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Vijay Iyer – 2012 Greenfield Prize Winner

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Greenfield Foundation are proud to announce that Composer-Pianist Vijay Iyer is the winner of the $30,000 Greenfield Prize, awarded this year in the field of music. Iyer will receive the award at a special celebration dinner on April 1, 2012 in Sarasota, FL. Serving on the jury that selected Iyer were Linda Golding, past president of Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. music publishers and founder of The Reservoir; Jennifer Koh, solo violinist and prolific recitalist, and Limor Tomer, general manager of concerts and lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Vijay Iyer - photo courtesy of Jimmy Katz

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Greenfield Foundation are proud to announce that Composer-Pianist Vijay Iyer is the winner of the $30,000 Greenfield Prize, awarded this year in the field of music. Iyer will receive the award at a special celebration dinner on April 1, 2012 in Sarasota, FL. Serving on the jury that selected Iyer were Linda Golding, past president of Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. music publishers and founder of The Reservoir; Jennifer Koh, solo violinist and prolific recitalist, and Limor Tomer, general manager of concerts and lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“I’m honored, delighted, and surprised by this award,” said Mr. Iyer. “It’s rare and astonishing for my work to be embraced on such a scale, and it’s a particularly special honor coming from the Greenfield Prize’s interdisciplinary perspective. This award will make a tremendous difference in my life in the coming year. It enables me to focus less on ‘career’ and more on art and community, two powerful and interrelated forces that can nourish and sustain us all. For this opportunity I am tremendously grateful.”

We are very excited to make this announcement. Since the Prize is awarded in rotation to three different arts disciplines, every year we have the great privilege of working with the top people in whatever field the prize is to be awarded in. Linda, Jennifer and Limor did a wonderful job. We look forward to April 1 when we not only present Vijay with the Prize, but also begin the two-year process of working with him and provide whatever support he needs to realize his commission.

Vijay Iyer is a Grammy-nominated composer-pianist who has been described by Pitchford as “one of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today,” by The New Yorker as one of “today’s most important pianists…extravagantly gifted… brilliantly eclectic,” and by Los Angeles Weekly as a “boundless and deeply important young star.” He was voted the 2010 Musician of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and named one the 50 most Influential Global Indians” by GQ India. Iyer has released 15 albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Historicity” (2009), which was named #1 Jazz album of the year in the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Metro Times, NPR, PopMatters.com, Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll and Downbeat International Critics Poll. Among his many awards, Iyer has received the Alpert Award of the Arts and the New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship.

On March 13 Iyer is releasing his new CD titled Accelerando (ACT Music + Vision). In addition to his performing life, he has composed on commission for the Silk Road Ensemble, Brentano String Quartet, American Composer’s Orchestra, Ethel, and filmmakers Bill Morrison (who will be in residence at the Hermitage this spring) and Haile Gerima.

The producing partner for this year’s Greenfield Prize winner will be the La Musica International Chamber Music Festival. As producing partner they will be a resource to Mr. Iyer as he completes his commission and they will be premiering the work in the 2014 festival.
You can find much more information on Vijay Iyer on his website at www.vijay-iyver.com. And you can see Mr. Iyer in concert recorded recently (January 12, 2012) on the National Public Radio site at http://www.npr.org/event/music/144979104/vijay-iyer-trio-live-in-concert?sc=fb&cc=fmp&fb_source=message.

Artist Ralph Lemon Asks Questions

Artist Ralph Lemon began by asking dancers to write a question, then dance the question. He asked others watching, do you know the dancer’s question? Does it matter? He asked the dancers, “Does it matter that people are watching?” He ended with “The resonance that was left behind is of the ‘doing,’ beyond the rigor and the discipline of dance…the other stuff is just the parts”.

Ralph Lemon

Artist Ralph Lemon began by asking dancers to write a question, then dance the question. He asked others watching, do you know the dancer’s question? Does it matter? He asked the dancers, “Does it matter that people are watching?” He ended with “The resonance that was left behind is of the ‘doing,’ beyond the rigor and the discipline of dance…the other stuff is just the parts”. This was at a workshop partnership between the Hermitage and the newly formed Sarasota Dance Alliance. More images taken by Ralph Barnette are on the Hermitage Facebook.

