Programs
As an artistic incubator, Aunt Karen's Farm provides a flexible and safe environment for exploring various artistic projects, particularly in writing, choreography, and performing arts. Below are examples of how artists have used their residencies.
At the moment, artist residencies begin with a referral by members of our Advisory Council or Leadership Team. We are working towards expanding our opportunities, but can’t yet accept unsolicited applications. Follow us on Facebook for updates!
At the moment, artist residencies begin with a referral by members of our Advisory Council or Leadership Team. We are working towards expanding our opportunities, but can’t yet accept unsolicited applications. Follow us on Facebook for updates!
Dedicated Artistic Retreats
Members of the Reunion of Antarctic Artists and Writers (hosted in 2019 & 2022) reflect on their experiences at Aunt Karen's Farm.
What an amazing creative oasis and wonderful place to cultivate both solo and collaborative projects! I’ve stayed at AKF three times and each time I depart feeling creatively energized. Karen and her fantastic team provided a beautiful and peaceful space that our group of artists and writers could gather together from all corners of the world to discuss past, present and future Antarctic collaborations. Our latest, post-Covid reunion was wildly successful!
- Kirsten Carlson, Ocean Artist & Co-Chair, Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective
Aunt Karen’s Farm was a wonderful environment in which to hold the second in-person meeting of our collective. The first thing that struck me was how peaceful the surroundings were every time I walked outside. Just being surrounded by woods, fields of goldenrod and rolling hills makes you feel calm and receptive; you can hear yourself think. The staff is cheerful and accommodating, and we were well taken care of in terms of meals and accommodations. I recommend the farm as a place to hold a retreat for small groups.
- Helen Glazer, Sculptor & Photographer, Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective
I spent close to a week at Aunt Karen’s farm this summer. It was a wonderful experience. Aunt Karen is generous, kind and smart. She has created a place where people can convene and also have space to contemplate and explore on one’s own. The landscape is magnificent, her staff is thoughtful and accommodating, and she is a pleasure to be around. I look forward to returning, it has become an important place in my heart.
- Elise Engler, Visual Artist, Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective
Aunt Karen's Farm is a place of reflection, inspiration, and community. It has been the setting and catalyst for the formation of the Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective (AAWC), and as such, I can't overstate what a positive influence it has had on my artistic practice and scholarship. Nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Catskills, Aunt Karen's Farm's serene landscapes, pleasant accommodations, and kind, considerate staff provided the means for a disparate group of artists to unite to produce a whole much greater than the sum of its parts. Aunt Karen is a gracious and resourceful host, an advocate for artists. After the last reunion of AAWC I had the opportunity to spend several additional days at the farm to work on a book project that, up until that week, had only been the beginnings of an idea. By the end of the week, I looked up from the kitchen table in Bird House and had a preliminary outline and a clear sense of what I needed to do next.
- Trish Suchy, Video and performance artist and educator, Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective
Artists with Families
Working in the arts presents unique challenges and rewards for artist families. Drawing on the many cultural and ecological resources of Cooperstown and the surrounding Central New York region, Aunt Karen’s Farm is committed to providing residencies for the whole family with conversation, family activities, shared meals, and quiet time for contemplation, creating support and enrichment within a network of similar art professionals.
In August 2017, we worked collaboratively with The Farmers' Museum to provide rural educational programming for the urban families who participated. This work was made possible through the generous support of the Sustainable Arts Foundation.
Working in the arts presents unique challenges and rewards for artist families. Drawing on the many cultural and ecological resources of Cooperstown and the surrounding Central New York region, Aunt Karen’s Farm is committed to providing residencies for the whole family with conversation, family activities, shared meals, and quiet time for contemplation, creating support and enrichment within a network of similar art professionals.
In August 2017, we worked collaboratively with The Farmers' Museum to provide rural educational programming for the urban families who participated. This work was made possible through the generous support of the Sustainable Arts Foundation.
In March 2017, local actors Danielle and Michael Henrici, with their 18 month old son Dashiell, joined the conversation of building family-friendly opportunities for artists at Aunt Karen's Farm. Danielle is the Director of Education at the New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown, NY.
Art and Environment
In 2018, artist Melissa Gollance created a land art installation in the shape of her fingerprint on the field beside Harvest House. Visitors walked upon these earth ripples and pondered the artwork's meditation on our organic and digital encounters. This effort took the hands of a community and resulted in a piece of remarkable scale and effect. The Daily Star documents the culmination of this multi-participant project.
