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News about the MacDowell Colony from June through September 2013, including a featured section on Medal Day and the 2013 Edward MacDowell Medalist Stephen Sondheim.
Citation preview
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT NO. 11
PETERBOROUGH, NH
100 High Street Peterborough, NH 03458-2485
Vol.42Winter2013
INTHISISSUE
Ayad Akhtar wins Pulitzer Prize 2 Medal Day 2013: Honoring Stephen Sondheim 3 Robert Schenkkan Play Stars Bryan Cranston 6 Financial Aid Sparks Long-Term Progress 8
ARCHITECTS|COMPOSERS|FILMMAKERS|INTERDISCIPLINARYARTISTS|THEATRE|VISUALARTISTS|WRITERS
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Art
ists
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
MakingaPlaceforArtistsWHAT MAKES ART SUCH A REWARD to the spirit? We now know that new ideas spark a feeling of well-being in our brains and hearts, a response that evolutionists might say is hardwired in us to help us evolve and survive as a species. We can definitively say that art is good for us. At a recent MacDowell board meeting we explored ways to communicate the importance of what artists do, and why we support artists. We believe that art makes the world a better place so MacDowell makes a place for artists.
MacDowell has seen such a significant increase in applications – a 40.4 percent increase from 1,830 in 2008 to 2,569 in 2012, the most of any residency program – that we changed our policy to limit application to once every two years. More than 1,500 of the applications received in the last year came from those who’ve not yet been to MacDowell. MacDowell’s seven admissions panels have the all-important task of identifying 275 of the
most promising artists, meaning that roughly one in 10 receive residencies. This past year MacDowell received applications from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as 54 countries. The average age of a resident artist is 42, while an average stay is 31 days.
We are glad to welcome Jonathan Gourlay as communications manager with this issue of our newsletter. Jonathan has been keeping all of us up to speed about MacDowell artists with eNews and social media posts. We hope you will be inspired by those posts to check out some of the wonderful work of MacDowell Fellows.
This issue is full of news of Medal Day when a record breaking crowd came to celebrate Stephen Sondheim and rejoice in his wonderful accomplishments. On that note, we add our proud congratu-lations to Alice Munro, the 2006 Edward MacDowell Medalist, on being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature this year. We thank them for their many gifts to the world.
It’s always been our position that each generation should pass on to the next the responsibility of supporting creative work. We are a small but mighty organization of 30 staff, more than 100 active volunteer board members and admissions panelists, and dozens more volunteers who take on special projects to raise funds and awareness. Having your support and that of so many others who want to help make a difference adds up. As a result of this combined effort, MacDowell has granted 13,309 residencies and is world renowned. Thank you!
Cheryl A. YoungExecutive Director
M U S I C A L T H E A T R E L E G E N D H O N O R E D A T M E D A L D A Y
PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA AWARDED TO AYAD AKHTARActorandwriterAyadAkhtarwasinaLondonhotelroom
justthreedaysremovedfromhis2013residencyatThe
MacDowellColonywhenthephonerang.Itwasthepress
agentforLincolnCenter,whereAkhtar’splayDisgraced
haditsNewYorkrunlatein2012.
“Hesaid,‘Youwonthe
PulitzerPrize,’”Akhtar
said.“IthoughtIwas
dreaming.”Akhtar,42,
wasinLondontoconsult
onanewstagingof
Disgraced,hisone-actplay
aboutasuccessful
Pakistani-American
corporatelawyerwho
thinkshehasdistanced
himselffromhisculturalroots.Whenheandhiswhitewife
hostadinnerparty,chitchataboutarteventuallyturnsinto
adebateaboutreligion,racialprofiling,andSeptember11,
andheseeshiscarefullycreatedlifebegintofallapart.
DisgracedwasfirstproducedinChicago,whereitwonthe
2012JeffAwardforBestNewPlay.AfterLondon,Akhtar
expectstheplaytoreturntoNewYork.
“Youalwaysdreamaboutwinningsomethinglikethis,but
youneverreallythinkit’sgoingtohappen,”hesaidofthe
Pulitzer.“Itwasareallykindofsurrealexperience.”
Akhtarjoinsatleast70otherMacDowellFellowswhohave
wontheawardsincetheColonywasfoundedin1907.
AgraduateofColumbiaUniversityfilmschool,Akhtar
wroteandstarredinthefeaturefilmThe War Within,about
afriendshipbetweentwoPakistanimenthatfallsapart
whenonebecomesaterrorist,andauthoredAmerican
Dervish,acoming-of-agenovelaboutaPakistani-
AmericanwhoconfrontshisMuslimheritagewhenhefalls
inloveforthefirsttime.
MacDowell Fellows Win Prestigious Prizes from American Academy in Rome
MacDowellFellowsNicholasdeMonchaux,DanHurlin(picturedatleft),andDanViscontihaveallbeenawarded2013-2014RomePrizestospendnearlyayearpursuingworkatTheAmericanAcademyinRome.Theacademytypicallyawardstheprizeto30individualsfollowinganationalcompetition.
Hurlin,whohasbeeninresidenceatTheMacDowellColonytwiceandisontheBoardofDirectors,isthedirectorofthegraduateprogramintheatreatSarahLawrenceCollegewhereheteachesdanceandpuppetry.He’llbespendingabout11monthsinRome,usingasabbaticalyearfromteaching.
“I’mworkingonatheatreprojectbasedonanumberoftiny,puppet-sizedplaysbytheFuturists,”Hurlinsaid,referringtotheartisticandsocialmovement
thatfirstcameaboutintheearly20thcentury.“I’mgoingtodevelopaboutadozentoytheatres,eachhousingaplay,andtobeperformedsimultaneously.”
JoiningHurlininRomewillbearchitectNicholasdeMonchaux,anassistantprofessorintheDepartmentofArchitectureandUrbanDesignattheUniversityofCaliforniainBerkeley.DeMonchauxwasinresidenceatTheMacDowellColonyin2002.InRome,deMonchauxsaidhewouldexaminearchitecturalandurbandesignsolutionstocreategreatersocialandinfrastructuralresilienceinRome’sfabric.AnotherMacDowellFellow,DanielVisconti,isoneoftwocomposerswhoreceivedawardsformusicalcomposition.Hiscompositionsoftenexploretheroughtimbres,propulsiverhythms,andimprovisationalnatureofjazz,bluegrass,androckandroll.Hehassaidtheseareelementsthattendtocollideinunex-pectedwayswithhisexperienceasaclassicallytrainedviolinist.Visconti’sprojectistitled“LivingLanguage.”
