W O
L N L R A A B SW Millay Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby Bash by Nora Maynard
The Millay Colony for the Arts Issue 14 Spring 2014
MILLAY AT A GLANCE April: Residency Season Begins! Full list of 2014 Residents - including group and virtual residents - on pg. 4
What do you do when you turn 40? Throw a big, blow-out bash, of course. This fall, The Millay Colony celebrated its fourth decade--or "ruby anniversary"-with a full-on fabulous fundraising party featuring live music, dancing, a freeflowing bar, an auctioneer, "encounter booths" and more. On Monday, October 28, an assembled crowd of 100 some Millay alums and friends gathered at the legendary downtown Brooklyn performance space Roulette to toast the 40th anniversary of the colony's first founding in 1973. Tickets for the event were sold online as part of the colony's five-week Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign, and the evening was off to a thrilling and
auspicious start with the announcement that the campaign has just met its $20,000 goal--mere hours before its long-anticipated midnight deadline. Upstate met downtown as guests sampled an array of tempting nibbles from Columbia County's Hawthorne Valley Farm and Sahadi's Brooklyn, as well as a selection of intoxicating tipples courtesy of Hudson Wine Merchants and Brooklyn Brewery. Celebratory toasts took on an especially regional and historical flavor with whiskey and cocktails from Dutch's Spirits, made at the Pine Plains, NY distillery once used by notorious Prohibition-era bootlegger (and Edna St. Vincent Millay contemporary) Dutch Schultz. (cont'd pg. 3)
Board Member Nora Maynard Toasting Millay's 40 Years at Roulette, Brooklyn
Workshops This year we are offering workshops at the Millay Colony as well as weekend workshop programs in New York City! Full line-up on pg. 2! . Check online to apply: www.millaycolony.org/workshops Call 518-392-4144 for details.
Millay Colony Available for Rental We are expanding on our capacities to host events, think-tanks, and private retreats! More details inside and at www.millaycolony.org/rental.
Cave Canem 2014 Fellow at Millay Colony Announced! Congrats to Makalani Bandele! Bandele is the fourth annual Cave Canem Fellow following in the footsteps of Kevin Vaughn, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, and LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs. Cave Canem, a home for Black Poetry, was founded by Toi Derricotte and Millay Colony alum Cornelius Eady in 1996.
2014 Workshop Retreats and Weekend Intensives! WORKSHOP RETREATS AT THE MILLAY COLONY IN AUSTERLITZ, NY We offer four-day retreat workshops at our gorgeous campus. Each includes twelve hours of workshop time, all meals, and ample time to work, ruminate, and explore our lush surroundings.
*Breaking Form: Alchemies in Creative Nonfiction Structure with Melissa Febos: May 30 to June 2 *A Poetry of Ideas with Evie Shockley: July 31 to August 3 *Deep Sonnets: Chaos in Fourteen Lines with Annie Finch: August 29 to September 1
Melissa Febos
Annie Finch
Evie Shockley
Carl J Ferrero
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS AT DUMBO/SKY IN BROOKLYN These intensive sessions are two-day/eight-hour workshops with some of our most exciting teaching artists, all at DUMBO/SKY in Brooklyn.
*Writing Those Applications: A one-day workshop for Artists with Carl J Ferrero: May 24 *Balancing Writing with parenting: A Survival Workshop with Rachel Zucker: June 7 *More Than Imitation: A Master Writing Class on “Influence” and “Writing After” with Hoa Nguyen: November 15-16 *A Master Class in Overcoming Writer’s Block Or Goodbye Writer’s Block, Part II with Kara Lee Corthron: October 18-19
Rachel Zucker
Hoa Nguyen
Kara Lee Corthron
For full workshop descriptions, instructor bios, and details on how to apply go to our website: www.millaycolony.org/workshops. Or contact Caroline Crumpacker at: director@millaycolony.org; ph 518-392-4144.
