At the Willowell Foundation, we focus on initiatives that support the arts, the environment, and community. We believe that this triad of focal areas is mutually supportive--like a three-legged stool, each is incomplete and unsteady unless the other two are present as well.
Though the Willowell Foundation does tend to focus on the environment and sustainability more than the arts, we recognize that the arts are perhaps the most important of the three and try to incorporate them into all of our programs. As symbol systems as important as letters and numbers, the arts are a language that breaks down cultural, social, racial, educational and economic walls that separate people from each other. Additionally, the arts enhance awareness and appreciation of our cultures, our communities, and our places.
From an educational standpoint, the arts are essential to engaging all students. They afford opportunities for self-expression and translation of inner experiences to the outer world. Making and viewing art exercises higher order thinking skills. Arts rooted in local places enhance a sense of citizenship and understanding of our heritage. They connect every student with learning.
At Willowell, we explore the Arts in several ways:
Art Installations and Sculpture
Scattered over the Willowell Land are a number of Earthworks-style sculptures, created by students and visitors over the years. We try to incorporate an aspect of nature-based sculpture into many of our youth and adult programs, and the results are found hidden throughout the woods and fields at Willowell. We are always looking for interested artists who would like to create sculptures at the Land.
Outdoor Theater Project
Jeff Spencer, Art teacher at Vergennes Union High School, plans to construct an outdoor theater at the Willowell Land over the next two years. Built of locally-harvested wood and stone and assembled by students, the theater will be a site for student-written play performances, concerts, performance art pieces, and staging of the classics for students from all three Addison County districts to participate in and enjoy.
Artist Residencies
Since its inception, the Willowell Foundation has worked with a number of local artists, writers and performers in its Artist Residency program. Artists-in-Residence work with student groups and give community presentations, and in turn are supported in their endeavors. Our current Artist-in-Residence is Paige Acherkson-Kiely (at right), a local poet and former AmeriCorps VISTA with the Walden Project. Paige has just published her first book, In No One’s Land, winner of the 2006 Sawtooth Poetry Prize. Her book is available from Ahsahta Press. If you would like to learn more about Paige or In No One’s Land, Click Here.
Getting Involved
We would love for you to become part of our Artist Residencies. There are several ways to get involved. You can:
*Become an Artist-in-Residence: Share your skills and expertise with us and become part of a growing web of dynamic programs and exciting projects.
*Make Art: Use the Willowell Land as a site for work and an inspiration for sculpture, painting, poetry, short story, and many more art forms.
*Donate art supplies and funds to support art projects, publications and classes for our Artists-in-Residence and our students.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, or if you would like more information about the Artist Residency program, please Contact Us.
©2007-2008 The Willowell Foundation
PO Box 312
Bristol, VT 05443
(802) 453-6195
Website by Emily Watson-Blagden, Willowell Foundation A*VISTA 06-07
Arts Initiatives
Artist Residencies
“What is Art?
Nature concentrated.”
--Honore de Balzac
