The 20th International Encaustic Conference
June 4-6, 2027

Bringing a community of artists together with gallerists, curators, critics and collectors engaged with wax, printmaking, mixed media and professional practices. The 19th International Encaustic Conference is directed by Cherie Mittenthal and produced by Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill.

Attending this year's Conference? Want to stay in the loop?
Join the International Encaustic Conference Facebook Group to connect with fellow attendees. 

The Conference will take place at Edgewood Farm in Truro!
Click the links below or keep scrolling down to learn more.

We will keep information updated on this page. Shows, vendors, and other events associated with the Conference will be added as the planning continues!

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Traveling to Provincetown and Truro:

Provincetown is located at curled fingers of the flexed arm of Massachusetts, and Truro is about 15 minutes down Route 6. We’re at the very tip of Cape Cod.
There are many ways to get to the Outer Cape, if you're new to the Conference, these are your travel options: 

• 20 minutes via Cape Air from Logan International Airport

• 90 minutes via ferry from Boston Harbor

• 2.5 hours driving from Logan Airport in Boston to Truro

• 2.5 hours driving from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. (near Providence), with less traffic than from Boston

Fly from Boston to Provincetown: Cape Air

• Plan on around $350 round trip. Check website for latest schedule and rates

• Some conferees have found it cheaper to book their flight directly to Provincetown via Jet Blue, which partners with Cape Air. You'll still change planes at Logan, but through-booking should offer a better price.

• If you wish to rent a car, Enterprise at the Provincetown Airport has cars available--but you must reserve as a limited number are typically available.

Ferry from Boston to Provincetown: Bay State Cruise Company & Boston Harbor Cruises

• Check websites for latest schedule and fares

• One caveat: A crossing can be a bit unpleasant if the bay is rough. Come prepared with anti-nausea medication if you are prone to seasickness.

• If the company determines that the crossing will be too rough, you will board a bus and be taken directly to McMillan Wharf in Provincetown, where the ferry normally disembarks

Ferry: McMillan Wharf is where the ferry arrives. There are always taxis and pedicabs at the wharf to meet arriving passengers. It's about a mile from the Inn

Cape Air: The Harbor Hotel is about a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport.

Thinking of renting a car in P-Town? Enterprise is the franchise, and you have to reserve. You'd pick up the car at the airport. But unless you are planning to drive around the Cape, it's actually cheaper and far more convenient to take a taxi when you need one and walk the rest of the time. Besides, with so much taking place at the Inn, your car will sit in the parking lot. A car will come in handy if you are taking workshops at Castle Hill, but we can work with you for Pre- and Post-Conference to hook up folks with cars to those who need a ride. 

*If you are looking to share a ride, try the Facebook page to link up with other travelers!

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 Edgewood Farm, 3 Edgewood Way, Truro

Edgewood Farm is located on 7.5+ pristine and protected acres in Truro at the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and bounded by the Cape Cod National Seashore on the east and the Town of Truro Conservation Land on the south. It is a beautiful campus located right off of Route 6 where you can find a slice of peace and quiet, connect with the natural world, and unleash your creativity here on the Outer Cape!

• The environmentally conscious Printmaking Studio is home to 3 presses that can produce intaglio, relief, monotype, silkscreen, bookmaking and lithography.

• 3D Studio and Welding Pad, is well equipped for woodworking and includes a CNC machine. The outdoor Welding Pad is a great space for not only welding, but other metalwork, papermaking, and sculpture.

• The grounds of Edgewood is the home to a sculpture garden, that was installed as a celebration of Castle Hill’s 50th Anniversary, as well as an outdoor stage, “Sam’s Stage” and community garden that is open for the public to join. The large meadow is a great place to take in the view, or find some shade under the magnificent walnut tree, or American Elm tree that grow in the garden grove.

• The Wood Kiln, a part of the Ceramics Department, is located at Edgewood Farm. This train kiln is fired multiple times throughout the year.

• The Barn at Edgewood is a favorite place for visiting faculty as well as the Artists in Residence. A cozy living area and large dining room makes this space ideal for writing workshops.

• The Main House has 5 bedrooms that are available to students throughout the summer, as well as the Artists in Residence. The Cottage is a stand alone building that is also available for student and visiting artist housing.

• All three buildings in the upper courtyard, the Barn, Main House, and Cottage, have been fully renovated to historical standards to maintain the integrity of Edgewood Farm’s rich history.

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Yes, we will still have the postcard show and sale!

The Postcard Show is one of those glorious win/wins. Conferees--as well as friends of the Conference--donate postcards for show and sale. It's an exhibition for the artists donating, and every penny of the sale goes toward scholarships for the following year.

Each year will see a different group of artists receive the Conference Scholarship Grant, which offers a paid-for entry to the Conference. Additionally, the Scholarship Grant is a legitimate entry for your resume.