Millay Colony Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby Bash cont'd from Pg 1 Between mixing and mingling, sampling and sipping, guests were treated to a mystical, carnivalesque experience with encounter booths staffed by Millay alums. Poet Mark Wunderlich offered insight into the future with tarot readings, artist Annabel Daou practiced her own brand of fortunetelling, and poet Melissa Buzzeo read palms. Artist Selena Kimball analyzed partygoers' handwriting as they stopped by her graphology booth, and poet and hypno-therapist Kristin Prevallet mesmerized all who dared to pull up a chair. Art took on many fascinating shapes and forms with artist Patte Loper's silhouette drawing, and Kathe Izzo's own special practice of "love" artistry. Mid-point in the night's festivities, auctioneer (as well as writer and editor) Colonel Quince Mountain took the stage, commanding higher and higher prices for a selection of Millay Colony-related offerings. Do I hear $50 for a pan of Chef Donna's lasagna?... $45 for a picnic in the Millay garden?... Who'll give me $100 for The Ill-Tempered Rubyist, a limited edition chapbook?... $125 for a gift pack of Dutch's brandy, bitters, and moonshine? The evening wound to a romantic close as composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Ralph Denzer led The Hungry Hollow Trio and Special Guests in a few final dance-able numbers--including a hauntingly beautiful show-stopper featuring a musical saw.
Guests headed home with goodie bags containing treats to be savored later: copies of The Millay Colony's literary journal EDNA, vouchers for a tour of Dutch's secret distillery, as well as other Millay tidbits. But best of all was the knowledge that The Millay Colony had so successfully supported the work of over 2,500 artists during its 40 years of operation, and that it will continue to make possible the work of countless more. -Nora Maynard
Auction in action!
A few gems...
Millay Alum Amanda Davidson (R)
Says it all....
Friendly faces!
Millay Alum Selena Kimball (R)
Board Member Nicholas Boggs (C)
2014 Millay Colony Residents April Makalani Bandele, Poetry; Louisville, KY Gilbert Hsiao, Visual Arts; Jersey City, NJ Adam Klein, Fiction; Scottsdale, AZ Rachel Ostrow, Visual Arts; Brooklyn, NY Deborah Salomon, Visual Arts; Santa Rosa, CA Emily Witt, Fiction, Brooklyn, NY Group Residency: Sacred Hostess; Philadelphia, PA . May Samuel Ace, Poetry; Tucson, AZ Galen Chaney, Visual Arts; Middlesex, VT Dickson Lam, Non-Fiction; Houston, TX Carmen Machado, Fiction; Philadelphia, PA Meredith Nickie, Visual Arts; New York, NY Josie Sigler, Fiction; Providence, RI . June Matt Barnson, Composing; Brooklyn, NY Michael Dauro, Poetry; Bloomington, IN Spencer Everett, Poetry, Brooklyn, NY Sophie Lee, Visual Arts; Los Angeles, CA Alyse Knorr, Poetry; Anchorage, AK Karla Wozniak, Visual Arts; Knoxville, TN Group Residency, Black Took; Santa Cruz, CA . July Catina Bacote, Non-Fiction; Iowa City, IA Anke Becker, Visual Arts; Berlin, Germany Oren Boneh, Composing; Montreal, Canada Trish Harnetiaux, Playwriting; Brooklyn, NY Dong Li, Poetry; Hamilton, NY Joan Linder, Visual Arts; Buffalo, NY Erin Sickler, Non-Fiction; Saratoga Springs, NY
August Irina Arnaut, Visual Arts; Sunnyside, NY Orlando Jacinto Garcia, Composing; Miami Beach, FL Jeanne Larson, Poetry; Roanoke, VA Mark Labowskie, Fiction; Brooklyn, NY J McDonald, Visual Arts; Brooklyn, NY Normandy Sherwood, Playwriting; Brooklyn, NY . September Rachel Cantor, Fiction; Brooklyn, NY Jamie Felton, Visual Arts; Philadelphia, PA Eugenia Kim; Fiction; Washington, DC Margaret Pierce, Visual Arts; Sarasota, FL Kanishk Tharoor, Fiction; Brooklyn, NY Colin Wambsgans, Composing; Los Angeles, CA . October Danielle Dimston, Visual Arts; New York, NY Jessica Goldschmidt, Playwriting; Brooklyn, NY William Goldstein, Non-Fiction; New York, NY Gwyneth Merner, Fiction; Millers Falls, MA Jeff Nagy Poetry; Brooklyn, NY Anna Webber, Composing; Brooklyn, NY . November Stewart Allen, Non-Fiction; New York, NY Kenneth Harvey, Fiction; Waltham, MA Emily Hermant, Visual Arts; Montreal, Canada Autumn Knight, Visual Arts; Galveston, TX Gustavo Villegas, Visual Arts; Queretaro, Mexico Elizabeth Quinn, Non-Fiction; Lawrence, MA . Virtual Residency Tereza Swanda, Visual Arts; Swampscott, MA
