Hello again!
This week, Making SPACE features a double header of reflections from two SPACE alumni on their time in the converted Chicken Coop. One of SPACE's most coveted resident work spaces, the Coop is tucked away between our beehives and a herd of sheep. It is a secluded place for musicians to get loud, visual artists to get messy, and writers to get a spark of inspiration. The faint buzzing of nearby bees provides a warm soundtrack to fuel creativity. Playwright and multi-hyphenate theater professional Dominic D'Andrea and visual artist Amy Cutler were excited to share their coop experiences with you below.
- Dominic D'Andrea, Creative Residency 2022
Dominic is the director of community engagement at Queens Theatre and served as the first ever regional ambassador for the Hudson Valley, where he spent his time advocating for HV playwrights on a local and national level for resources, artistic funding, and visibility.
- Amy Cutler, Family Residency 2022
Amy's drawings, paintings, and prints often focus on groups of women, dressed in Victorian style clothing, doing familiar "women's work". Despite her figures' childlike appearances they exhibit darker themes such as poverty, social injustice and violence.
We fundamentally believe that artists deserve the time to create new works and to envision new, sustainable futures. SPACE’s mission remains: to create an environment singular in its ability to invigorate artists and innovators and their work.
Help us MAKE SPACE by supporting artists like Dominic and Amy today
ABOUT THE CHICKEN COOP
This Chicken Coop was once fondly referred to as the ‘Hilton Hen House,’ as it is an incredibly engineered Chicken Coop. In the spring of 2016, the Coop was revitalized by SPACE staff and volunteers and is now a flexible workspace for artists. The coop contains two large desks, a Roland Juno-DS weighted keyboard, and ample white wall space. Past residents have used this space both for music recording and as a visual arts studio.
Artwork & Illustrations by Jessie Mahon
Photos by HudValley Photo