How to pack:  Please try to cut down on excessive packaging. The flat lightweight-cardboard or padded mailers available at the Post Office or FedEx should be sufficient to protect your work. You might wish to interleave your postcards with glassine, and then sandwich the stack between two lightweight layers of cardboard--the type that comes in  a digital-print paper box--before inserting the whole thing into the mailer. For good measure, I'd write "Do not bend."

Stephanie Roberts-Camello will be collecting the postcards and getting them ready to hang.
Please mail directly to Stephanie: 24 Standford Hill Road, Pembroke, MA, 02359
You can reach out to Marisa with any questions: marisa@castlehill.org

Postcard Guidelines

• Size: postcard dimensions of 4x6 inches. Horizontal or vertical orientation is fine. Please keep your cards as close to the 4x6 size as possible so they can fit into the plastic sleeves which will be provided

• Paper: People have used 300-lb watercolor paper to paint on, lightweight Japanese paper to print with, and everything in between. Other: Some artists have used  4” x 6" prepared panels, and others have used small stretched canvases or thin boards

• Dimension: Most of the postcards are two-dimensional, but who are we to cramp your style? Relief and three-dimensional works are entirely welcome

• Installing: We provide the archival poly bags. A small group of enthusiastic volunteers will pin each poly bag to the walls around the room.  

• Materials: Most artists have incorporated wax entirely or in part, but we're open to your particular material expression

• Limit: There is no limit to the number of cards you donate or buy

• Getting into the room to buy: We'll have specifics listed on the schedule. The room will be open just for viewing prior to sale.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Will there be any virtual component to the Conference this year?
  Sorry, no, we will not be recording the sessions this year. All talks and demos are going to take place in person over the weekend!

• Is there an orientation for those of us who are new to the Conference? 
  Yes, on Friday morning after the first session! Cherie will chat about all things conference, and answer all of your questions!
  All are welcome to attend as the venue is new. We’re excited to share our campus with you!

• What if I want to register for just one day of the conference?
  We very much prefer for you to sign up for the full event.

• Are post-conference workshops included in the conference price?
  No, there is a separate fee.  A lot of really great options this year! Workshops take place in Truro.

• Do I need to bring materials for the conference demos or workshops? 
  Conference demos are strictly demonstration, so you do not need to bring materials. The Pre- and Post-Conference workshops are different. Teachers will provide a list of supplies that you may bring with you, and also what is provided. Castle Hill or the specific teachers will contact you if you're signed up. Also, it's important to note that our wonderful vendors donate a large amount of paint, medium and materials for you to try.

• Could I register only for the Pre or Post-Conference sessions?
  Sure. But you'll miss a great conference!

• What if I decide at a later date that I wish to register for a Post-Conference workshop? Possible?
  Sure. If there is space, you can register even during the conference if you wish. Please know, however, that the workshops can fill up quickly.

• What are the hours of the post-conference workshops, and where do they take place?
  The workshops run from 10:00am to 4:00pm with an hour for lunch as determined by the instructor. Informal events are planned for some of the evenings. We have two campuses in Truro - the specific location will be listed on your materials list and also emailed out as a reminder a few days prior to class.

• I see you have multiple-day workshops. Is there any chance I could take just one day of, say, the three-day workshop so that I may take different workshops on other days?
  Nice try, but the point of multiple-day workshops is to have the opportunity to explore one area in depth with one teacher and the same group of equally committed participants.

• Where can I find a map of Provincetown?
  Click here for a fully printable map of Provincetown.

• Where can I find information about the local galleries?
  Encaustic-specific info will be posted and shared when it has been finalized. Gallery Guides should are also available at Castle Hill, and the Harbor Hotel.

• What's the weather like in Truro / Provincetown?
  Normally, the temperature range in early June is is in the high 60s to low 70s during the day, and in the low 60s to high 50s at night. But that's an average. It can get hotter or colder. And the weather can turn on a dime. As the town meteorologist, Cherie guarantees it will be perfect!

• So how should I dress?
  Bring a light jacket or a sweater, a turtleneck, a t-shirt and a tank top; pants and shorts; sunglasses and an umbrella. In other words, dress for New England weather, which encompasses a meteorological range. You can safely leave the boots at home, however: The only thing you don't have to plan for this time of year is snow.

• Is there a dress code?
  Nope. Wear what you like, whether it's a sundress, jeans and a t-shirt, a suit, or cutoffs. Your choice.

• Does the Conference provide food?
  If you are staying at the Hotel, breakfast may be provided. There will be light snacks and lunch provided at the Conference, as well as coffee and pastries in the mornings. We try to accommodate as many dietary restrictions that we can, but if you have severe allergies or prefer to pack your own food for any reason, you are more than welcome to. (A staff member can point you in the direction of a refrigerator if you need one!)

• Can I purchase paint or paper or panels from the vendors?
  Yes, the vendors will sell lots of stuff from the amazing Vendor room!

