It all began in the early 1970s when my parents, Pirjo and Hannu Jokela, decided to purchase an old cooperative store on the island of Himalansaari as their summer home. This late 19th-century building stood humbly by the shores of Lake Saimaa, but they saw something in it that others didn’t: the potential to breathe new life into a piece of history. Many thought they were crazy—who would invest their savings into an “old shack”? But their perseverance and vision gradually bore fruit.

In the early 1990s, when the Himalansaari school was closed, my parents decided to save it from decay as well. After a year of renting the building, the municipality of Ristiina sold it to them, marking the beginning of a new chapter for our family. The school came alive again as the Blue Saimaa Art Institute, where art, culture, and well-being converged.

From my childhood, I remember family moments painting walls, restoring furniture, and tending to the garden. Not to mention heating the lakeside sauna, a cherished pause from daily life. My parents worked as doctors during the day but immersed themselves in the art world in the evenings and weekends—my mother as a watercolor instructor and my father as a chef and event organizer. I participated in the courses, first as a model, later as an instructor and exhibition organizer.

The 1990s economic downturn and challenges in the arts sector made life far from easy. The Art Institute gained new momentum through collaboration with the Finnish Doctors’ Cultural Association. This partnership brought hundreds of courses, exhibitions, and cultural trips, with the entire family involved in organizing them.

In 2014, our family business quieted down. By then, I had already walked the paths of an artist, teacher, and mother. Balancing family life, art, and teaching, I eventually made a life-changing decision—to take on the responsibility of this place and its story.

In the summer of 2022, my family and I packed our belongings and moved to Mikkeli. It was a big step—not only for me but also for my children, who eagerly joined the projects. Together, we’ve renovated the facilities and the yard; the old school grounds have been transformed with new summer kitchens and a revamped garden.

Yövesi Ateljeekoti is not just an inheritance—it’s a living and evolving story. After my mother’s passing, my father has been a great support. He entertains guests with his stories, heats the sauna, and is present in both everyday life and celebrations.

Every summer, we’re also visited by Irja, a dear friend of my late mother. Despite her age, she cares for the chickens and plants flowers in the garden. Alongside my children, my siblings’ children have also joined in helping with courses and events—the tradition lives on, yet always in a new form.