SwampFire
Retreat: 2008
Burns family farm, Larwill IN
When Adjunct Creative Writing Professor of Defiance College Dawn Burns invited Jan Bechtel (an artist of the Arts & Humanities Division and the DC chaplain), Mary Catherine Harper (a poet and Professor of English at DC), and Rachel Baker (a student of DC) to the Burns family farm near Larwill, Indiana in July 2008, she was guided by a vision of community for artists and writers, a vision of support and encouragement for individual creative expression.
It all began at that first retreat, documented by Harper in this website.
Most recent retreat: 2025
Rachel Baker tending the fire pit 
Rusty steel 50-gallon drum overflowing with foliage, woods in background 
Jan Bechtel drawing among the trees 
Dawn Burns enjoying the discussion 
Rusty ancient farm equipment hiding among bushes 
Jan Bechtel relaxing in front of the woods 
Delicate wild roses near the Burns farm lane 
Rachel Baker posing for the camera 
Dawn and Jan deep in discussion 
Twilight among the farm’s hickory trees 
Rachel among the evening shadows just after the dinner we cooked over the open fire
Swipe left on phone.
At every SwampFire gathering, whether a monthly or bi-monthly workshop on Zoom or the yearly face-to-face retreat, Dawn’s vision inspires participants to boldly create and share works that express their true selves.
This website is an archive of all the SwampFire weekend retreats. It includes reflections by participants and photos from each retreat, including photos of the hands-on art activities that potter Steve Smith offered to participants.
Annual Retreat Archive
