In a class at Art and Soul Space...

Attending a class at Art and Soul Space will renew your connection with yourself, your senses, and the natural world.  From the studio there is an expansive view out to the marsh below that is abundant with many tree and bird species.  Artwork in the studio gallery is from local artists and changes each season, surrounding you with beauty and visual richness.  Certified and experienced teachers bring yoga and its many healing facets to you in a gentle and informative way.  Lemon and mint water is always available, as are mats, lavender eye bags, and soft warm blankets to wrap yourself in for savasana. (final resting pose). 

Art and Soul Space, the building...

An effort was made to make Art and Soul Space as environmentally friendly as possible.  An addition was created onto the back of our barn for the studio, and the entire exterior of the barn was renovated as well. 

For the studio itself, sustainable bamboo was used for the flooring. Low VOC-emitting (volatile organic compound) materials were used whenever possible, from the building materials to the finishes, including the decking. To keep the space cool, energy saving overhead fans assist natural breezes from the ocean, cross breezes from the side windows also assist in cooling.   The southeast facing location allows skylights and windows to warm the space with passive solar; Low-E glass in all the windows and doors adds extra insulation and warmth, and double honeycomb cellular shades on windows allow light to pass through but keep warm air in.  The studio's small bathroom is equipped with a dual button system to conserve water.

The grounds on which the studio is located is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Backyard Habitat. This means the land surrounding the studio meets the elements required by the NWF for sustaining local wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians) by using native plants, evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, water conservation methods, and organic fertilization. The Bradlee household generates its own organic compost made from kitchen scraps and yard waste, and uses several rain barrels to collect roof water for watering plants.   Visit the EARTH page for more information on water conservation methods, recycling, composting or certifying your own backyard as a National Wildlife Habitat.

This special place has come into being through the concentrated efforts of many people. I would like to extend special thanks and gratitude to my parents, and grandparents, all now deceased but their legacy lives on in this space.  Thank you to the Bradlee family; to Jack Bradlee, and to John Bradlee, Jr. my husband, whose tireless dedication to this project and hands-on hard work elevated this long-time dream from drawing board to real time space. Sincere thanks to our builder Todd Kenn of Kenn Brothers Construction, East Bridgewater, MA for his fabulous “band of brothers” and hardworking crew; and to all our subcontractors and consultants for the project. Thank you to my cousin Stewart, of Salmon Falls Decorators in Alton, NH and to Margo, of MVT Interior Decorating of Ipswich, MA for helping me to paint the entire space.  

                                                                          ---- Darlene

Site Credits:

Web Site construction: Thomas Rose, TK Rose Web Solutions, LLC
Scituate, MA.

All photographs used for the site are original images ©Darlene Ann Bradlee.

Photographs of Darlene are by Jill Cuomo of Scituate, MA.

Music: "Close to Heaven"
From the album “Zen World” by Thierry David, ©2008 Real Music.

Composed by Thierry David.

Licensed from Vox Terrae. Terrae/Kvox Publishing, K-Vox Studio, France.

The EarthSea Institute was formed in 1989 by visionary Real Music president Terence Yallop as a tax-exempt educational foundation wing of the company to promote enronmental awareness, facilitate the ability of individuals to have impact on global concerns and to act as an interface between the music industry and the ecology movement.  REAL MUSIC also makes donations though EarthSea Institute from sales of EarthSea series albums to assist parks organizations in preservation and educational programs.