2013 Cave Canem Fellow at Millay Colony: The One and Only LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs Four years ago Millay Colony for the Arts teamed up with Cave Canem to create a dedicated annual fellowship in order to support African American poetry in the world. LaTasha is the third poet to receive the Cave Canem Residency at Millay. This year we welcome Makalani Bandele as the fourth annual Cave Canem Fellow at Millay. . On this page are some of LaTasha's photographs from her 2013 residency and her narrative reflection. We encourage you to check out all the amazing programming at Cave Canem by visiting their website at www.cavecanempoets.org.
Luna moth!
BELOW Working space with a view
ABOVE Exterior view (LaTasha studio windows on right)
"There had been hopes to come across a bear from my studio window or perhaps, a coyote. Instead, I found myself working and contemplating, beading and sketching. My time at Millay made this truly possible. Not only was my studio ideal for writing, but also for the many visual poems I had been thinking about for over a year. There, I was able to create several workstations without the burden on packing and unpacking equipment. On a bookshelf lived my sketches on fabric stabilizer. On the shelving along the windows, beads and beading tools. On my desk facing this incredible view of nature resided my books, computer and sound equipment. I never left my studio. I simply spent most of my time redrafting work I began in Peru in 2011 and beginning newer poems and prose pieces. I found my reading time productive in the common space where I shared meals with other residents. And while the
blessing of cooked meals during the week definitely added some happy weight to my thighs, cooking baked Mac and cheese, Cajun sweet potato fries and flan for our group of writers, visual artists, and composer added to my experience. Prior to applying as a Cave Canem fellow, I second-guessed Millay several times because I did not feel myself a likely candidate. The Cave Canem-Millay Colony alliance gave me that extra incentive to just go for it and I am so gratefully that I did. My goal there was not to complete any work but to resume and begin the creative journey as an artist who works with words, sounds and beads. To be in a space where I was not obligated to anything else other than my work was a tremendous gift. No Cave Canem fellow should take this opportunity lightly. It’s not that often one gets to witness a Luna moth or two, dancing against the glass door of a fellow resident after a long day of creativity. " -LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs
Field Report: The Millay Colony Board There are many formations of good people within any not-for-profit organization. And the most successful non-profits not only have all of these formations brimming with smart, devoted people, but also have them working together smoothly and intelligently. When the balance of support, understanding, appreciation and common cause isn’t running smoothly, the organization probably isn’t running so smoothly either. That the balances of loveliness, devotion and harmony are running smoothly at The Millay Colony is no small thing…in fact, it is almost miraculous. Hence this article… The most visible constellation of people at Millay is, of course, is our staff. Executive Caroline Crumpacker, Residency Director Calliope Nicholas, Program Manager Cara Benson, Chef Donna Wenzel, Grounds Manager Todd Hall and Web Designer Ira Sher at your service. If you’ve been to Millay, chances are you know some, and perhaps all, of the above. We’re friendly folks. But you may not have met the other stars in our sky. And they are just as wonderful as the staff. Our Board of Directors, for example, offers an incredible range of support and governance to the Colony without which we could not do what we do. Our nineperson Board is fairly unique to Boards in that it is comprised largely of practicing artists, three of whom are Millay alumni. Our Board President, Melissa Sandor, is a two-time alumna of the Colony and a past participant in many of our other programs. Nicholas Boggs and Nora Maynard are both alums and workshop participants as well. This, and the general savvy and empathy on the Board in general, creates a remarkably generative fluidity between the Board with the hands-on day-to-day life of the Colony. This fluidity is one of the primary reasons that we are able to support artists with the range of programs that we have – we are all it for the right reasons! We also have several advisory Boards that provide invaluable insight, advice and conversation to all that we do. Our Creative Committee is comprised of alumna and artists, and this group meets with wine and good cheer at the apartments of various members several times each month. We discuss programs, getting the word out, and how to create new opportunities for the artists we work with. Melissa Sandor (L) with friends at Roulette Party
