center for lost arts in beautiful southern Illinois
Southernmost Illinois is a place with endless adventures and activities to enjoy - hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, rock climbing, music festivals, farms, vineyards, breweries, neat little shops, artists and artisans markets & tours and more. There are many people striving to keep the Shawnee National Forest and surround lands pollution and trash free. Thanks for helping out.
In 2016 we Paul and Bonnie officially founded Center For Lost Arts which currently includes: Eva's Roost, Tiny House of Paul, House of Paul(main house), Paul's woodshop, the greenhouse, the gardens, forest and pond, the strawbale house(yet to be named) and Cobden Village Shops. All guests, helpers and participants have access to 20 plus acres of property with native trees and gardens, wandering trails and a beautiful pond. We are reopening to the public in September of 2024. Groups and organizations wishing to rent the property for the day can contact us to discuss dates and details. The property is available for facilitators to rent for retreats & workshops(day & overnight). You can see some of our past(pre-pandemic) retreats at the bottom of the page HERE.
The land that Center For Lost Arts inhabits, was part of an over 400 acre tract of land, originally given to a settler family in the late 1800's. Eventually the land was divided and in 1985, Paul became the most recent owner of 20 acres of farmland, a barn and a pond. We consider ourselves stewards of this land now and are happy to share it with visitors and guests. All are welcome here.
We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the indigenous people who lived on and traveled through the land of Southern Illinois for 12,000 years before being forced to leave or who were killed during colonization began in the 1600's. The "Inoca"(or Illinois as the French explorers and missionaries called them)may have consisted of as many as 12 different Illinois tribes at one time, but by the end of the century, seven of the tribes had disappeared: the Chepoussa, Chinkoa, Coiracoentanon, Espeminkia, Maroa, Moingwena, and Tapouaro. Five principal tribes survived into the 1700s: the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Peoria, and Tamaroa with the latter two continuing into the early 1800's. As you travel through the area, you'll see location names honoring these tribes. Giant City Visitors Center or Crab Orchard Refuge is a great place to learn more the land, it's people, the animals and the history.
House of Paul
A beautifully handcrafted home created by local artist, furniture builder, architect and home designer Paul J. Frank. It is the main rentable space as well as the residence for the owners of Center For Lost Arts. There is a large multi-purpose room, an indoor sunroom for seedlings, a library with a wide selection of books, a large community kitchen and a dining/event room.
Tiny House of Paul: The plan for this tiny house originally started as a conversation between Bonnie and Paul in front of the main window in the living room of House of Paul. Tiny House of Paul is unique in it's design, giving one the feeling of having four rooms to move throughout. The design incorporates over ten kinds of wood including reclaimed Redwood stump slabs from California(a gift from a former guest) and live edge oak from the property.
Eva's Roost is a beautifully designed space created and built by Paul. This rustic zen-style cottage, overlooking the pond and forest, serves as a space for personal retreats as well as a cabin for guests. During retreat days, the roost is sometimes used for meditation, massage or other healing modalities.
Gardens & Forest: We aspire to grow & produce much of what we eat & share, whether it be in our traditional garden, the greenhouse or in the forest. We can't do this alone, so have depended on others over the years for their assistance and labor in return for whatever needs to be bartered. We make some of our own healing oil blends & dried herbs, tap our maple trees, pick seasonal fruit & berries, dry or can what we can and share with others. There's always more to learn!
Cobden Village Shops: Formerly Packrats Paradise Antique Mall, Bonnie took over this business in Cobden during the pandemic. With the support of the vendors and the community, Cobden Village Shops was born, and seemed a natural fit under Center For Lost Arts. You will find a gallery with local art, artisan wares and a small market area with zero waste products, Fair Trade teas and dark chocolate, local honey, locally roasted coffee, free range eggs and soaps. Many of the vendors have taken on the challenge of creating upcycled art and repurposing items. Our dream would be to have seasonal produce available as well as places to sit and enjoy coffee and baked goods. Stay tuned. The shops are a drop-off location for Leaf Food Hub - a collective of local growers and producers who follow chemical-free practices. Ordering is done online by 8pm Tuesdays and pick up at the shops is Thursdays between 3:30 and 5pm. Bonnie picks up orders made by overnight guests who are arriving Friday or Saturday. There are some vendors who practice "lost arts" but the hope is to expand offerings to include more, perhaps soap making, weaving, metal working, woodworking, candle dipping, dress making, stained glass, guitar making, pottery - the possibilities are endless!
