over the sand dunes, through the woods. If the temperate gets hot, the bugs come out. Tick season in Michigan starts in the spring so it is important to bring long pants, sturdy shoes with toes, socks, and a hat if you want to hike in the dunes. Insect repellant is very helpful.
Getting to Ox-Bow:
By Air:
For those traveling by air, the Grand Rapids Airport is the nearest major airport and most rental car companies have locations at the airport. Rental Cars are available at the Grand Rapids Airport. Reserving a car well in advance is highly recommended, as there are a number of major events occurring in the region at the same time as PBI. The drive to Ox-Bow from the airport is around one hour. See below for directions from Grand Rapids to Oxbow.
By Car:
From Chicago: Take I-94 through Indiana and into Michigan just past Benton Harbor. I-94 and 196 split. Take 196/31 north (the sign says To Grand Rapids and Holland). Follow this for 36 miles to the Douglas/Saugatuck exit (Exit 36). Exit a hard right, merging with the Blue Star Highway. Head north to Center Street, where there is a stoplight. Turn west (left) at this stoplight onto Center. At the first cross street, Ferry Street, turn north (right). You will see a golf course on the northwest corner of the intersection. Continue north, passing the road to the city beach (Lincoln). The road you are on (now called Park Street) becomes unpaved before reaching Ox-Bow. You will know you have reached Ox-Bow because the road will end and the entrance to Ox-Bow will begin, i.e. Park Street becomes Ox-Bow's driveway.
From Grand Rapids: Take 196 west to the Saugatuck /Douglas, Exit 41, turn right off the exit onto the Blue Star Highway. Take the Blue Star Highway (south) to the first stop light and turn right onto Center Street. At the first 4-way stop you reach turn right (north) onto Ferry Street. You will see a golf course on the northwest corner of the intersection. Continue north, passing the road to the city beach (Lincoln). The road you are on (now called Park Street) becomes unpaved before reaching Ox-Bow. You will know you have reached Ox-Bow because the road will end and the entrance to Ox-Bow will begin, i.e. Park Street becomes Ox-Bow's driveway.
From Detroit: Take I-94 west to Kalamazoo, then get on 131 north to Grand Rapids. Go about 13 miles on 131 then exit at the Otsego exit towards Allegan. This road is M-89, take it west. Just as you get through Allegan, M-89 will split from M-40 as a left turn.
By Shuttle or App-based Ride Services
Uber and Lyft serve Grand Rapids and western Michigan, including Ox-Bow. PBI participants make their own arrangements with these services.
Express Executive Cars (expressexecutivecarsgr.com) provides shuttles from the Grand Rapids airport and the Grand Rapids train and bus stations. The one-way fees vary with the number of people in a vehicle, ranging from around $50 to $140, plus gratuity. To make a reservation, call 616-406-9664, ask for V, and tell him that you are with the Paper and Book Intensive at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck. They will ask for the date/time of your arrival/departure, flight numbers, a cell phone number, and an email address. They will also want to know if you are willing wait at the airport in order to be grouped in a car, which will reduce your cost. Those arriving before mid-afternoon have the greatest probability of being grouped and thus paying less than the full fee. Reservations must be made at least 3 weeks in advance to guarantee a place.
Sunrise Transport provides shuttles from the Holland Bus/Train Station to Ox-Bow. To make a shuttle reservation, call 616-994-3495 and give them your arrival/departure dates and times and a cell phone number. Reservations must be made no later than a few days before arrival.
By Bus And Train
Grand Rapids and Holland each also have rail and bus service. For information on rail service, call Amtrak at 800.USA.RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com for schedules and fares. The bus service provider depends on the departure location. Contact Megabus or other bus services to determine availability. Please note that Greyhound Bus Line service to Holland has been suspended, with no indication as to when it might be resumed. The Amtrack train service is still operational.