CYNTHIA HOGUE RECEIVES ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS AWARD MacDowellFellowandArizonaStateUniversityProfessor
Cynthia HoguewontheHaroldMortonLandonTranslationAward
fromthe AcademyofAmericanPoetsforherco-translationof
VirginieLalucqandJean-LucNancy’sFortino Sámano(The
OverflowingofthePoem)alongwithSylvainGallais.Hoguesays
shefinishedthetranslationdraftsduringaMacDowellresidency
in2008.ShesaystwootherMacDowellFellowshelpedduringthe
project:writerJulia ZarankinreviewedtheFrenchdrafts,and
visualartistMorgan O’Haraprovided“LIVETRANSMISSION:
movementofthehandsofpianistMarthaArgerichwhile
performingBeethoven’sPianoConcertoNo.1”forthecover.
MORE AWARDS, GRANTS, AND FELLOWSHIPSSHARONDOLIN,Poet WitterBynnerFellowship
STEVENM.BURKE,TOMCIPULLO,TEDHEARNE,KAMRANINCE,ANDARTHURV.KREIGER,Composers AmericanAcademyofArtsandLettersAwardsinMusic
ALEXANDRACHASINANDJUSTINSPRING,Writers LeonLevyCenterforBiographyFellowships
MARIEPONSOT, Poet RuthLillyPoetryPrize
HANNAHSANGHEEPARK,Poet RuthLillyPoetryFellowship
EUGENEGLORIA,Poet Anisfield-WolfBookAward
TANIAISAAC,InterdisciplinaryArtist PewCenterforArts&HeritageFellowship
KRISTENVALDEZQUADE,Writer RonaJaffeFoundationAward
HANKHEHMSOTH,Composer FulbrightSpecialistsProgramGrant
DONALDANTRIM,Writer MacArthurFoundationFellowship
SALOMÉLAMAS,Filmmaker DAADBerlinArtists-in-ResidenceProgramFellowship
2013 Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships awarded to 20 MacDowell Fellows among 175 artists and scholars:
LOUISK.ASEKOFF,Poet ERINCOURTNEY,Playwright BARBARAHAMMER,FilmmakerSHARONC.HARPER,PhotographerMAJORJACKSON,PoetBENMARCUS,WriterCLEOPATRAMATHIS,PoetDAVIDMEANS,WriterCARMANMOORE, ComposerPAULMORAVEC,ComposerCARRIEMOYER,PainterSYLVIANASAR,WriterANNPIBAL,PainterMATTHEWROSENBLUM, ComposerIRASACHS,FilmmakerBRENDASHAUGHNESSY,Poet SHEILASILVER,ComposerTERESESVOBODA,WriterMARYJOVATH,PainterCOLSONWHITEHEAD,Writer
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SondheimCelebrating
M U S I C A L T H E A T R E L E G E N D H O N O R E D A T M E D A L D A Y
“ Craftsmanship — which I would define, in the context of art, as the compulsive taking of pains — is what makes Stephen Sondheim my hero. And I would argue that it’s for the man’s pain-staking craft, as much as his art — if the two can even be separated out that way, and after more than a quarter-century as a working artist I’m not sure they really can — that we honor Stephen Sondheim today. Make no mistake — let me be clear — Sondheim is, in my view, among the four or five most consistently, lastin-gly great American artists of the postwar era, in any discipline...”
—CHAIRMAN MICHAEL CHABON
VictorianEngland,addledmarriedcouplesinlate1960’sManhattanandanisolatedJapanesepopulaceconfrontingthearrivalofWesternersinthe1850s,GrimmfairytaleiconsandAmericanpresidentialassassins,elegantSwedisharisto-cratsconveningforaweekendinthecountryandbroken-downBroadwayFolliesperformersstaggeringthroughaboozyfinalreunion.
SteveisthefirstrecipientoftheEdwardMacDowellMedaltobehonoredforachievementsinmusicaltheater.Thisisoverdue,notonlybecauseofhisextraordinaryandstillongoingcareerbutalsobecausemusicaltheaterisAmerica’sonemajorindigenousartform.Indeed,theAmericanmusicalisrepresentativeofAmericancultureatlarge:itcrossbreedsthehighandthelow,thetragicandtheridiculous.Itreflectseveryracial,ethnicandimmigrantcomponentofthegreatmeltingpot.Itsrootsareasmuchinvaudevilleasinopera,and,inourtruenationalfashion,itoftentriestostuffeverythingintoasinglethicksandwich:music,dance,drama,jokes,spectacleandmagic.Atitsbest,thereis
LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS, IwasmovedbyStephenSondheim’swordsandmusicbeforeIknewhisname.Inthelate1950’s,hisearlylyricsfortwoofthemostenduringworksinthehistoryoftheAmericantheater,West Side StoryandGypsy,gaveindeliblevoicetocharacterswhohadneverhadachancetosingbeforeonanAmericanstage:confusedyoungloversdesperatelytryingtofindaplaceforthemselvesinaNewYorkCitysuccumb-ingtotribalgangwarfare,andahomeless,fatherlessfamily,afiercemotherandhertwolonelydaughters,tryingtosurviveemotionallyandeconomicallyinthemidstoftheGreatDepression.Soonafter,StevehadhisfirstBroadwayhitasbothacomposerandlyricist–A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,ariotousfarcerefash-ionedfromtheclassicRomancomediesofPlautus…Andsothediewascast.Stillbarely30,herewasanartistwitharangematchedbyfewothersinanycreativecallinginAmerica.WhoelsehaswrittenmajorworksofanygenreinhabitedbycharactersasvariousasthoseintheSondheimcanon?Hismusicalshavecenteredon,amongothers,GeorgesSeuratandamassmurdererin
Author Frank Rich Introduces 2013 MacDowell Medalist Stephen Sondheim
Presentation speaker and New York magazine Writer-at-Large Frank Rich and his wife, writer Alex Witchel, walk to the Medal Day tent.
Clockwise from left: Fifty-fourth Edward MacDowell Medalist Stephen Sondheim sat for an interview with PBS Newshour in Savidge Library before the medal presentation; MacDowell Colony Chairman Michael Chabon welcomed 2,200 arts lovers to Medal Day; picnickers enjoy the perfect weather; Sondheim applauds Peterbor-ough Players interns singing “Comedy Tonight.”