Our Education Committee oversees our multifaceted arts-education program, in four local school districts, and helps us devise and tweak the classes we bring into schools free of charge. Our Advising Artists council of working artists, critics and scholars, chaired by poet Mark Wunderlich, is always read to help out with readings and exhibits, juries and panels, advice and outreach. Truly, each of these groups is a big part of who we are. In coming months, we will profile some of the people within each one. "Right now is a particularly exciting time to serve on the Board of the Millay Colony for the Arts, in part because it's operations are so diverse, and still expanding. As a former fellow, I always knew how vital its residency program is for artists and writers at every stage of their careers. But I now see the full scope of Millay's mission and what it makes possible: top-notch workshops, a dedicated education program, partnerships with other organizations like Cave Canem, and an opportunity to build a sustaining community of alumni, in New York City, where I live, and across the country." - Nicholas Boggs, Board Member “It is such an honor to give back to Millay, an organization that has transformed my life and my artistic practice. Millay took a chance on me as an emerging writer who had never before been invited to a residency. My time there helped cement my belief that I could identify as a serious writer with a committed practice. My role as Board member, and now as President of the Millay Board, has allowed me to offer my time and resources so that others can experience Millay's magic. I am a proud Millay alumna and a true believer in the critical need Millay fills for artists to have time, space, and support.” - Melissa Sandor, Board President
Indiegogo: A Success Story! One never knows quite what to expect from any online venture, particularly those which rely on the word, and the concept, “crowd.” So imagine our apprehension as we put together The Millay Colony for the Arts’ first crowd-funding campaign last year: *How to do it? *How to represent ourselves? *Would people enjoy getting to know us this way? *Would sending a zillion emails asking people to support our campaign alienate us from everyone we know and love? And so on. We slowly, tentatively, put together an Indiegogo site. We added photos and videos. We solicited amazing gifts and perks like The Ill-Tempered Rubyist fine art poem book created by the inimitable Karen Randall. It started to look enticing, even beautiful. The filmmaker Sergio Rico came to The Millay Colony over the course of the summer, interviewing residents and staff and put together a film that ended up representing us so perfectly, with such flair and soul…can I say we all watched it 100 times over? The Vice President of our Board of Directors, the poet, critic, and memoirist Katy Lederer took the lead on outreaching for and contributing to the campaign. With her guidance and generosity leading us, and the hard work and enthusiasm of the rest of our wonderful Board, we made our goal. Our Board Treasurer Rob Dennis made a contribution in the exact amount we needed – $163 – to reach our campaign goal of $20,000 just before midnight on the last night of the campaign. Triumph! Our Board President Melissa Sandor made the announcement at our 40th anniversary party at Roulette and the crowd whooped appropriately. The goal had been ambitious, and at times felt like something of an albatross, and now it had been reached. Gracefully, enthusiastically, even lovingly. And it will help the Colony offer residencies, arts education programs, and a range of support for artists for the year to come. This marvelous support could not come at a better time!!! We thank everyone who made it possible: *Our incredible Board of Directors -- especially the Vice President Katy Lederer. You all are such a force of support and guidance, always. *Our beloved alumni: You all are the best group, the most inspiring artists and friends a Colony could have! Thank you for being such a big part of this endeavor, and all that we do! *Our contributors, new and old: We could not do anything we do without you! *Our staff, fulltime, part-time, all-the-time: You made the bricks and mortar feel like peaches and cream.
