On April 1, 2005, the open studio at 9 Amelia Drive, known as thespace and managed by Sandy Walsh, will change hands.   Natalie Graber and Will Smith of YogaSmith inc., will take over the lease and the daily operations of the studio.  Sandy Walsh and partner, Chip Webster will transform thespace into Terra Communa , a non-profit organization which will help create and support communities and organizations focused on holistic studies and the arts; promoting cultural diversity and collaborative creativity.

thespace, which opened its doors in October 2001, has been a unique gathering place created to enhance Nantucket's healing and creative arts community while advocating a holistic approach to living. It has since provided a diverse, affordable, year-round program for all ages and abilities. The studio has supported and has, in turn, been supported by local and visiting artists, instructors and wellness practitioners as well as island non-profit organizations and businesses.  

Our program was designed to enlighten, educate, and inspire. The core schedule included classes and workshops on various forms of yoga, dance, mediation and martial arts. thespace also offered a venue for private and community based forums, parties, meetings and lectures and has held workshops on astrology, shell reading, life drawing, dance therapy and improvisation, aromatherapy, nutrition, poetry and creative writing, and Reiki certification. We have provided for the Laughing Club of Nantucket, Dance Nantucket, One World Arts, A Women's Gathering, the Nantucket Aids Network, the Nantucket Tasters' Association and The Nantucket Art Council's Fall Arts Fest.

thespace has presented exhibits for artists who may not have otherwise had a solo show on the island and founded and produced the “live & local” events, which through its 2004 Decadence series in collaboration with Nantucketastrophe Records, specifically funded the independent album release of the very talented duo, Miss Fairchild. Jess Gorell's engaging, multi-media performance, Transporation NYC maximized the studio's facilities incorporating video, set design, spoken word, poetry, music and photography. The professional, personal and spiritual connections made here at thespace are almost endless.

Our longest running, primary business supporters have been Cisco Brewers, Nantucket Vineyards and Triple Eight Vodka. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation for their generous sponsorship over the last 3 years.

In addition we would like to thank those of you inclined to discover thespace and the following instructors and artists for sharing their time and talent: Nan Strelnitski, Anne Foye, Louis Guarnaccia, Joan Stockman, Carlos Ibarra, Vero Poblete, Debba Pitcock, Debbe Scirpo, Richard Sylvester, Maria Costanzo, John Buttrick, Natalie Smith, Casey Boukas, Suzanne (Reed) Keating, Santjes Oomen, Bettina Broer, Annie Stackhouse, Natasha Foy, Kristofer Feeney, Jane Hilst, Lynne Marie, Sonya Parker, Mandy McCleave, Elizabeth Veren and Maeve Hughes.

thespace website shall remain available as resource network. Please feel free to contact us through this site if you have any questions or would like to connect with any of the instructors or artists.

“The experience of operating the studio over the past three and a half years has been exciting and rewarding. We would like to thank all of the people who have helped make thespace a vibrant and enjoyable gathering place,” states Sandy Walsh and owner Chip Webster.  “We plan to shift our focus to creating a non-profit , Terra Communa, designed to help other groups and organizations establish and operate sustainable community centers and programs based on holistic studies and the arts.”   Chip Webster's architectural firm has similar community based projects currentl y underway in California, Colorado, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Since being founded on Nantucket in 2003, YogaSmith has provided yoga instruction, classes and workshops on Amelia Drive. “We have been delighted to have been part of theSpace and look forward to building this community and continuing the goal of YogaSmith to be a destination for yoga and related arts on Nantucket. We embrace the vision of theSpace – “ a place to celebrate the spirit, strengthen the mind and energize the body.”

Will and Natalie moved to Nantucket two years ago to open a studio and share their passion for yoga. Formerly teachers at the Baptiste Institute in Boston, Natalie and Will have studied extensively with leading hatha yoga masters both in the America, India and Asia. YogaSmith will offer a variety of year round yoga classes of various styles for all levels including vinyasa yoga, shadow yoga, gentle restorative, kundalini yoga, pre-natal, kids yoga and more as well as martial arts, dance, the arts and exciting visiting teacher programs. In addition, YogaSmith will be a resource for general health and wellness.

For more information on Terra Communa please call 508.825.0900 or visit http://www.terracommuna.org .

For more information on YogaSmith or to obtain the studio's schedule of classes and workshops please call 508.228.9920 or visit http://www.yogasmith.com .