Scan this QR Code to read Michael Chabon’s complete message:
www.macdowellcolony.org/Michaels_2013_Medal_Day_Speech.pdf
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Stevecouldhavetakentheeasywayoutbytryingtopandertothemarketplace,butinsteadhisshowsbecameevermoreadventurous.Hehunginevenaftersomeofhismostesteemedearlycollaborators,LeonardBernsteinandJeromeRobbins,abandonedtheBroadwaytheateraltogether.Hehungindespitebeingeitherdismissedorleftoutentirelyinreviewsofhisearlyshows,including West Side andForum.Hehungindespitebeingscornedbysomeofhissupposedcolleaguesintheso-calledNewYorktheatercommunity.Inmyyearsasatheatercritic,beforeSteveandIbecamefriends,Ididnotunequivocallypraiseeverythinghewrote,butIwasafiercechampionofSunday in the Park with George.Incredibleasitmayseemnearly30yearslater,thatshowarousedsuchhostilityintheBroadwayestablishment,ahostilitycomparabletothatwhichgreeteditshero,Seurat,inhistime–thatevenIgotatinytasteoftheblowback,findingmyselfunderattackbycolleaguesintheaterjournalismwhowerebaffledthatanyonecouldlikesuchanidiosyncraticpieceintheheydayofbrassymusi-calslike La Cage aux Folles,whichwontheTonyAwardthatyear.Sunday in the Park,bytheway,didn’tjustlosetheTonyAward.ItsBroadwayproductionfailedtorepayitscosttoinvestors,anddidnothavearoadtour:Itwas,bythecommercialtheater’sstandards,aflop.SowasFollies,sowasPacific Overtures,soweretheoriginalproductionsofAssassinsandMerrily We Roll Along.YettheseandmostSondheimmusicalsremaininnearlyconstantrepertorytodaywhilemanyofthehitsandprizewinnersoftheirseasonshavefaded.ThatStevewasabletopersevere,neverforasecondcompromisinghisart,despitethemanyobstaclesinhispathalongthewayisaremarkabledramainitself.Someofthisstrength,too,washandeddownbyOscarHammerstein.In1947,RodgersandHammersteincameforthwithawildlyexperimentalshowcalledAllegro,nowlittlerememberedexceptasoneoftheirrarefailures,sandwichedinbetweenCarouselandSouth Pacific.The17-year-oldStevewashiredasagoferbytheproduction,givinghimtheopportunitytowitnesscloseuptheintegrity,staminaandworkethicofhissurrogatefatherashelaboredinvaintocreatesomethingstrikingandiconoclasticandnewinthefaceofhugecommercialpressuresandahostileaudienceandcriticalreception.
nothinglikeanAmericanmusical,andintruth,nootherculture,andthatincludesBritain’s,hasreallycomeclosetoreplicatingit.
ButyouhavetowonderwheretheAmericanmusicalwouldbetodaywithoutStephenSondheim.Thechronicleofthemodernmusicalrunslessthanacentury,andSteve’scontributionshavedefinedanddominatedmorethanhalfofthatspan.ThefirsthalfofthathistorywasarguablydefinedbySteve’smentorOscarHammersteinII,theplaywrightandlyricistwhomhemetasachildthroughthehappenstancethatHammersteinwasinhismother’ssocialcircle.ItwasHammerstein’sShow Boat,writtenwithJeromeKernthreeyearsbeforeStevewasborn,thatfirststakedoutthepossibilitythatthemusicaltheatercouldbemorethansongs,gagsandshopwornromanticplots,anditwasOklahoma!,writtenwithRichardRodgersasStevewascomingunderHammerstein’stutelage,thatsolidifiedthattheatricalrevolution.Hammersteindiedin1960,justasSteve’scareerwascomingintofullbloom.Bythenthetorchhadbeenpassedaboutasexplicitlyasitevercouldbeinculturalhistory:Steve,whileneveremulatingHammerstein’swritingstyle,wasdeterminedtobuildonhismentor’stheatricalinnovations,andtherestprovedliterallyhistory.Inshowaftershow,Stevekeptpushingtheboundariesofthemusicalevenasheforgedanincomparablecatalogueofsongswhoseemotionalpower,witandmusicaldazzleneveragenomatterwhatfashionsinsongwritingcomeandgoallaroundthem.
Thisrequirednotjusttalentandcraftbutcourage.Aseveryonehereknows,therelationshipbetweenanartistofanykindandtheAmericanculturalmarketplaceisalwaysfraught,oftentreacherousandalltoooftendestructive.Tocomplicatemattersfurther,themusicaltheaterisbydefinitionafinanciallycostlycollaborativeenterprise.Amusical’sauthormaybeluckyenoughtosecure,say,acommission,agrant,ateachinggig,oraresidencyataninstitutionasgloriousasMacDowell.Buttoactuallyputonashowdemandslargeamountsofcapitalthatusuallymandatethesponsorshipofcommercialproducers,withalltheburdensthatentails.RodgersandHammersteinwereluckyenoughtowritetheirgroundbreakingshowsatatimewhenAmericanpopmusicandBroadwaymusicweresynonymouswitheachother,puttingmusicalsinthecommercialmain-stream.Bycontrast,Sondheimandhiscontempo-rariesarrivedinthetheaterjustasrockcamein.Broadwaymusicforeverlostitsholdonthehitparadenottomentiononpopcultureingeneral,makingmusicalshardertogeton.
“ Residencies have proven their worth many times over, and in the past 25 years there has been an explosion of programs like MacDowell here and abroad. If you would like to see the studio that provided the template for thousands of others around the world, take time to visit MacDowell’s log cabin.”
—EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHERYL A. YOUNG
“ I remember many years ago as a young girl my excitement whenever my family would visit New York because that meant we would see a show on Broadway. One year I exci-tedly asked my father what we were going to see. He said, ‘We’re going to see a show called, Sunday in the Park with George.’ When I asked him what it was about, he told me that it was about an artist who paints on Sundays on an island in the park. I was underwhel-med. However, by the end of the first act, I was enthralled. By the end of the show my life was changed. I have quoted the line, ‘White, a blank page of canvas, his favorite — so many possibilities’ too many times to count. To this day, I have a copy of the painting ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’ hanging in my office. I am convinced that the lyrics in the song “Chromolume #7/Putting it Together” that referenced ‘the art of making art’ is part of what eventually led me to my involvement with MacDowell today.”