In 2016 we Paul and Bonnie officially founded Center For Lost Arts which currently includes: Eva's Roost, Tiny House of Paul, House of Paul(main house), Paul's woodshop, the greenhouse, the gardens, forest and pond, the strawbale house(yet to be named) and Cobden Village Shops. All guests, helpers and participants have access to 20 plus acres of property with native trees and gardens, wandering trails and a beautiful pond. We are reopening to the public in September of 2024. Groups and organizations wishing to rent the property for the day can contact us to discuss dates and details. The property is available for facilitators to rent for retreats & workshops(day & overnight). You can see some of our past(pre-pandemic) retreats at the bottom of the page HERE.
The land that Center For Lost Arts inhabits, was part of an over 400 acre tract of land, originally given to a settler family in the late 1800's. Eventually the land was divided and in 1985, Paul became the most recent owner of 20 acres of farmland, a barn and a pond. We consider ourselves stewards of this land now and are happy to share it with visitors and guests. All are welcome here.
We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the indigenous people who lived on and traveled through the land of Southern Illinois for 12,000 years before being forced to leave or who were killed during colonization began in the 1600's. The "Inoca"(or Illinois as the French explorers and missionaries called them)may have consisted of as many as 12 different Illinois tribes at one time, but by the end of the century, seven of the tribes had disappeared: the Chepoussa, Chinkoa, Coiracoentanon, Espeminkia, Maroa, Moingwena, and Tapouaro. Five principal tribes survived into the 1700s: the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Peoria, and Tamaroa with the latter two continuing into the early 1800's. As you travel through the area, you'll see location names honoring these tribes. Giant City Visitors Center or Crab Orchard Refuge is a great place to learn more the land, it's people, the animals and the history.
House of Paul
A beautifully handcrafted home created by local artist, furniture builder, architect and home designer Paul J. Frank. It is the main rentable space as well as the residence for the owners of Center For Lost Arts. There is a large multi-purpose room, an indoor sunroom for seedlings, a library with a wide selection of books, a large community kitchen and a dining/event room.
Tiny House of Paul: The plan for this tiny house originally started as a conversation between Bonnie and Paul in front of the main window in the living room of House of Paul. Tiny House of Paul is unique in it's design, giving one the feeling of having four rooms to move throughout. The design incorporates over ten kinds of wood including reclaimed Redwood stump slabs from California(a gift from a former guest) and live edge oak from the property.
Eva's Roost is a beautifully designed space created and built by Paul. This rustic zen-style cottage, overlooking the pond and forest, serves as a space for personal retreats as well as a cabin for guests. During retreat days, the roost is sometimes used for meditation, massage or other healing modalities.
Gardens & Forest: We aspire to grow & produce much of what we eat & share, whether it be in our traditional garden, the greenhouse or in the forest. We can't do this alone, so have depended on others over the years for their assistance and labor in return for whatever needs to be bartered. We make some of our own healing oil blends & dried herbs, tap our maple trees, pick seasonal fruit & berries, dry or can what we can and share with others. There's always more to learn!
Cobden Village Shops: Formerly Packrats Paradise Antique Mall, Bonnie took over this business in Cobden during the pandemic. With the support of the vendors and the community, Cobden Village Shops was born, and seemed a natural fit under Center For Lost Arts. You will find a gallery with local art, artisan wares and a small market area with zero waste products, Fair Trade teas and dark chocolate, local honey, locally roasted coffee, free range eggs and soaps. Many of the vendors have taken on the challenge of creating upcycled art and repurposing items. Our dream would be to have seasonal produce available as well as places to sit and enjoy coffee and baked goods. Stay tuned. The shops are a drop-off location for Leaf Food Hub - a collective of local growers and producers who follow chemical-free practices. Ordering is done online by 8pm Tuesdays and pick up at the shops is Thursdays between 3:30 and 5pm. Bonnie picks up orders made by overnight guests who are arriving Friday or Saturday. There are some vendors who practice "lost arts" but the hope is to expand offerings to include more, perhaps soap making, weaving, metal working, woodworking, candle dipping, dress making, stained glass, guitar making, pottery - the possibilities are endless!
