All improvement in the sphere
of politics is to proceed
from the ennobling of
character- but how is character
ever going to be ennobled
while under the influence of a
barbaric political
constitution? Presumably we have
to find
an instrument that could enable
this, an instrument not
provided by the state, that could open up living springs which,
whatever the political
corruption, would remain clear and true.
-Friederich Schiller on
culture and fine art
Report from Free Columbia in 2011-2012
If you travel north by train
from NYC along the arm of the sea (the Hudson River), you will come to the town
of Hudson in the county of Columbia.
One of the many things going on in the area of this whaling town become
antique hub is a project dedicated to the practice and study of art and culture
called Free Columbia. It has been
growing over the last four years.
It began as the collaboration of two artists but now includes the
contributions of many more. The
main activity of this project has been the creation of workshops, conferences,
puppet shows, lecture evenings and, most ambitiously, a nine month full time course. This course is currently in its third year and it
includes painting, drawing, puppetry, eurythmy, philosophy of aesthetics,
Goethean observation and study of anthroposophy. Our faculty includes Laura Summer, Nathaniel Williams, Ella
Lapointe, Karen Derremeaux and Henrike Holdrege. In addition we welcome guest
lecturers, Sarah Hearn, Craig Holdrege, Seth Jordan, Michael Howard, Ted Pugh,
Fern Sloan, Doug Sloan, Patrick Stolfo, and Steve Talbott. With the participation
of such able faculty Free Columbia can be seen as an experiential Foundation
Year in Anthroposophy as well as an introduction to painting.
No
matter the project at hand, Free Columbia is always an attempt at approaching
art’s spiritual aspects. Working
with spiritual science and Steiner’s anthroposophy is a great leaven in
this. Free Columbia is a place to
cultivate the dialogue on culture with Kandinsky, Rothko, Van Gogh, Beuys, Cezanne,
Goethe, Schiller, Merlou Ponty, Gadamer, Klee, Steffen and Deleuze among
others.
Over the last year the project
has grown. The year long course
has quadrupled in size. The work
is intensifying with the growing number of people investing their participation.
Free Columbia has a circle of
supporters who value what we are trying to do. They contribute materials and supplies, books and monthly
financial pledges. We are trying
to create an atmosphere at Free Columbia that supports creativity and autonomy,
so we are not interested in external accreditation or funding with strings
attached. We are also trying to
make it accessible to those who should participate in it due to their interests
and abilities regardless of their financial means. There are no fixed tuitions for participation in any
courses. The annual expenses are
presently a humble $55,000.
We are at the beginning of this
year’s journey. If you would like to follow along with us block by block, you
may do at http://freecolumbia.blogspot.com/
We will accept applications for the 2012-13 year from
March 1st to May 1st 2012.
Information about the course and the summer intensives
can be found at http://www.freecolumbia.org/
Nathaniel Williams and Laura Summer
"I'm glad to participate in such a positive space, amidst responsive people, where good things can touch ground."
Travis Henry, Full Time Student
"I'm glad to participate in such a positive space, amidst responsive people, where good things can touch ground."
Travis Henry, Full Time Student
“The atmosphere here is one of free thinking and free learning that I have never really experienced before. It is a mood of inquisitive exploration and observation. To nurture each others beings and to bring something good into the world pervades life together in the studio.”
Laurel Iselin, Full Time Student
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