"Dear Karen, Thank you for your support + generosity throughout the process of creating Probe and implementing the surrounding programming. I am forever grateful for your early faith in the project, and for the spirit you have imbued in this residency – one that is contagious and is felt by all of my guests. It has been a real joy to collaborate with you on this grand project." – Melissa Gollance
In 2018, artist Melissa Gollance created a land art installation in the shape of her fingerprint on the field beside Harvest House. Visitors walked upon these earth ripples and pondered the artwork's meditation on our organic and digital encounters. This effort took the hands of a community and resulted in a piece of remarkable scale and effect. The Daily Star documents the culmination of this multi-participant project.
"Dear Karen, Thank you for your support + generosity throughout the process of creating Probe and implementing the surrounding programming. I am forever grateful for your early faith in the project, and for the spirit you have imbued in this residency – one that is contagious and is felt by all of my guests. It has been a real joy to collaborate with you on this grand project." – Melissa Gollance
Writers & Storytellers
Participants in the 2016 Spring Writers' Residency share their experiences at Aunt Karen's Farm:
"Spending the weekend at the Farm, whether walking down the road and quietly thinking, or making meals together with fifteen other storytellers, gave us at the great opportunity to let ideas bubble up, tumble over each other, and finally become real action which has resulted in a new show On the Road with Orpheus which we performed in June at the Grapevine in Washington, DC." – Gerald Fierst (Gerald has since published the children's book Imagine the Moon in 2017)
"Our group of storytellers and writers found Karen’s Farm to be highly congenial to our process of improvisation and discovery. The rural setting provides space for both solitude and sustained interaction. Housing is comfortable, neither lavish nor Spartan–a perfect place for creative energies to be unleashed and for buttermilk pancakes to be consumed." – Luray Gross
"I don't think I could have written ["Stillness in Four Movements"] without the stillness of Aunt Karen's Farm. It was perfect." – Annie Levin
Participants in the 2016 Spring Writers' Residency share their experiences at Aunt Karen's Farm:
"Spending the weekend at the Farm, whether walking down the road and quietly thinking, or making meals together with fifteen other storytellers, gave us at the great opportunity to let ideas bubble up, tumble over each other, and finally become real action which has resulted in a new show On the Road with Orpheus which we performed in June at the Grapevine in Washington, DC." – Gerald Fierst (Gerald has since published the children's book Imagine the Moon in 2017)
"Our group of storytellers and writers found Karen’s Farm to be highly congenial to our process of improvisation and discovery. The rural setting provides space for both solitude and sustained interaction. Housing is comfortable, neither lavish nor Spartan–a perfect place for creative energies to be unleashed and for buttermilk pancakes to be consumed." – Luray Gross
"I don't think I could have written ["Stillness in Four Movements"] without the stillness of Aunt Karen's Farm. It was perfect." – Annie Levin
Theater
The Drilling Company rehearsed at Aunt Karen’s farm in spring 2016 to prepare for their summer productions in New York City's Bryant Park.
The Drilling Company rehearsed at Aunt Karen’s farm in spring 2016 to prepare for their summer productions in New York City's Bryant Park.
Music & Composing
January 2018 residency: "Getting to work at Aunt Karen’s Farm is an honor. Aunt Karen and the AKF Family have built a place founded in deep respect for the landscape and artistic process. The beauty and intention of the space was tremendously nourishing and energizing as I worked to write and arrange songs for my album My Blue House." – Celeste Krishna
2019 residency: “Foremothers is a collection of piano-driven instrumental pieces that I’ve composed and recorded over the last couple of years in celebration of female ancestors and role models. A very special thanks to everyone who directly contributed to making this album, including Karen at Aunt Karen’s Farm for providing the artist incubator space in upstate New York where I composed a majority of these pieces.” –Adele Fournet
January 2018 residency: "Getting to work at Aunt Karen’s Farm is an honor. Aunt Karen and the AKF Family have built a place founded in deep respect for the landscape and artistic process. The beauty and intention of the space was tremendously nourishing and energizing as I worked to write and arrange songs for my album My Blue House." – Celeste Krishna
2019 residency: “Foremothers is a collection of piano-driven instrumental pieces that I’ve composed and recorded over the last couple of years in celebration of female ancestors and role models. A very special thanks to everyone who directly contributed to making this album, including Karen at Aunt Karen’s Farm for providing the artist incubator space in upstate New York where I composed a majority of these pieces.” –Adele Fournet
In fall 2015, performance duo Robinson & Rohe completed a music composition residency then released their latest album Hunger in summer 2017. "We had a productive and restful time at Aunt Karen's Farm in fall 2015. It is such a gift for us city dwellers to have the time and space to hash out new song ideas and develop repertoire in the company of trees, deer, and migrating birds, not to mention Karen and the other artists in residence, with whom we broke bread and shared work."
– Robinson & Rohe
– Robinson & Rohe
Open House Weekend
Artists from an array of backgrounds and disciplines gathered in spring 2016 to enjoy the Farm's peaceful, no-pressure surroundings, and share their work with each other. Part of the weekend included a site visit at SUNY Cobleskill, where our artists had the wonderful opportunity to explore the nexus of art and ecology, and ruminate on why the word "culture" is embedded in “agriculture.”
Artists from an array of backgrounds and disciplines gathered in spring 2016 to enjoy the Farm's peaceful, no-pressure surroundings, and share their work with each other. Part of the weekend included a site visit at SUNY Cobleskill, where our artists had the wonderful opportunity to explore the nexus of art and ecology, and ruminate on why the word "culture" is embedded in “agriculture.”
Videography
While at Aunt Karen's Farm in fall 2017, videographers Katherine Fana and Nicholas Angeles took long contemplative walks, conversed while enjoying the natural views and gentle breezes, and set up their computer on the porch to write a script.
“Thank you so much for everything! You have given us a piece of heaven on earth and we can’t wait to return.”
While at Aunt Karen's Farm in fall 2017, videographers Katherine Fana and Nicholas Angeles took long contemplative walks, conversed while enjoying the natural views and gentle breezes, and set up their computer on the porch to write a script.
“Thank you so much for everything! You have given us a piece of heaven on earth and we can’t wait to return.”
Multimedia
In 2013, Aunt Karen’s Farm was featured in an independent film directed by Justin Lerner’s production company for THE AUTOMATIC HATE (watch film trailer). Upon the film's release in 2015, it was met with critical success. Variety called it an "arresting, skillfully directed seriocomedy." The Farm served not only as a backdrop for many of the scenes, but members of the crew lived on-site in the guest houses during the filming.
“It was SO WONDERFUL shooting on your farm and a month and a half I will not soon forget. I'm still dreaming of waking up at Harmony House, having a coffee on the deck and taking a walk through those woods... just amazing. I can't wait to see you guys again soon.” – Justin Lerner
In 2013, Aunt Karen’s Farm was featured in an independent film directed by Justin Lerner’s production company for THE AUTOMATIC HATE (watch film trailer). Upon the film's release in 2015, it was met with critical success. Variety called it an "arresting, skillfully directed seriocomedy." The Farm served not only as a backdrop for many of the scenes, but members of the crew lived on-site in the guest houses during the filming.
“It was SO WONDERFUL shooting on your farm and a month and a half I will not soon forget. I'm still dreaming of waking up at Harmony House, having a coffee on the deck and taking a walk through those woods... just amazing. I can't wait to see you guys again soon.” – Justin Lerner
Playwrights
In collaboration with Shenandoah International Playwrights, Aunt Karen launched a Playwrights Program in 2009. Sarah Standing was our first playwright. She came to the farm for two separate sessions to develop her first play, which in 2013 was produced in workshop, directed by dramaturge Robert Graham Small and performed by a group of area and NYC actors. Aunt Karen looks forward to hosting additional playwrights in residence at the farm and further collaborations with noted directors.
In collaboration with Shenandoah International Playwrights, Aunt Karen launched a Playwrights Program in 2009. Sarah Standing was our first playwright. She came to the farm for two separate sessions to develop her first play, which in 2013 was produced in workshop, directed by dramaturge Robert Graham Small and performed by a group of area and NYC actors. Aunt Karen looks forward to hosting additional playwrights in residence at the farm and further collaborations with noted directors.
Environment
Planning has been initiated for an exciting pollinator garden at the farm. Consisting of native plants, this garden will attract, feed, and be nourished by a variety of birds, bees, butterflies, and a host of other pollinators. Signage, walking trails, and seating area are envisioned.
This is a project of the non-profit Aunt Karen’s Farm which welcomes donations to further its work.
Planning has been initiated for an exciting pollinator garden at the farm. Consisting of native plants, this garden will attract, feed, and be nourished by a variety of birds, bees, butterflies, and a host of other pollinators. Signage, walking trails, and seating area are envisioned.
This is a project of the non-profit Aunt Karen’s Farm which welcomes donations to further its work.
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Photography
In the spring of 2014, Daniel De Raey became the Farm’s first photographer-artist-in-residence. “It was special . . . a project started with a picture of a coffee cup. It is evolving into a stained glass panel made of photo transfers on acrylic gel. I really like the way the photo transfers work with candlelight. Another photo was taken in an antiques store near the Farm of a clown doll in an antique baby stroller. I'm fond of photos that look as if they were painted. It also started my interest in backlighting, mixed media and stained glass. A third project started with an old house down the road and evolved into a study for a collage. Boy was this terrific! What it did for the work...what it did for my head...just spectacular!” – Daniel De Raey |