Letterpress Cover
Karen Randall
Thank you ALL!!! xoxoxo, Caroline Interior of book
Our Generous Donors As ever, we are delighted to thank each and every one of our donors. Your generosity, enthusiasm and warm spirit infuse all that we do and make our great work possible. Thank you!! Alumni Artists Group
Friends (Up to $100)
Merle Bachman Timothy J. Brown Irene Buszko Rachel Cantor Anette Cyr Maria Damon Jean Day Tracy De Brincat Ming Fay Michael L. Goldstein Mildred Herschler Elizabeth Lara Jeffrey Leppendorf Georgia Lewis Naomi Lewis Irene Lifshin Lyn Lifshin Priscilla Long Timothy Main Debby Mayer Linn Meyers Patricia Montley Lenore Myka Lee A Norman Sue O’Donnell Gina Occhiogrosso Suzanne Onodera Lydia Paar Sarah Hollis Perry Emily Rubin Stephen Zane Eliza Newman Saul Celia Q. Sherred Thomas Smith Indigo Som Alice Spatz Robert Stern Benjamin Swett Lois Tarlow Jacob Trujillo Paul Villinski Cathy Wagner Barrett Watten Frances Webb JoJo Whilden Paige Williams Jean Williamson Irene J. Willis Tracy Winn
Matteo Ames John & Carol Baird John Carroll Elvira Clayton Charles Coffey Robert & Kellee Daughterty Holly Ewald Francine Frank Gary & Mary Gidlow Richard Green Lily Harvit Phyllis W. Haserot Kenneth Kamber Jeffrey Knight Valerie J Maynard John & Marney Mesch Aimee C. Nezhukumatathil Gary Peter Ellen Salles Brad Samuelsohn Anita Sawyer John Stuart Sarah Sutro Samuel Vanderhoek
Artist’s Circle (Up to $1,000) Sunil Bald Nicholas Boggs Laura Brown Leslie Chang Julia Dault Tracy Grinell Jenny Hok Judi Komaki Nora Maynard Melissa Sandor John Sousa Constance Woo
BARDIC CIRCLE 2013 (Major Donors and Friends of The Millay Colony) Charles Bergman Brendan & Jumana Culligan Danielle Dimston Annie Duke Robert & Luise Kleinberg Marci MacGuffie Joanie Mackowski Jamie McClennen
Patrons (Up to $10,000) Robert Dennis Anthony Lacavaro Katherine Lederer & Ben Statz Betsy Rosenfield Samet & Norman Samet Virginia Sheridan
Foundation Support The Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation The Roscoe Lee Browne Scholarship Fund The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation The Dyson Foundation The Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation The Mid-Atlantic Foundation The Bay and Paul Foundations The Sustainable Arts Foundation
Major Foundation Support
The New York State Council on the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts
Indiegogo Contributors June Alexander Alton Bader Peter Bergman Graeme Bezanson Evan Bjornen Helene Blieberg Leslie Brack Rebecca Bridge Heidi Broadhead Judith Bronsther Laura Brown Henry Brown Liz Brown Charles Buice Heather Butler Kenneth Calhoun Rachel Cantor Cody Carvel Lauren Cerand Jessamine Chan Harriet Clark John Colpitts Karan Correa Caroline Crumpacker Maria Damon Thomas Devaney Tambra Dillon Danielle Dimston Madeline Djerejian Sarah Dohrmann Elisabeth Donato Debra Feldman Jane Fine Shawn Fischer Ash Fisher Stacy D. Flood Ruth Franklin Elaine Freedgood William Fuchs Sarah Gambito Loren Ganoe Lauren Gibbs Celest Gilbert Sandra Golbert
Victoria Gray Rachel Eliza Griffiths Beth Hahn Jennifer Haley Melissa Haley John Harrington Jennifer Hok Abeer Hoque Lenore Janecek Bud Jennings China Jorrin Sheba Karim Michael Kaye Richard Kim John Kimball Cindy Kleine Deyonne Knight Todd Knight Marion Lacavaro Elizabeth Lara Howard Lederer Sujin Lee Janice Lee Rachel Levitsky Tania Love Joyce Lyon Sarah MacArthur Marci MacGuffie Bill Madison Kathleen Mahoney Grace Markman Alexandria MarzanoLesnevich Nell McClister Rachel Meuler Cynthia Monaco Christopher Momenee Michael Morse Calliope Nicholas Andrew Nicholson Urayoan Noel Kirby Obsidian Pauli Overdorff Anthony Patton
