STOUTHOUSE is a secluded retreat in Sebastian, Florida, known for its historic fishing waterfront and the home of Pelican Island - the country's first National Wildlife Refuge. Our cozy facility's very location nurtures creativity.
STOUTHOUSE is located at the end of a private, shell-covered road at the dead end of a small residential community. For this reason, the number of artists-in-residence will not exceed four at a time, and the length of a residency will be at least six months in order for a major body of work to be created. Stipends generated from grants will provide residents an income based upon need.
The importance of art and humanity in a modern civilization are paramount to the mission of STOUTHOUSE. With the gracious support of like-minded individuals, we are confident that our passions and values will propel STOUTHOUSE to fulfill its mission.
STOUTHOUSE Mission
STOUTHOUSE, a non-profit corporation, was founded in 2013 to:
preserve the home and stained-glass installations designed and executed by Weldon J. Stout (1919-2013)
provide an artist-in-residence program
curate and expand the STAF (Seth Theolonius Alvin Foster) Art Collection
focus on environmental stewardship of the nearly one-acre property
The Home and Stained Glass
Weldon Joseph Stout designed and built a unique house on this property in 1985-1986.
STOUTHOUSE, named by Mr. Stout, features six of his major custom stained-glass works. Several of the glass pieces were inspired by the graphic art form of Alphonse Mucha, a Czech artist who was credited with launching the Art Nouveau movement in 1894. Curves, color, composition, selection of European antique glass, and large scale are compelling aspects of Mr. Stout’s expertly executed stained-glass artwork.
Mr. Stout, a native Marylander born in Baltimore in 1919, spent much of his childhood exploring Maryland’s eastern shore. He retired from a successful career as Art Director at Bendix Avionics (now Honeywell) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was a gifted draftsman and painter.
The foyer of STOUTHOUSE is dedicated to the Chesapeake Bay skipjack and includes Mr. Stout’s original oil painting (37 x 47 inches) of a working skipjack. A written biography of the skipjack and two smaller canvases painted by Mr. Stout, one a detail of a skipjack and another a small painting of a skipjack at rest, are included in the wall composition. A large weathered driftwood board, discovered by Mr. Stout buried deep in the sand at Ocean City, Maryland serves as a hunt-board and completes the installation.
Colors cast by sunlight from the abstract, four-foot octagonal piece located to the right in the "skipjack" foyer, and the vertical entry side light featuring purple, green, and yellow leaves on the branches of a tree, playfully dance on the floor and adjoining walls. These “casts” are a fleeting bonus of the stained glass art that may be discovered throughout the interior of the home.
Stained-glass colors cast on the commissioned portrait of Mr. Stout, by Kyle Baker
Colors cast on painting by Mr. StoutReflection of stained-glass panel
Artist-in-Residence Program
Artist Studio in adjacent building - site of new facility
The vision of STOUTHOUSE relies on the belief that artists need solitude in order to create their next masterwork. On the other hand, artists benefit from bouncing ideas off one another and interacting in a collaborative manner. The model for STOUTHOUSE incorporates ideas from successful artist communities such as the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
The goals and objectives of STOUTHOUSE satisfy the need of individual artists for solitude to create, ponder, experiment with new directions in their work, complete a major artistic project, and provide the opportunity to collaborate with artists of different genres.
We envision a three-story, environmentally sustainable studio that will be an architectural gem and model for other forward-thinking artists concerned with ecological stewardship. If you are interested in making a major donation, with naming rights to help with our new facility, please contact Quentin Walter - please see the contact information at the top of this page.
Environmental Stewardship
STOUTHOUSE is located on a wooded acre of land in northern Indian River County, Florida. The property accesses the Indian River Lagoon at the intersection of Bay Street and Indian River Drive. Mr. Yoder, the original owner of the property, seems to have been a naturalist who did not want oaks cut down and wanted to provide a space on the Lagoon for people to sit and reflect.
Quentin Walter, Artistic Director, Board Chair, Treasurer
David Bazinet, Director, IT, Public Relations
Tim Glover, Secretary
Albert Sidney Johnston III, Director Emeritus
We were saddened to learn of Al Johnston's passing on September 17, 2018. He was Weldon Stout's neighbor and friend for decades until he moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi to live with his devoted daughter Ruth. We appreciate Al's belief in and support of STOUTHOUSE. Rest in peace, Al.
Reflection of stained-glass panel
