Revolution: Thesis at ALN

Aln SummerWorkshop

Dec 27

Summer 2019

Averill Park, NY, United States

Together, Revolution: Thesis at ALN and the Summer Residency created a framework for Summer at ALN 2019, which brought people from 13 countries, to participate in the programs. While each of these programs had its own unique character, they both offered space for people to pursue their questions in conversation with others and create emergent works within a creative community.

Thesis at ALN was led by David Gersten, to give artists, makers and thinkers of any discipline the time and space to explore their questions and to develop their personal works. The four week program included a regular schedule of, one-on-one, studio visits, as well as, weekly seminars and listening critiques. The creative intensity that people brought to their works was incredible, the studios were bubbling with works and conversations. Over the four weeks, the questions and projects grew in depth - it was stunningly beautiful.

The Summer Residency was a 2-4 weeks focused residency for artists interested in the opportunity to interact with ALN’s other ongoing programs and overlapping events. The Residency was structured to provide creative opportunities while developing meaningful relationships with other artists. With the freedom to shape one's workspace in the historic Faith Mills complex and the ability to work outdoors, the Residency cultivated individual and collaborative explorations.

One of the hopes of the summer was to create space and time for people to really immerse in their works, and to develop a ‘studio culture’ fostered by regular studio visits from David Gersten, ALN Fellows and Visiting Artists. Like many elements of ALN, studio visits took many forms and far exceeded the bounds of the ‘studio’ including, ‘Barn Visits’, ‘Woods Visits’, ‘Dock Visits’ and a regular schedule of ‘Kitchen Studio Visits’ led by Frida Foberg. The essential element of intimate conversations around peoples works will continue and grow year-round.

A fundamental aspect of all the programs at ALN is people coming together, whether it’s during the daily dinners, sharing of works, concerts, exhibitions, or community events. This summer was no exception: open mics, ping pong, 3rd Thursday, Troy night out, t-time, concerts, listening critiques and at the end of it all; a festival, titled ‘Come Make with Us’. Each of these gathering created a shared space of interacting, sharing and listening.