Annie Morrison, Hermitage Artist reads at Bookstore1

Ann Morrison is an award-winning professional actor for over 25 years, and starred on Broadway (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG) awarding her a Theatre World Award. Seen locally in theatres and cabarets, Annie has created DISCOURSE OF A MAID, part one of a trilogy based on Celtic Mythology and storytelling.

Hermitage Fellow, Ann Morrison will read at Bookstore! on January 10 at 6:00 PM.

Ann Morrison is an award-winning professional actor for over 25 years, and starred on Broadway (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG) awarding her a Theatre World Award. Seen locally in theatres and cabarets, Annie has created DISCOURSE OF A MAID, part one of a trilogy based on Celtic Mythology and storytelling. She is currently developing her second series in the trilogy called MOVEMENT OF A MODRON after her sabbatical in Scotland and Glastonbury, England. After being invited to the Hermitage Artist Retreat for a three week writing venture, Ann has completed her draft of MOVEMENT OF THE MODRON which takes the audience on a storytelling adventure through stories from three Celtic Mythology women. Annie shares what their stories have triggered in personal storytelling for her, and weaves a myth for the future based on Annie’s journey.

Bookstore1 is located at 1359 Main St # 101 Sarasota, FL 34236. For information call: (941) 365-7900.

Artful Lobster 2011 A Great Success!

It was a picture perfect day for the annual Artful Lobster (AL) event at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Thanks to the efforts of three-time Chair and Hermitage Trustee Debbi Benedict and her talented committee, the AL had its largest attendance to date.

Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick
Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick

It was a picture perfect day for the annual Artful Lobster (AL) event at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Thanks to the efforts of three-time Chair and Hermitage Trustee Debbi Benedict and her talented committee, the AL had its largest attendance to date; exciting new live and silent auction items, including unique trips to Santa Fe, Antibes and Washington DC; and the always anticipated delicious lobster and barbecue lunch prepared and served by Michael’s On East. Guests were invited to tour the historic campus, generally not open to the public. All artists in residence were in attendance and spoke to guests about their work and Hermitage experience. Topping off the program was a special performance by guest artist and past Hermitage Fellow, Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick. The audience rose to their feet with a standing ovation and if that wasn’t enough, everyone went home with a specially-created CD of Fitzpatrick’s music. And of course it was a rousing financial success. While all bills are not yet accounted for, the ballpark figures point to the largest profit in the event’s history. Thanks to all who attended and contributed to make the afternoon so special.

Hermitage Leaders and Artists Hold Reunion in New York City

Brooklyn Academy of Music and Brooklyn Museum feature Hermitage Artists.

BAM Executive Producer Joseph Melillo with Patricia Caswell and Bruce Rodgers
BAM Executive Producer Joseph Melillo with Patricia Caswell and Bruce Rodgers
Patricia Caswell with composer Bora Yoon (www.borayoon.com), Bruce Rodgers, and Lisa Rubinstein
Patricia Caswell with composer Bora Yoon (www.borayoon.com), Bruce Rodgers, and Lisa Rubinstein

The Hermitage was warmly embraced in New York City on the first day of fall at the opening of Greenfield Prize winner Sanford Biggers’ exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the opening of Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival. BAM featured a Kronos Quartet piece by Hermitage composer Paola Prestini. BAM Executive Producer and Chairman of the Hermitage National Artist Committee, Joseph Melillo hosted the opening reception.

At the BAM reception fond recollections of Hermitage visits were scattered among the conversations of composers Missy Mazzoli and Daniel Levy, artist Laurie Olinder, and filmmaker Bill Morrison.