• What is your Refund Policy?
  We offer refunds before 30 days of the workshop or conference, after 30 days no refund.

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Take a peek back in time, learn how the Conference started and evolved.

2007 - 2015: The History of the Encaustic Conference by Joanne Mattera

2016: Conference #10 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Mary Birmingham    
Juried Show: The Mark of the Brush, juror: Christine McCarthy
With the emphasis in encaustic on techniques such as scraping and pouring, melting and smoothing, the tra- ditional act of painting with a brush often gets overlooked. For this exhibition we challenge you to create works in which the composition has been created with a brush, in which there is strong evidence of paint application by a brush and by what the brush can do. While the subject matter need not be traditional, the means by which it is realized should demonstrate traditional paint handling. Printmakers, your brush marks would be in the matrix or on the plate, so while the surface of your prints won’t necessarily have texture, your image will bear the result of the brush. Sculptors, even dimensional work can evidence a surface marked by the brush.

2017: Conference #11 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Sharon Louden
Juried Show: Sense of Place, juror: Patricia Miranda
A sense of place is something that we ourselves create in the course of time. It is the result of habit or custom.... A sense of place is reinforced by what might be called a sense of recurring events. A particular experience of a person in a particular setting (feeling stimulated, excited, joyous, expansive..

2018: Conference #12  at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Sharon Butler
Juried Show: Trans, juror: Tim Doud
Trans: a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin transcend; transfix; on this model, used with the meanings “across”, “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: or a prefix meaning “on the other side of,” referring to the misalignment of one’s gender identity with one’s biological sex assigned at birth: Other words include: transaction, transfer, transferred, transformer, transparent, transitive, translated, transpose, transverse, transsexual, translation... so many options!

2019: Conference #13 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Judy Pfaff
Juried Show: Anything But Flat, juror: Joanne Mattera
The challenge for this year’s juried show is to create a work that has a tangible, physical presence. Of course you can submit paintings, but we’d like to see depth or dimension in your paintings, whether the surface is built up, carved into, embellished, or assembled in some way. Sculpture by its very nature is dimensional, so show us how you handle space. Mixed media works are welcome, as are book objects.

2020: Conference CANCELLED due to Covid-19 Pandemic

2021: Conference #14 goes Virtual! This year, we presented a new format due to Covid-19.

Keynote Speaker: Joan Snyder
Juried Show: Pushing Boundaries: Bent, Cut, Cracked, Stapled, Smashed and Hammered, juror: Kaveh Mojtabai
The creative process is not judged and seen all the way through, a transformation happens. The work can hang from the ceiling, on the wall or sit on the floor or on a pedestal. This show is to think outside the box, think about ways one gets to the final process. Work must have encaustic in it, but it isn't limited to encaustic alone

2022: Conference #15 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Michael David
Juried Show: Lucky Charms, Mojos, Signs, Cyphers and Zodiacs, juror: Deborah Dancy

2023: Conference #16 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Hrag Vartanian
Juried Show: Sweet 16, juror: Adam Peck

2024: Conference #17 at the Provincetown Inn

Keynote Speaker: Petah Coyne
Juried Show: Inspiration, with juror Barbara O’Brien
“Inspiration” is the theme of this year’s conference exhibition, to be held at Truro Center for the Arts Gallery. The juror, Barbara O’Brien, is well-known to the community of artists who work in encaustic. This year’s keynote speaker, Petah Coyne, has taken inspiration from the myriad possibilities of working with wax to create sculptures of startling originality. Who or what inspires you? Being a studio artist is often a solitary experience built upon years of education, ambition, and discipline. Returning to this place of creation (ranging from a kitchen table to a large warehouse) and then putting one’s creations out into the world takes a leap of faith. Motivation can come from looking at the work of a living artist, or exploring the lineage of an art historical movement. Insight can emerge from a connection to powerful social and political issues. The Muse can be found walking along the shoreline, across a wide field or through a crowded cityscape. I want to know what inspires you to find your voice, create art, and continue along a challenging path.

2025: Conference #18 at Edgewood Farm

This is the VERY FIRST YEAR the International Encaustic Conference was hosted at Edgewood Farm, a campus of Truro Center for the Arts.
Keynote Speaker: Esperanza Cortés
Juried Show: Resist, Create, Love, juried by Patricia Miranda

2026: Conference #19 at Edgewood Farm

The Encaustic Conference was hosted at Edgewood Farm, a campus of Truro Center for the Arts.
Keynote Speaker: Portia Munson
Juried Show: Thinking About a Garden, juried by Nancy Natale
Your garden may be literal, imaginative or inspirational, organized geometrically or freely representing a place of pure color and shapes unrelated to the real world.

This Juried Show was displayed in Castle Hill’s new Gallery Space at 8 Meetinghouse Road.

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