An oboist who earned money by babysitting for several Hampstead families, Carly, (American by birth) admitted that despite fun Friday night dinners with the Schuster family in Hampstead - friends of her parents who were really hospitable during her McGill stint – days were dark especially wintertime. “No professor knew my name; I was just a number. I suffered from SAD. It didn’t have a name back then,” said Carly whose candor may come from her filmmaker mom Caren whose enlightening documentary, ‘Lost and Found in Mexico’ is transforming –just like Carly is. She spent two years at Michigan’s famous, Interlochen arts center, and later she toured the world on a ship during a semester of college study.

Settling in 2001 in San Miguel, Carly fulfilled her dream of running a cultural arts camp. She had been a camp director in Maine for seven years, and in 2000, she established MexArt, her cozy camp for teens which she ran from Maine for a year.

“I started going to camps at six. I love the intense relationships when people live and work closely together. I love the idea of living in another culture, learning a second language and San Miguel.”

Artsy and fun, MexArt’s busy schedule caters to teens looking for a unique cultural camp experience. Spanish classes are held at lovely Casa Crayola - a cocoon of seven casitas she designed with her engineer dad, Dave.

In 2004, she had her eye on a street that reminded her of NDG. “It was about the only one that had lots of trees. Something about its quietness, birdsong and space reminded me of NDG,” she said, referring to the West End's tree-lined streets and green lanes she used to retreat to when she grew tired of McGill’s concrete walls. It felt right buying that property.”

Carly tore down one dwelling, and in four months built meandering gardens, kept the trees filled with birdsong (another NDG memory perhaps), built a breakfast café and those casitas that house teens during MexArt’s month-long summer sessions. “When the first group of 27 teens arrived in June, 2001, I was still laying roof tiles,” she recalled.

MexArt’s shining success isn’t solely about sunny climes. Daily Spanish classes are combined with art or dance workshops. There is painting, silver jewelry, photography, even metal work. Dancers learn Latin, jazz even hip hop, and they get to teach their moves to Mexican kids in a community project. Everyone gets involved with local life, including eating out for dinner in local venues, enjoying educational day trips and attending concerts. Staffers reside with and accompany MexArters at all times. Friendships form in MexArt’s culturally exhilarating milieu.

Montrealers can live the casita life as vacationers, and Carly also organizes adult programs for groups of eight. Carly’s liveliness enhances San Miguel’s magic. After all, when you are a rising Cross, the sky’s the limit. Check out www.gomexart.com. Email:carly@gomexart.com

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