Hermitage Executive Director Bruce Rodgers, Program Director Patricia Caswell and Publicist Lisa Rubenstein hosted a gathering for past and future Hermitage Fellows from New York City. Among the artists were composers Bora Yoon, Phil Kline, and Mick Rossi (just off a tour with Phillip Glass), artists Michael Eade and Jeffrey Beebe, and writer Melvin Bukiet.

At the Brooklyn Museum they were joined by video artist Derrick Adams, costume painter Margaret Peot, and past Hermitage President Caroline Andrus.

September is for R&R (Repair and Renovation) or (Rust and Rot)

Maintaining historic structures in southwestern Florida and mere feet from the Gulf of Mexico is a challenge. Mother Nature wants this property back, and she uses all her tools of wind, rain, salt, and sun to deteriorate man-made structures. To top it off, she sends her best, most powerful storms in to complete the job. Since September/October is the most active part of the hurricane season, September seems to be the very best time to schedule maintenance and repair and to keep artists from far-flung destinations away from Manasota Key.

Pump House Music Studio
Pump House Music Studio

Maintaining historic structures in southwestern Florida and mere feet from the Gulf of Mexico is a challenge. Mother Nature wants this property back, and she uses all her tools of wind, rain, salt, and sun to deteriorate man-made structures. To top it off, she sends her best, most powerful storms in to complete the job. Since September/October is the most active part of the hurricane season, September seems to be the very best time to schedule maintenance and repair and to keep artists from far-flung destinations away from Manasota Key.

In addition to maintenance, September is the time when we look at the feedback from our artists (each resident completes an evaluation including suggested facility improvements) and decide what facility-related projects to undertake that would improve the artist experience.

We are guided in this work by our wonderful volunteer facilities committee chaired by architect Doug Driscoll and including architect Jonathan Parks, contractor Pat Ball, builder Hitch Baer, volunteer and donor Tom Dignam, and trustees Larry Bold and Caroline Andrus.

This year we received a generous grant of $60,000 from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation targeted to repairs and renovations. The priorities this year will be to significantly improve the acoustical separation between the two Whitney studios, repair and paint the Whitney House exterior, install a Gulf-side picture window in the composer’s studio (Pump House), and repair windows in the Hermitage. Thanks to the generosity of the patrons of last year’s Artful Lobster, we raised enough money to start making screens (and they have to be made individually) for the Hermitage House. And thanks to the generosity of our supporter, Margaret Pennington, we will be installing a new air conditioning unit in the upstairs suite in the Hermitage House, and a new outdoor shower as well.

All of this work has had to pass through an approval process including the County Historic Preservation Board, and the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department. Sarasota County has been and continues to be wonderful partners in this incredible venture that we call the Hermitage Artist Retreat, and we are very grateful for all their cooperation.

We will be reserving this time of year, every year, for challenge of keeping ahead of mother nature. As you can imagine, it’s no easy task. After all she has all the time in the world and we only have 4-6 weeks.

Whitney Front Writer's Studio
Whitney Front Writer's Studio

Five Florida Arts Teachers Selected for Special Residency

We are thrilled to be hosting five STARs at the Hermitage Artist Retreat beginning July 11. The Hermitage and the Florida Alliance For Arts Education (FAAE) have teamed-up to create the State Teacher/Artist Residencies for five Florida public school teachers of visual art, creative writing, and music.

We are thrilled to be hosting five STARs at the Hermitage Artist Retreat beginning July 11. The Hermitage and the Florida Alliance For Arts Education (FAAE) have teamed-up to create the State Teacher/Artist Residencies for five Florida public school teachers of visual art, creative writing, and music.

The first recipients of this annual gift of time and space to devote to their personal artistry are musician Tim Ostrow, L.A. Ainger Middle School, Charlotte County; visual artist/writer Melissa Pranke, Winter Park High School, Orange County; visual artists Patricia Cummins, Palmetto Elementary School, Miami-Dade County and Andrea Huffman, McArthur High School, Broward County; and writer Alan Sincic, Osceola County School for the Arts, Osceola County. The residency will take place during their summer break, July 11 through August 14.