Natalie Picoe Alison Pipitone Andrea Podolsky Doug Powell Brendon Reay Mark Read Alejandra Regalado Allen Rose Peter Russo Sylvia Salem Colleen Sandor Michael Scalise Angie Schiavoni Jill Schoolman Ariel Schrag Adrienne Schure Annette Seidenglanz Sejal Shah Deanne Shallcross Michael Sheridan Vijay Sheshadri Evie Shockley Morris Silver Emily Skillings Jonathan Skinner Judith Stanton Celina Su Geno Sung Mark Tardi Lynne Tillman TC Tolbert Bill Tomaskovic Wendy Townsend DamianVan Denburgh Kira von Eichel Lexa Walsh Meggan Watterson Quintan Wikswo Margaret Withers Mark Wunderlich Ruiyan Xu Monica Youn Stephen Zolotow Marc Zowine
Millay Colony School Programs Expanding! In conversation with regional teachers, and also due to what
“In my workshop at Germantown HS, Making Dadaist Self-
we all know and read about budget cuts affecting schools, we
Portraits, I introduce the young writers to Tristan Tzara’s
realized that The Millay Colony had a unique role to play in our
whimsical recipe for writing, “To Make a Dadaist Poem,”
area. Every month we have this tremendous wealth of visiting
created in 1914. Dadaists exploded constricted definitions
artists and writers from all over the world come to stay with us
of form. In the last line of his word cutout meets
to practice their art. We wondered if any of them would be
randomness recipe, Tzara writes:
interested in visiting area schools to present on their work and
The poem will resemble you.
engage students directly in the creative process.
“For making their own Dadaist self-portraits, the young
The answer has been a resounding yes. We now bring visiting artists and writers in to Germantown HS, Chatham HS,
writers cut or tear out individual words from their own writing, put word strips into brown paper bags, remix words
The Taconic Hills, and the Hudson City School District. We
by shaking, then pouring them onto desks. The poured
consider supporting art education in the schools as part of our
words make a shape. Words are pasted or written on bags
mission to promote the vitality of the arts. We have also
in the shape in which they land. Part of the fun is reading
developed a partnership with Teachers & Writers Collaborative
and experiencing the odd juxtaposition of words, the visual
in NYC (T&W) and will be offering Professional Development programs beginning Summer 2014. To date our programs have ranged from one day class visits to two week intensive residencies focusing on rigorous and innovative writing and art making practices to support school curriculum. We offer an after school poetry club in the Hudson Jr. High and Intermediate Schools and teaching collaborations between visual artsits and writers to foster inventive approaches to learning. Here is a brief report on Janice Lowe’s 2014 T&W
surprise of the found. The word order “plays” them. This “anti” technique is not about structure or line. After the shaking, there is no re-ordering, only considering. Some embellish their word collages with black marker outline or drawing. “Writers were excited to small-share their visual-writing experiments. They had a blast playing with randomness, silence, space--with bumping into surprise and meaning.” -- Janice A. Lowe, Poet & Performer, T&W
Residency at Germantown HS: “These workshops provide a dual benefit to students. First, the work done within attends to the Common Core standards. Students are asked to analyze and use figurative language, explore connotative meanings and consider word placement and choice. Second, the students have the experience of working creatively with a different instructor. This is invaluable. “Each year, the same incredible thing occurs. At least one student who was either disengaged and/or struggling in English finds a love of language and poetry they did not have before the the workshop. One of these students now writes poetry daily and participates in public recitation competitions. Another, a student from this year, approached me after the workshop and said, quite genuinely, that he had found words to be different, and that was work he “actually liked.” These moments are what our department looks forward to each year,as well as the opportunity we get to explore writing and teaching from a new perspective.” -- Stacy Dore, English Deptartment
Dadaist Self-Portrait by Kelsie Reed
Letter from Residency Director Calliope Nicholas I am so looking forward to spring! It has been a cold, snowy winter here at The Millay Colony, much more so than in past years. Thankfully, there were wonderful moments and events to keep the spirits up, including a fabulous group of Winter Shakers. Both alumni and those who’d never been to the colony visited us this year. Most of the shakers came here to immerse themselves in art projects, though several just wanted to take a break from their daily lives and hang out in the quiet winter wonderland surrounding the colony. The highlight of my winter was organizing a community project with alumna Sonja Hinrichsen, creating massive snowshoe drawings at the Columbia Land Conservancy’s Sutherland Pond in nearby Chatham, New York. “Snow Drawings” is part of Hinrichsen’s ongoing project f drawing large, intricate designs on frozen lakes throughout the U.S. As Ms. Hinrichsen states, “I began this project in the Colorado Mountains, where, out of play, I started designing patterns in the snow. This is done as a meditative way to accentuate the beauty and uniqueness of the Mountains, where, out of play, I started designing patterns in the snow. This is done as a meditative way to accentuate the beauty and uniqueness of the environment, inspiring awe and appreciation for nature.” With the help of almost fifty community volunteers, we were able to cover the entire 18-acre pond with snowshoe drawings in three days. The Columbia Land Conservancy graciously helped with outreach, provided a van full of snowshoes throughout the event and arranged for a volunteer pilot to fly Sonja over the area and take aerial photos. By the afternoon of the fourth day, the winds picked up and the ‘canvas’ slowly reverted back to its original look. Talk about ephemeral art! I greatly look forward to our new season and greeting the new residents visiting the colony from all over the U.S. and from Canada, Mexico and Germany. It’s my favorite part of my role as Residency Director, getting to know the talented and fabulous artists who’ve been invited to join us for a time at our wonderful retreat. -- Calliope Nicholas
Photo credit: Peter Blandori
Photo credit: Peter Blandori
Link to a newspaper article on the snowshoe artwork: http://m.registerstar.com/chatham_courier/news/ article_cd06bea4-9404-11e3-be91-0019bb2963f4.html? mode=jqm Aerial shot: Sonja Hinrichsen
The Millay Colony for the Arts 454 East Hill Road Austerlitz, NY 12017 STAFF Caroline Crumpacker / Executive Director Calliope Nicholas / Residency Director Cara Benson / Program Manager Donna Wenzel / Chef T. Hall & Evergreen Property Management / Groundskeepers Ira Sher / Web Designer Jenny O'Neill, CPA / Bookkeeper
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Melissa Sandor / President Katy Lederer / Vice President Virginia Sheridan / Secretary Rob Dennis / Treasurer Sunil Bald Nicholas Boggs Anthony Lacavaro Nora Maynard Betsy Rosenfield Samet
ADVISING ARTISTS COUNCIL Mark Wunderlich / Chair Nick Brooke Nicole Eisenman Pierre Joris Timothy Liu Keith Mayerson Chiori Miyagawa Sina Najafi Tomรกs Urayoรกn Noel Frances Richard Jill Schoolman Prageeta Sharma Christopher Stackhouse Lynne Tillman Jennifer Tseng Rebecca Wolff Patty Ybarra Monica Youn Albin Zak
The Millay Colony for the Arts was founded in 1973 as an artists' residency program located on the former property of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay in Austerlitz, NY. Our mission is to nurture and promote the vitality of the arts by providing writers, visual artists and composers with a rural retreat that encourages creative intensity and exploration in the context of an artistic community. www.millaycolony.org http://millaycolony.blogspot.com/ 518-392-3101