—MACDOWELL COLONY PRESIDENT
SUSAN DAVENPORT AUSTIN
AnotherinfluencethatHammersteinhadonStevealsopertainstohischaracterasmuchastohiswork.Hammersteininculcatedinhisyoungstudentareverencefortheactofteachingitself.
Throughouthiscareer,Stevehasbeenatirelessmentorandcheerleaderforcountlessyoungartistswhohaveaspiredtoenterthetheater.MyownfirstencounterwithSteve,morethan40yearsago,was,asMichaeldescribed,theresultofaletterhewrotemeaboutapieceI’dwrittenformycollegenewspaper.Hisout-of-the-blueinterventionwasthefirstencouragementIeverreceivedfromanyprofessionalwriter,letaloneanartistichero,anditprovedlife-changing.Some20yearslater,afterIleftcriticismandSteveandIcouldbecomefriends,heprovedtobeasupport,soundingboardandinspiration,whetherthespherewaswritingorlife.Therearehundredsofstorieslikethis,Isuspect,justastherearemillionsofotherswhoseliveshavebeenaffectedbyhearing,seeingorperformingStephenSondheim’swork.IamsohonoredtospeakforallofthemtodayaswethankSteveforallhehasgivenusandjoinTheMacDowellColonyincelebratinghimasagreatAmericanartistunlikeanyother.
Above: A Medal Day visitor considers color studies in Firth Studio created by painter Patricia Treib. Below: (standing, left to right) MacDowell Colony Executive Director Cheryl A. Young, Frank Rich, Chairman Michael Chabon, and Resident Director David Macy. (seated, left to right) New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, Stephen Sondheim, and MacDow-ell President Susan Davenport Austin.
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I’VE READ SOME OF THE ACCEPTANCE SPEECHESbyotherMedalists,andalmosteveryoneofthemsaidthattheywerehumbledandprivilegedtobeintheaugustcompanyoftheotherMedalists.
I’mnotonlyhumbledandprivileged,I’maston-ishedtobeinthecompanyoftheotherMedalists.I’mevenmoreastonishedtobethethirdoldestrecipient–onlyGeorgiaO’KeeffeandChuckJoneswerehumbledandprivilegedlaterthanI.Thedifference,ofcourse,isthatmybirthcertificateismerelyaconvenience–I’mactuallyjustover25andthemostpromisingsongwriterontheblock.
That’sthetroublewithawardsforabodyofwork.Theyalwayscomeatbothagoodtimeandawrongtime:goodbecausetheytellyouthatwhatyou’vebeendoingwasworththedoing,andwrongbecausetheyoughttocomewhenyou’reyoungandexcitedandhungryforassurancethatwhatyou’redoingisworththedoing.Oneoftheprob-lemsofgettingawardswhenyou’reestablishedisthatyoustarttobelieveyournotices.Toomuchrecognitioncancurbtheappetiteandvenerabilitycankillit.Notifyou’rePicassoorStravinsky,ofcourse–nothingcouldslowthemdown.Buttolivethatlongandstillbethathungrytoexploreandkeepexploringiswhatseparatesthegeniusesfromthegifted.
Still,althoughImaybeamongtheoldestofthemedalists,Itakegenuineprideinbeingthefirsttorepresenttheformerruntofthearts:musicalcomedy.Yes,Imeanmusicalcomedy,notmusicaltheater.Musicalcomedybecamemusicaltheateronlyrecently–“recently”inthelargerschemeofthings,meaningoverthelastfewdecades.Thetransformationbecamecertifiedwheninstitutionsofhigherlearningbeganofferingcoursesinthesubject.AndIdon’tmeanthosehyper-contempo-raryinstitutions,whichoffersuchspecializedsubjectsascontractbridgeandwater-skiing(Ikidyounot,myhalf-brotherwenttoone).No,Imeanrespectable,nottosayvenerable,centersofeducationlikeYaleandPrincetonandDartmouthandNorthwestern,whichnotonlyoffercoursesbuthaveentiredepartmentsdevotedtomusicaltheater.ThegeniusesofmusicalcomedylikeColePorterandIrvingBerlinandtheGershwins(tothem,Porgy and Besswasanopera,notamusical)wouldprobablyhavechuckledorevenguffawedatthenotionoftheirproductbeingtakensoseriously.
ItwasOscarHammerstein,ofcourse,whokick-startedthewholething,firstwithJeromeKernandShow Boat andsubsequentlywithRichardRodgersandOklahoma!,Carouselandthelike.Bythetimehegotfinishedwithit,musicalcomedyhadbecomemusicaltheater.Itgotfurtherrefinedbythenextgeneration:LernerandLoeweandFrankLoesserinparticular.Butitwasmygenera-tion–writerslikeBockandHarnickandKander
Stephen Sondheim Accepts Edward MacDowell Medal
thinkIpaidatleastfivetimestheretailpriceforit,butIlikedthemusicbecauseitremindedmeofRachmaninoff,whosemusicIadored.IthinkMacDowelldid,too.
Onefinalobservation:Asmostofyouprobablyknow,thereisacycleofrotationamongthreeprimarydisciplinesinvolvedintheawardingoftheMacDowellMedal:oneyearawriter,thenextacomposer,thenextavisualartist,andsoforth,therhythmoccasionallyinterruptedbyafilmmakerorachoreographer.Anewcategorywasintroducedin2003,whenMerceCunninghamreceivedtheMedalforInterdisciplinaryArt,becausehisworkcomprisedbothmusicalandvisualideasincollaborationwithotherartists.
Well,perhapsthisMedalshouldbeforInterdisciplinaryArttoo,then,becauseIdonotwritealone,I’macollaborator.Collaborationisthelifebloodofmusicals–thecollaborationbetweenthesongwriters,iftherearemorethanone,andthelibrettists,iftherearemorethanone.Traditionally,thishasbeenlessimportanttoopera,wheremusicisthedrivingforceandthelibrettoissubordinatetoit.InthekindofmusicalswhichOscarpioneeredandwhichhavebeenthestandardeversince,nomatterhowexperimentalsomeofthemhavebecome,thereverseisthecase:thelibrettoistheengineandthesongsarisefromitandareen-hanced,orsometimesmadetolookfoolish,byit.
Interdisciplinaryorno,thisMedalisforMusicalTheater.I’dliketoacceptitonbehalfofOscarandallhisdescendantswhomadethecategorypossible–including,Ihavetosay,myself.Thankyou.
andEbb–whoturneditintowhatisnowconsid-eredanartform–enoughofanartformtobeincludedincollegecurriculums,atanyrate.Andtherearemanypeoplewhohaven’tforgivenus.
Thefactisthattodaymusicals,asIprefertocalltheminordertoavoidanydiscussionsofpreten-tiousnessorcoynesscategorizingthem,especiallythemusicalsthatoriginateoff-Broadwayandinregionaltheaters,haveasmuchvarietyandvitalityasstraightplaysdo.Thisisbothahappyfactandasadone–happybecausetheydohavesuchvarietyandvitalityandsadbecausethey’vetakenoverthecommercialtheaterlikekudzu.Nowadays,fewplaysmakeenoughmoneytosustaintheplaywrightswhowritethem.RobertAnderson,oneoftheplaywrightswhowasabletosustainhimselfduringalongcareer(althoughhehadtoresorttoscreenwritingeverynowandthen)purportedlysaidthatinthetheateryoucanmakeakilling,butyoucan’tmakealiving.Today,thatistrueonlyofpeoplewhowritemusicals.TheeraoftheblockbusterNeilSimonhitisover,withrareexceptionslikeWar Horse–whichismorelikeamusicalthanaplay,anyway.
I’venevervisitedTheMacDowellColonybefore,andseeingitnow,thatissomethingIregret.ButIdohaveatenuousconnectiontoit,oratleasttoitsfounder.WhenIwaselevenyearsold,IwasenrolledatNewYorkMilitaryAcademy,notbecauseIwantedanArmycareerbutbecausethat’swherebaffledchildrenofrecentlydivorceduppermiddleclassparentsweresentwhiletheparentstriedtostraightenouttheirlives.Tomysurprise,andperhapstoyours,Ienjoyedtheschoolverymuch,notleastbecauseintheassemblyhallwasthesecondlargestpipeorganinNewYorkState,surpassedonlybytheoneatRadioCityMusicHall,butstillbiggerthantheoneattheRoxy.Itwasn’ttheinstrumentthatgotme(Idon’tmuchlikethesoundoftheorgan),itwasthefourdifferentmanualsandthedazzlingcoloredtabsforthestops–dozensofthemtopressinmyriadcombinations.Andthentherewerethepedals,onwhichyoucoulddanceandmakedifferentsounds,eventhoughmylegscouldbarelytouchthem.
Anyway,thefirstpieceIlearnedwasMacDowell’smostfamousmelody,“ToaWildRose,”whichIlovednotbecauseitwassobeautifulbutbecauseitwaseasytoplay,beingveryslowandconsistingmostlyofsustainedchords,whichallowedmetoexperimentwitheverystopIcouldgetto,oftenfrombartobar,creatingacrazyquiltofvaryingtimbresanddynamics.ThisbeganmyinterestinMacDowell’smusicandlater,whenItookpianolessons,Iworkedmywayupto,butnotthrough,thePianoSonatas–theywerereallydifficult,andIcouldn’tfindanyrecordingstoguideme.Ididfindarecordingofthe2ndPianoConcerto,however.Inmyteens,Icollectedclassical78s,therarerthebetter,andthePianoConcertowasrareindeed.I
Since 1996, MacDowell in the Schools has been in-troducing artists to local students in grades 3 throu-gh 12. Some Fellows present their work, others lead workshops or help with portfolio reviews. Since 2001, another program called MacDowell Downtown has built a following as part of First Friday. March through November, MacDowell Downtown pre-sents a delightful variety of composers, performers, playwrights, filmmakers and writers. In the last 12 months these two programs combined to connect 42 MacDowell Fellows with nearly 2,000 local arts lovers.
—RESIDENT DIRECTOR DAVID MACY
Above: Chairman Michael Chabon and Stephen Sondheim with the Edward MacDowell Medal. Below: Members of the Grand Monadnock Youth Choir Cecilia Ensemble singing “Another Hundred People.”
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Art
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New & Notable
New Voices of Change Initiative Serves Middle Eastern ArtistsFormanyartistsMacDowell’sslogan“FreedomtoCreate”isagiven.NowwithanewfocusontheMiddleEast,theColonyisreachingouttoartistswhocannotalwayscountonthatfreedom.
VoicesofChange,acollaborationwiththeArabFundforArtsandCulture(AFAC),ispromotingresidencyopportunitiestoartistsacrosstheregion.Sincetheinitiativewaslaunchedinfall2012,sixartistsfromfivedifferentcountrieshavebeenofferedMacDowellresidencies.
ForSyrianfilmmakerNabilMaleh,thefreedomheexperiencedatMacDowellwasawelcomecontrasttothedemandsthathavecomewithothersupport.“Thisisveryrare,”saidMaleh,whoseacclaimedworkisfeaturedinfilmschoolsandfestivalsaroundtheworld.
SinceMaleh’sresidency,fiveotherVoicesofChangeFellows,PalestinianarchitectLanaJudeh,LebanesecomposerJoelleKhoury,TurkishfilmmakerBurcuKoray,EgyptianfilmmakerMohammadShawkyHassan,andTurkishwriterZeynepKayhanhavecompletedresidencies.
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Nancy Decker Dougherty_FilmcriticandwriterofbiographiesNancyDeckerDoughertydiedonFebruary6,
2013,athomeonShelterIsland,NY,attheageof73.ShewasraisedinColumbia,MO,andearnedabachelor’sdegreefromRadcliffeCollegein1961.Dougherty,whowasinresidenceinthespringof1991,earnedamaster’sanddoctorateattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.In1987,
shereceivedthePENGirardawardforbestnon-fictionbyapreviouslyunpublishedfemaleauthor.
Shari Frisch de Miskey_NewYorkartistShariFrischdeMiskeydiedonMarch28,2011,attheageof97.DeMiskeywasknownforherabstractpaintingsandbookdesigns,butmostlyforherillustrations.Shewasmarriedtophotographer,WalfredMoisio.DeMiskey,whowasinresidencein1951,studiedinNewYorkandspenthersummersinProvincetownattheHansHoffmanSchool.Someofherbest-knownillustrationsareinthebooksEpitaph of a Small Winner andThe Prophesis of Nostradamus.