The State of Florida is filled with talented, dedicated artists who are also dedicated public school teachers. The STAR Program was designed to honor and nourish the artist in the educator with the hope that this personal time for concentration in a community of other artists will be a rewarding time to create, share and learn from others.

In April, FAAE notified all eligible school districts of the opportunity. Criteria for selection were based on two areas: position as full-time Florida public school teacher and artistic quality of work samples. Priority was given to Arts Achieve! model schools and counties with Network Partner Coalitions for their continued use of arts education as an important component of their curriculums.

According to Susan Burke, executive director of Florida Alliance for Arts Education, “When Bruce came to us with this idea we were thrilled at the opportunity we could offer to our arts teachers. Today’s teachers are burdened with increasing administrative duties in addition to their teaching responsibilities. The STAR program allows these talented teachers to re-engage with their art. We have no doubt that when they return to their schools, they will be excited and energized with a new enthusiasm for teaching the next generation of writers, painters and composers.”

Five STAR residences will be awarded each spring. The breakdown of arts disciplines will always be one in music, two in writing and two in visual arts to conform to the available studios on the Hermitage campus. For more information on the application process, contact Susan Burke, at the Florida Alliance for Arts Education by calling 407-488-9951 or online at www.faae.org.

Hermitage Artists Premiering New Opera at ENO and the Met

One measure of a great artist retreat is the work that gets created there. And having work published, performed, and exhibited around the world certainly represents one of the great joys of working at an artist community.

One measure of a great artist retreat is the work that gets created there. And having work published, performed, and exhibited around the world certainly represents one of the great joys of working at an artist community. The following link connects to an article in Guardian.co.uk about Two Boys, a new opera commissioned by the English National Opera in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The music for Two Boys is composed by Nico Muhly and the libretto is written by Craig Lucas. The talented collaborators were in residence at the Hermitage in the spring of 2010 when they worked on the piece together.

View a 6-minute clip of composer Nico Muhly playing his composition, Skip Town during his interview on the stage of the Historic Asolo Theater in Sarasota, FL.

Plein Air Painting

On Saturday April 30, Plein air painters from around the county joined Hermitage artist Michael Eade, a landscape painter from New York City.

Plein air painters at the Hermitage
On Saturday April 30, Plein air painters from around the county joined Hermitage artist Michael Eade, a landscape painter from New York City.

Calling All Plein Air Painters to the Hermitage

The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Englewood Art Center and the Englewood Plein Air Painters invite all artists who enjoy painting outdoors to join the artist-in-residence, Michael Eade, in creating paintings of the grounds and historic Hermitage buildings on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A landscape painter and watercolorist, Eade will also hold an open studio for participants to view his latest works of art.

Water color by Belgian artist Tilde Van Uytven, 2011 Hermitage Fellow
Water color by Belgian artist Tilde Van Uytven, 2011 Hermitage Fellow

The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Englewood Art Center and the Englewood Plein Air Painters invite all artists who enjoy painting outdoors to join the artist-in-residence, Michael Eade, in creating paintings of the grounds and historic Hermitage buildings on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A landscape painter and watercolorist, Eade will also hold an open studio for participants to view his latest works of art.

According to Eade, “the plein air painting session will emphasize the use of painterly techniques intended to enhance interpretations of the lushness of the local flora (and maybe even the fauna) surrounding the Retreat and to portray the unique beauty of the barrier island’s landscape, water and light.”

Eade received a BA from Oregon State University and completed further studies at the Staatlichen Akademie der Bildenen Kunst, Stuttgart, focusing on egg tempera painting techniques. He continued graduate studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts focusing on film and computer animation, while concurrently assisting the American artist Louise Nevelson. This NYC resident has received many honors including a fellowship from the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, NYC; the National Academy Museum and School of the Fine Arts, NYC; and the Artists’ Fellowship Inc. Eade’s work is held in many public, corporate and private collections around the country such as the Harvard Business School, the Library of Congress Permanent Collection and commissions by HERMÈS and AT&T. Eade’s next solo exhibition will be in June 2012, at Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY.