Mount
Desert Symposium in the Arts, "Land Escape"
The
goal and focus of the 2001 symposium was to explore the
meaning and context of art and the landscape in the 21st
Century. This applied to the visual and performing arts,
as well as to the sciences, some of which exist in renowned
research laboratories and educational institutions on the
island. The hope was to expand and enrich these diverse
communities, facilitating and creating interdisciplinary
collaborations that may develop new ideas, presentations
and dialogues.
This
program was sponsored solely by the generosities and donations
from the summer and year-round communities on Mount Desert.
The program expects to become nonprofit by the year 2002,
and will continue to function on these volunteered generosities,
as well as future funding available to community minded
nonprofit groups.
Land
Escapes developed an advisory committee, steering committees
and a list of sponsors, contributors and volunteers. The
programs were free and open to the public. Future participants
of each symposium will include emerging as well as established
professionals, recommended by previous participants, as
well as by a panel chosen for each specific symposium. The
participants will reside on Mt. Desert Island for the week
with a volunteer host and in return will share their artistic
skills in workshops, lectures or discussion groups.
For
more information, contact Nancy
Manter.
Nancy
Manter - Post Office Box 314 - Seal Cove, Maine 04674
2001
Events and Participants
Mount Desert Symposium in the Arts was inaugurated July
21–27, 2001 on Mount Desert Island, Maine. "Land
Escapes 2001," was a vision created and supported by
a group of year-round and summer residents living on the
Island. "Land Escapes 2001" featured many well-known
established artists as well as emerging and experimental
artists. Unlike other formally structured programs that
provide studios and extended residencies, the invited participants
were on the Island for one week to present their work. Mount
Desert Island offers many unique resources, including internationally
recognized scientific laboratories, educational institutions,
as well as Acadia National Park. Situated off the coast
of Maine, this beautiful national park has attracted artists
and writers for many generations.
Mount
Desert Island enjoys a long tradition of landscape painting
and "Land Escapes 2001"aimed to explore the definition
of art and landscape in the twenty-first century. "Landscape"
can imply a natural setting as well as a man-made space
or environment, such as an architectural structure or an
urban skyline. 'Landscape' can also imply a state of mind
and body, or an experience generated from memories associated
with a particular climate or location. "Land Escape
2001" sought to expand the concept and definition of
landscape as it applied to other disciplines, including
math and science.
"Land
Escapes 2001" posed many questions. Is the artist an
innovator or preservationist? Does a personal journey become
history only when a critic or theorist transforms this process
into a meaningful context? "Land Escape 2001"
explored these concepts while bringing together diverse
people and experiences to Mount Desert Island.
Mount
Desert Symposiums in the Arts, "Land Escapes 2001"
featured various presentations in different public venues.
This included a lecture by a writer on his recently published
biography of Fairfield Porter’s life, a painter who
spent many years painting on his secluded island off the
coast of Maine. There was a panel discussion on contemporary
art and the landscape presented by professionals from the
art and science fields, which was moderated by an art critic
from New York. On two different evenings there were film
forums, showing experimental and documentary films. The
general public was encouraged to participate in these dialogues
and activities. There were also private gatherings for these
guest participants, providing an opportunity to interact
in more intimate settings.
Schedule
of Public Events
|
| July
23, 2001 |
"Art
in the Landscape." Panel moderated by Patricia
Phillipps. Panelists include Karen Davidson, Susan Gosin,
Philip Heckscher, Nancy Manter and Sam Shaw. Northeast
Harbor Neighborhood House |
| July
24, 2001 |
Experimental
and documentary film forum. College of the Atlantic |
| July
25, 2001 |
Lecture
by Justin Spring on his recently published biography,
Fairfield Porter, A Life in Art. College of the Atlantic,
McCormick Hall |
| July
26, 2001 |
Experimental
and documentary film forum. College of the Atlantic |
"Land
Escapes 2001"
Symposium Participants
Nancy
Andrews, Seal Harbor, ME. Ms. Andrews, a filmmaker and
performance artist, is currently on the faculty at the College
of the Atlantic. Recently, her work has been in film and
live performance exemplified by early 20th century practices
in "silent" films. Her work employs live sounds,
effects, narration and music. Ms. Andrews has won many awards
including the Ann Arbor Film Festival "Committees Choice
Award," as well as support from the Jerome Foundation
and the New York State Council on the Arts. The title of
her film is to be announced.
John
Blesso, New York City. Writer and editor-in-chief of
Silk City Press, Mr. Blesso was previously the managing
editor of the Authors Guild Bulletin. He has served as the
editor and coordinator of many of the upcoming symposium
events. He will also be involved with the portfolio that
will be produced following the symposium. Mr. Blesso also
serves on the Advisory Board.
Nancy
Bowen, New York City. An internationally exhibited sculptor,
Ms. Bowen will create a temporary outdoor sculpture, made
of large colorful tiles painted with different kinds of
knots. Her piece will physically link the formal geometry
of the Beatrix Farrand Gardens with the casual nature of
the Atlantic seashore. The piece contrasts the formal with
the informal, the "made" with the natural, all
the while drawing the viewer slowly towards a beautiful
view of the coast. The knots refer to nautical functions
as they evoke broader metaphors. The colors of the tiles
were suggested by the colors of local boats and buoys. The
entire format was inspired by shrines in India which combine
cultural artifacts with elements from nature. Ms. Bowen
ia an Assistant Professor of Sculpture at SUNY-Purchase,
and on the faculty of the MFA Program at Bard College.
Laia
Cabrera, born in Barcelona and living in New York City.
Ms. Cabrera is a filmmaker and performs with "Vertiginosas
Islands," a theatre group. She will be showing her
film "Under the Influence," the story of two sisters,
and how their families affected their self-perception.
Karen
Davidson, New York City. Ms. Davidson is a book designer
and principal of Davidson Design, Inc. She has designed
art, health, and science publications, and has published
artists’ books. Ms. Davidson will serve on the panel
at the Neighborhood House, and present slides on Hans Waanders,
Hamish Fulton, Robert Long, and Ian Hamilton Finlay, artists
whose different expressions are based in the landscape.
Ms. Davidson also serves on the Advisory Board.
Eduardo
Difarnecio,
New York City. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Mr. Difarnecio,
a filmmaker, graduated from Pratt Institute and attended
Goldsmiths College and Richmond College, both in London.
He has shown his work in Sweden, Cuba, Amsterdam, London,
and in the U.S., including several exhibitions in New York
City. Mr. Difarnecio will be showing his film entitled "Depart
(Walking Away Until I Disappear from View)", which
is currently being shown at the Stark Gallery in New York
City.
Susan
Gosin, Princeton, NJ. Founder and co-chairman of the
Dieu Donne Paper Mill in New York City, Ms. Gosin is a writer,
book publisher and artist. She will serve on the "Art
in the Landscape" panel, presenting two artists who
produce art work at the Dieu Donne Papermill: Laura Anderson,
also collaborates on projects in the Venezuelan rainforests;
Winifred Lutz produces outdoor installations concerned with
perception, and the heightening awareness of landscape.
Ms. Gosin will also be doing a collaboration with Nancy
Bowen, creating vessels made with Seaweed.
Philip
Heckscher, New York City. Mr. Heckscher also serves
on the Advisory Board.
Gillie
Holme, New York City. Born in India, Ms. Holme is a
graduate of the Central School of Art in London. She works
in mixed media, including sculpture, which she will be organizing
for the collaborative tidal piece, "Clam-flat Blues."
Most recently, Ms. Holme exhibited work at the Bronx Museum
in New York. She also works as a caterer and will be creating
unusual and unique table and food configurations during
her visit to Mount Desert Island.
Anthony
Korner, New York City. Mr. Korner is the publisher and
executive director of Art Forum Magazine, an internationally
distributed publication highly regarded for its reviews
of exhibitions, as well as its feature articles on established
and emerging artists. Art Forum’s contributors are
highly regarded in their fields, and have made major contributions
to the study of art and art history. Mr. Korner is also
a filmmaker, and will be showing a short film entitled "Helen,
Queen of the Nautch Girls," about a female dancer from
India.
Nancy
Manter, New York City. Artist and faculty member at
Princeton University in the Visual Arts Department, Ms.
Manter is also the founder and Director of Mount Desert
Symposiums in the Arts, and the creator of the "Scarecrow
Exhibition" at Beech Hill Farms on the Island, now
a yearly event. Ms. Manter will serve on the panel "Art
and the Landscape," presenting slides on her work as
a painter and an earth artist, exploring how they relate
to the theme of "Land Escape 2001."
Sam
Shaw, Southwest Harbor, ME. Graduate of the Rhode Island
School of Design in sculpture and jewelry, Mr. Shaw is also
the founder and director of Shaw’s Jewelry in Northeast
Harbor, ME, a gallery that exhibits unique gems and jewelry.
Mr. Shaw shows contemporary Maine artists, while also representing
and exhibiting several important art estates. Mr. Shaw has
received numerous awards and has chaired many prestigious
arts organizations. He will be presentation on gems and
stones he incorporates from various landscapes into his
own work. Mr. Shaw is also on the Advisory Board.
Jody
Silvio, Silversprings, MD. Ms. Silvio is an educational
administrator of 250 public schools in Montgomery County.
She will be involved on the cuisine side of the program,
and will serve as a public relations advisor. Ms. Silvio
was also a coordinator of events for the "Scarecrow/Higher
Elevations" sculpture exhibition last year at Beech
Hill Farms.
Justin
Spring, New York City. Art Historian and writer, Mr.
Spring has written extensively on art, and recently published
is his biography Fairfield Porter: A Life in Art, which
will serve as the basis for his July 25 lecture at the College
of the Atlantic. Mr. Spring has recently been awarded a
Guggenheim fellowship for 2001-2002.
Martha
Swetzoff, Rhode Island. Ms. Swetzoff earned an MS Degree
from MIT Media Lab, and is currently on the faculty at the
Rhode Island School of Design. She is a filmmaker and media
designer for live performances, and will be presenting "Theme
Murder," her award-winning documentary on the unsolved
murder of her father, the Boston art dealer Hyman Swetzoff.
Lucy
Weismann, New York City. Graduate of Georgetown University’s
Foreign Service School, Ms. Weismann is currently studying
film at The New School. She will present "In the Red,"
a three-minute comedy about menstruation. She is serving
as the co-chair of the film selection committee.