Susan McDonald White_Visualartistandnon-fictionwriterSusanMcDonaldWhitediedonJune20,2012,athomeinWeston,MA,attheageof51.White,whowasinresidenceinthefallof2002,wasanartconservatorandrestorer,specializinginancientart.WhitealsoproducedherownworkandexhibitednumeroustimesintheBostonarea.SheearneddegreesfromDukeUniversity,HarvardUniversity,andtheUniversityofDelaware.
Robert Ward_ComposerRobertWard,whowasinresidencein1938andwhosebest-knownwork,anoperaticadaptationofArthurMiller’sdramaThe Crucible,wonthe1962PulitzerPrizeformusic,diedathomeinDurham,NC,onApril3,2013,attheageof95.WardstudiedcompositionattheEastmanSchoolofMusicinRochester,waschancelloroftheUniversityofNorthCarolinaSchooloftheArtsandtaughtatDukeUniversity.
Oscar Hijuelos_Cuban-AmericannovelistOscarHijuelos,whobecamethefirstLatinotowinthePulitzerPrizeforfictionin1990for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love,diedsuddenlyonOctober12,2013.Hewas62.Thewriterwasinresidencefourtimes,mostrecentlyin1997.
Actor, playwright, and MacDow-ell board member Lisa Kron wrote the book and lyrics for Fun Home, a musical composed by Jeanine Tesori based on the Alison Bechdel book. It had a successful run at The Public Theater in New York. Coming up at the Public, Kron will join Thornton Wilder’s nephew and literary executor, Tappan Wilder, and others to read and discuss Wilder’s classic 1931 one-act The Long Christmas Dinner at Joe’s Pub for one night only on December 10.
When Yotam Haber’s A More Convenient Season premiered at the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, AL, late last month, one reviewer called it “a monument to Birmingham’s civil rights legacy.” The premiere of the piece, which Haber says “walks a tightrope” between an oratorio and an opera, com-memorated the 50th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963, when four young girls were killed. It was performed by the Alabama Symphony, a 90-voice chorus gathered from Mississippi State University, Tuskegee University, and several Birmingham groups, including the UAB Gospel Choir and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Children’s Choir. It was conducted by Michael Morgan.
Vint Virga’s book, The Soul of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human, was published by Crown/Random House in June.
Robert Schenkkan Play Stars Bryan Cranston Pulitzer-PrizewinnerRobertSchenkkan’s(above)newplay All the WaystarringBryanCranston,ofAMC’sBreaking Badfame,wasproducedatTheAmericanRepertoryTheatrethispastfall.ThedramatizationofLyndonBainesJohnson’sfirstyearinofficeexamineshowmeansversusendsplayedoutwhenanassassin’sbulletpropelledL.B.J.intothehighestofficeinthelandatatimewhenitwasbecomingclearitwasalsothemostpowerfulofficeintheworld.
Medeas, a new film by Orlando Tirado, is making the rounds of international film festivals. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in late summer and stars Academy Award nominee and Golden Bear winner Catalina Sandino Moreno and Tony Award winner Brian O’Byrne. Tirado co-wrote the script with the film’s director, Andrea Pallaoro.
During her residency, Tamiko Thiel developed an installation called Shades of Absence: Governing Bodies, an augmented reality memorial to the “Culture Wars” in Washington, D.C., focusing on censorship involving high government officials. It premiered during the exhibition “Manifest:AR” in the Corcoran Gallery before being placed permanently in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Capitol Building, and the National Endowment for the Arts offices in the Old Post Office Pavilion.
Kirk W. Johnson is a writer and director of the List Project, which began as an endeavor seeking to resettle more than 1,500 American-affiliated Iraqis after they were abandoned by the U.S. government. His first book, To Be a Friend is Fatal, is about the fate of these Iraqi interpreters and was published by Scribner in October. While in residence, Johnson had the unusual experience of listening—with other fellows—to an interview with him about the book and The List Project as it aired on the National Public Radio program “This American Life.”
Neuroscience meets meditation in Nene Humphrey’s installation/performance Circling the Center. The multimedia liturgy of sound, film, and live performance weaves images of animated MRIs, electronic circuitry, and Victorian mourning braiding with sounds of serenading rats in a lab, metronomes, and chanted braiding pattern instructions. The performance at Dixon Place Theater in New York was presented in conjunction with Humphrey’s solo exhibition at Lesley Heller Workspace last spring.
FELLOWS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ADDS TO MEMBERSHIPMacDowell’sFellowsExecutive
Committee(FEC)heldelections
inApriltoreplaceoutgoing
members:Anthony Schneider,
Seth Riskin, Eleanor Cory,and
Scott Frankel.Thenewlyelected
members—composerMichael
Harrison,interdisciplinaryartist
Brandon Neubauer,composer
Andrew Rudin,andwriter
Seamus Scanlon—willserve
three-yearterms.Comprising
artistswhohavebeenin
residence,theFECservesasan
advisorygrouptotheColony.
Withfirst-handknowledgeofthe
MacDowellexperience,theFEC
workstobuildandengagethe
communityofColonyFellows
andprovidesfeedbackand
recommendationstothe
Colony’sstaffandboardof
directors.Tolearnmoreabout
theFEC,logontowww.
macdowellcolony.org/artists-
fec.htmlore-mailthecommit-
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Panos Ghikas and Patience Haley, a Truly MacDowell CollaborationWhenPanosGhikasdiedin2012attheageof95,theartworldlostoneofitspreemi-nentmastergildersandanexpertineggtemperapainting.Heleftbehindalegacyofsoloworksaswellasrestorationsthathecompletedwithhiswife,PatienceHaley,acollaborationthatbeganatTheMacDowellColony.
GhikaswasinhisfifthMacDowellresidencygettingreadytoleaveinlatesummer1962,whenfriendandfellowpainterHydeSolomonconvincedhimtoextendhisstaytomeetayoungpainterwhowasabouttoarrive.Ghikas,whoreceivedhisB.F.A.andM.F.A.attheYaleSchoolofArtandlaterwonaFulbrightFellowshiptostudyattheAkademiederBildendenKuensteinGermany,hadnoimmediateobligations,sohere-mainedbehind.
Afewdayslater,SolomonintroducedGhikastoPatienceHaleyatareceptionintheEugeneColemanSavidgeLibrary,ameetingthatwouldlauncha50-yearpartner-ship.Haley,whoworkedprimarilyinwater-basedmedia,saidthetwoweresotakenwitheachotherthattheylefttheColonytogetherwhenherresidencywascomplete.
“WebecameengagedinJanuary,andPanossetsailforGreeceinFebruary,”saidHaley,callingthesixmonthstheywereapart“averypainfulseparation.”
ThetwodecidedtogetmarriedthatfollowingDecemberinSavidgeLibrary,invitingfamilyandalltheartistswhowereinresidenceatthetime.
AfterreturningtwicemoreforresidenciesatMacDowell,thecoupleworkedtogetheronrestoringtwolargeBarryFaulknermuralsatformerNewYorkGovernorW.AverellHarriman’sfamilyestate.Theworkledtoothercommis-sions,includingamuralingoldleafcompletedin1980fortheWorldTradeCenter’s110thfloorrestaurant,WindowsontheWorld.
FEC REUNION PARTYTheAnnualFellowsReunioninNew
YorkCitybrokenotjustonebuttwo
recordsonOctober18,2013,drawing
morethan200artistsandraisingmore
than$4,000!Plannedandhostedby
theFellowsExecutiveCommittee,the
partygivesMacDowellFellowsthe
chancetoreconnectandtopay
forwardtheMacDowellgiftina
meaningfulwaybysupportingfuture
residenciesattheColonywiththeir
donations.Thisyear’spartywasheld
attheLittleAirplaneintheSouth
StreetSeaport.Thankstothefollowing
sponsorsfordonatingfoodandraffle
prizes:LagunitasBrewingCo.,Donut
Plant,NewYorkTheaterWorkshop,
AldeaHome+Baby,Damascus
Bakeries,RoundaboutTheater,Garden
ofEden,TraderJoe’s,andPeterboro
BasketCo.
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MacDowell in the SchoolsInApril,poetHannahPark,winnerofa2013RuthLillyPoetryfellowship,metwithAdvancedWritingstudentsandtheirteacheratConValHighSchooltoanswerquestionsaboutherwritingprocessandhowtoovercomewriter’sblock.ParklaterreturnedtoConValtoconductaworkshopwithstudents.
InMay,NoluthandoLobesewelcomedagroupofAdvancedTheaterstudentsfromConVal(picturedleft)duringherspringresidency.Shesharedexamplesofherpreviousworkasacostumeandsetdesigneranddescribedherprocess.LaterinMay,visualartistMarthaClippingermetwithartstudentsandtwofacultymembersandpresentedaslideshowofherworkanddiscussedherartisticinfluenceswiththestudents.
InJuly,composerFlorentGhysandinterdisciplinaryartistandchoreographerWillRawlsmetwith25WaldenSchoolstudentsandfacultyinSavidgeLibrary.Ghystalkedaboutcomposing
andplayedapieceonhisdoublebass,andRawlstalkedaboutanewproject,The Planet Eaters,whichwasstagedatTheChocolateFactoryinNovember.
MacDowell DowntownInMarch’seditionofMacDowellDowntown,StephenKuusisto(atright)presentedpoemsandnonfictionabouthisexperiencesasauserofguidedogs.InApril’spresentation,ErikSantossangoriginalcomposi-tionsandplayedguitar.InMay,interdisciplinaryartistJohannesHeldénpresentedanddiscussedhisvisualart,poetry,music,andWeb-basedwork.InJune,composerPeterVanZandtLaneperformedonthebassoonandtalkedabouthisnewballet.InAugust,“Sondheim!TheBirthdayConcert”wasscreenedtohonorStephenSondheim’supcom-ingappearancetoacceptthe54thEdwardMacDowellMedal.Septem-berfeaturedplaywrightStaceyGregg,whoshowedaclipofherfilmSpoof or DieandwaslaterjoinedbyvisualartistsMichaelScogginsandEleanorKinginareadingofher2011playPerve.EgyptianfilmmakerMohammadShawkyHassanpresentedtwoshortfilmsanddiscussedhisupcomingwork,andfinally,thecollaborativetrioofvisualartistsBenBeres,ZacCuller,andJohnSuttondiscussedtheirinstallationsthatmixsculpturewithpainting,drawing,andvideo,amongothermedia.
Inotherevents,musicianSamMossperformedattheMariposaMuseuminPeterboroughaspartofthethree-dayThe Thing in the Springmusicandartsfestival,andvisualartistsMichaelScogginsanddevisedtheatreartistJanakiRanpuracontributedpiecestoacuratedexhibitionattheSharonArtsCenterindowntownPeterborough.Theshow,(con)TEXT,featuredartthatincorporatestext.
New Hampshire Benefit, April 5, 2014 ComesupportTheMacDowellColony.Thiseventsellsoutearly,soreserveticketssoonbycalling212-535-9690.
National Benefit, May 19, 2014 NotethiscalendarchangeandnewdatefortheNationalBenefit.Fortickets,call212-535-9690.
SAVE THE DATES
FRIENDS OF MACDOWELL TRIP VISITS DELTA REGIONOneofthestopsalongthewayonthe2013NationalTriptoMississippi
exploringtheartoftheMississippiDeltaregionwasthehomeof Tom
FranklinandBeth Ann FennellyinOxford.Thetwowritersand
spouseshadjustrecentlyco-writtenanovel,The Tilted World
(HarperCollins2013),anddiscusseditwithvisitors.Friendsof
MacDowellalsoexploredthebirthplaceoftheblues,Faulknercountry,
andstopscommemoratingtherootsoftheCivilRightsMovement.
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MacDowell is published twice a year, in summer and winter. Past Fellows may send newsworthy activities to the editor in Peterbor-ough. Deadlines for inclusion are April 1st and October 1st.
Editor:JonathanGourlay
DesignandProduction:JohnHallDesignGroup,Beverly,MA
Allphotographsnototherwisecredited:JoannaEldredgeMorrissey
Printer:DeschampsPrinting,Salem,MA
MailingHouse:SterlingBusinessPrint&Mail,Peterborough,NH
No part of MacDowell may be reused in any way without written permission.
© 2013, The MacDowell Colony
ThenamesofMacDowellFellowsarenotedinboldthroughoutthisnewsletter.
facebook.com/MacDowellColony OMISSION In the Summer 2012 newsletter an item about Kevin Puts being awarded the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music for the opera Silent Night neglected to mention that the libretto was written by Mark Campbell. Congratulations to Kevin and Mark, and apologies for the omission.
