A quiet residency program for artists, educators, administrators, environmentalists and agrarians to incubate new work and celebrate nature.
Aunt Karen’s Farm is an incubator residency site for individuals, families and companies whose life and work involves a professional relationship to the arts and education community. Amid the natural landscape of rural New York, we believe that creativity and learning are enriched and grow from focused explorations between disciplines. The pastoral landscape encourages a philosophical dialogue between culture and agriculture. We encourage programs which are environmentally sustainable and nurture an appreciation of the land. We welcome residencies that refresh and restore vision and purpose. We are process, not product driven. Aunt Karen’s Farm provides a site for cultivation of both earth and spirit.
What the artists are saying...
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"It was immensely helpful for me to have the time away from the city to jumpstart my composing for this current project of solo piano pieces. I was able to complete four brand new compositions while I was at the residency.
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"I have known Karen since the early 1970s -- she is an accomplished colleague who is respected throughout the arts and cultural fields. Aunt Karen's Farm is a bucolic environment, structured to serve individuals and groups who seek the time to examine issues and topics within a peaceful and supportive structure. This unique resource is situated in the beautiful countryside of upstate New York, and is filled with comfortable amenities. The Farm is overseen by Karen and her staff who are generous and sensitive hosts, always keenly aware of an individual's need for solitude and a group's needs for participatory action."
– Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer Emeritus at Brooklyn Academy of Music
"Proof that Aunt Karen's Farm works: for 4 years I've been struggling to write the sequel to my novel Ghetto Cowboy. I've done 3 versions and threw them all away and started from scratch -- something I never do. Honestly I was about to give up on it but visiting the movie set then settling on your farm somehow was the magic elixir that made it work. I wrote almost 100 pages there then managed to continue the momentum at home and will turn in my first real draft this week. It happened very quickly and it all came together like magic. I'm kind of shocked it worked but one thing I am grateful for is my time up there. There is something in the air and I hope to breathe it again."
- Greg Neri, author
"Aunt Karen’s Farm provided all the right elements for our group to get our creative juices flowing, and a new and innovative collaborative project was incubated there! Karen is a warm, engaging, delightful conversationalist and she put us all at ease. The location provided opportunities to satisfy our changing needs and moods: a solitary walk around the property, a social trip to the farmer’s market in Cooperstown, a large airy common room with space enough to move, shout, sing and create, and space enough in the houses for each of us to have our own room, allowing for journaling and reflection before bed. I eagerly await the chance for a return visit!"
– Bill Wood, storyteller
– Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer Emeritus at Brooklyn Academy of Music
"Proof that Aunt Karen's Farm works: for 4 years I've been struggling to write the sequel to my novel Ghetto Cowboy. I've done 3 versions and threw them all away and started from scratch -- something I never do. Honestly I was about to give up on it but visiting the movie set then settling on your farm somehow was the magic elixir that made it work. I wrote almost 100 pages there then managed to continue the momentum at home and will turn in my first real draft this week. It happened very quickly and it all came together like magic. I'm kind of shocked it worked but one thing I am grateful for is my time up there. There is something in the air and I hope to breathe it again."
- Greg Neri, author
"Aunt Karen’s Farm provided all the right elements for our group to get our creative juices flowing, and a new and innovative collaborative project was incubated there! Karen is a warm, engaging, delightful conversationalist and she put us all at ease. The location provided opportunities to satisfy our changing needs and moods: a solitary walk around the property, a social trip to the farmer’s market in Cooperstown, a large airy common room with space enough to move, shout, sing and create, and space enough in the houses for each of us to have our own room, allowing for journaling and reflection before bed. I eagerly await the chance for a return visit!"
– Bill Wood, storyteller