TheMacDowellColonyislocatedat100HighStreetPeterborough,NH03458Telephone:603-924-3886Fax:603-924-9142
Administrativeoffice:163East81stStreetNew York, NY 10028
Telephone:212-535-9690Fax:212-737-3803
Website:www.macdowellcolony.orgE-mail:[email protected]
The MacDowell Colony awards Fellowships to artists of exceptional talent, providing time, space, and an inspiring environment in which to do creative work. The Colony was founded in 1907 by composer Edward MacDowell and pianist Marian Nevins MacDowell, his wife. Fellows receive room, board, and exclusive use of a studio. The sole criterion for acceptance is talent, as determined by a panel representing the discipline of the applicant. The MacDowell Colony was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1997 for “nurturing and inspiring many of this century’s finest artists.”
Applications are available on our Web site at
www.macdowellcolony.org.
Chairman:MichaelChabonPresident:SusanDavenportAustinExecutiveDirector:CherylA.YoungResidentDirector:DavidMacy
TheColonyisgratefulforthegeneroussupportofthefollowingorganizations:
Stephen Sondheim applauds during Chairman Michael Chabon’s opening remarks kicking off the medal ceremony on August 11, 2013.
CoverphotobyWilliamGnade
Giveartiststimeandalittlebitofmoney,andtheymayprosperforlife.ThisisthemessageofarecentsurveyconductedbyTheMacDowellColonyinvolvingmorethan600artistsofalldisciplineswhoreceivedfinancialaidwiththeirresidenciesbetween1998and2012.Itreprisesa1969surveythattheColonypublishedinthe Saturday Review.WithmajorgrantsfromtheMrs.GilesWhitingFoundation,theLeonLevyFoundation,andotherpartners,MacDowellawardsmorethan$120,000ayearinstipendsandtravelsupporttoartistswhootherwisecouldnotaffordtotaketimeoffforaresidency.Morethan40percentofthe275artistswhoworkatMacDowelleachyearqualifyforamountsofupto$1,000each.
TheWhitingWriters’AidProgram,whichwasestablishedin1998withannualgrantsfromtheWhitingFoundation,helpswithsomeoftheeverydayexpensesartistsincur.Beforethen,artistscouldgettravelsupportthroughtheMacArthurandPutnamfoundations,butongoingcostssuchaslostincome,rent,andchildcarewerenotcovered.Atthetime,stipendswereanewpriorityforTheWhitingFoundation.TheLeonLevyFoundationfollowedsuitin2006withathree-year$150,000granttosupportartistsworkinginotherdisciplines.
ForartistslikefilmmakerYanceFord,thishelpprovidessomeimportantvalidationfortheircreativework.Ford,whosefirstdocumentaryStrong Islandiscurrentlyinpost-production,describesasubtleyetpowerfulimpactthatcannotbeeasilymeasuredinasurvey.
“TheLeonLevystipendwaslikeadownpaymentonmyfuture,”shesays.“AsafirsttimefilmmakerwithnopreviousworktoreassureMacDowellortheLevyFoundation,myresidencywaslikewinningthelottery.TheLevystipendwasatremendousvalidationofmeas‘anartist’independentofthesocialvalueofthesubjectmatterofmyfilm.”
Inthesurvey,recipientsofWhitingWriters’AidandLeonLevystipendssaytheirtimeatMacDowellledtomorethan600newworksofart,awards,andotheraccomplishments.
Evenwithfullfellowshipsupport,nearly55%oftheartistssurveyedsaytheycouldn’tacceptaresidencywithoutdirectfinancialaidtoday.
“ThankstoWhiting,Levy,andothers,wehavebeenabletoexpandaccesstoresidenciesforallartistsregardlessoffinancialmeans,”saysMacDowellExecutiveDirectorCherylYoung.“Thissupportissocritical,especiallyforemergingartistswhoareworkingfaraheadofthemarketplaceandcannotsupportthemselvesontheirartworkalone.”
Seeingtheimpactoffinancialaidonartists,otherfundersandindividualdonorshavedecidedtoinvestinstipends.TheRonaJaffeFoundationendowedafellowshipforemergingwomenwriterswhichprovidesa$2,500stipendinadditiontoresidencysupport.ThePollock-KrasnerandGrahamfoundationshavealsodonatedfellowshipandstipendpackagesforartistsofneed.
WhileFordandothershavefoundsuccess,thesurveyresultsshowthatthefinancialhardshipsofthecreativelifehavenoteasedinthelast43years.Oftheartistssurveyed,atleasthalfworkotherjobstosupplementtheirartisticincome,and46percenthavehadtocuttimespentontheirartduetofinancialobligationsrelatedtotheeconomy.
Facedwiththesechallenges,theartistscitedaresidencyasaparticularlyeffectivesolutiontoeasingthepressuresoftheeconomyandmakingthemmoreproductive.Thevastmajority(83percent)preferaresidencyandfinancialaidpackageoveralargerindividualcashgrant.Identifyingarangeofreasonsforpreferringresidencies,morethan93percentoftheartistspolledsaidMacDowellhashadapositiveimpactontheircareers.
Financial Aid Sparks Long-Term Progress for Colony FellowsWHITING, LEVY FOUNDATIONS AND OTHERS GIVE MORE THAN $120,000 A YEAR TO ARTISTS.
NickitasDemosCOMPOSER
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
AndrewGinzelSCULPTOR
SarahGarland-Hoch AnneStarkLocherMARKETINGCOMMUNICATIONSEXECUTIVE
MarkFosterGageARCHITECT
RichardPeñaPROFESSOROFFILMSTUDIES
BrianRogersARTISTICDIRECTOR
JasonVanNestPROFESSOROFARCHITECTURE
MEDAL DAY VISITORS GET FIRST LOOK AT RENOVATED LIBRARYImmediatelyfollowingtheEdwardMacDowellMedalpresentationceremonyonAugust
11,visitorsflockedtoseethenewlyrenovatedEugeneColemanSavidgeLibrary.Tim
Groesbeckandhisteamoflocalcarpentersandsub-contractorsexecutedthedesign
byinternationallyrenownedarchitectsTodWilliamsandBillieTsien.The2,900
square-footglassandgranitestructurecomplementshistoricSavidgeLibraryinaway
thatrespectstraditionwhilepointingthewaytothefuture.Thenewbuildingis
connectedtothewoodsandmeadowsfollowingalandscapedesignbyReed
HilderbrandofWatertown,MA.Builtin1928,theoriginalbuildingwillremaina
favoritespotforartiststoconnectwithpastFellows. JON
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Scan this QR code to read the full story and see a table illustrating survey responses.
macdow.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/2013OctoberWhitingLevyGrantFunding.html