Byrdcliffe Colony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Byrdcliffe Historic District
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, Ulster County, New York |
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| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001643 |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1979 |
The Byrdcliffe Colony, also called the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, is a historic place near Woodstock, New York. It was started in 1902 by Jane Byrd McCall and Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead with their friends, Bolton Brown and Hervey White. It is the oldest art and crafts colony still working in America.
The colony was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement began in the late 1800s. It was a way to push back against boring, factory-made items. Instead, it focused on creating beautiful, handmade things. Byrdcliffe was an experiment in "utopian living." This means people tried to create an ideal community where they lived and worked together.
Today, the colony is still active. It covers about 300 acres (1.2 square kilometers) and has 35 original buildings. All these buildings are designed in the Arts and Crafts style. You can take a self-guided walking tour or hike to the mountain top for amazing views of the Catskill Mountains.
Byrdcliffe hosts music, theater, and art shows. It also has an Artist-In-Residence program. Each summer, over 70 artists live and work there. They include writers, composers, and visual artists. Byrdcliffe also has an art center in Woodstock called the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts. It shows contemporary art several times a year.
Where is Byrdcliffe?
Byrdcliffe is located in Woodstock, New York. Woodstock is surrounded by the beautiful Catskill Mountains. The original Byrdcliffe estate covered 1,500 acres (6 square kilometers). It sits on the side of Mount Guardian, just above Woodstock.
This location was chosen to inspire artists. It offered a rustic, natural setting. Woodstock also has a strong connection to the art world. It is close to New York City's art and culture scene. Famous painters like Milton Avery and Philip Guston lived there.
Byrdcliffe's History
Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead dreamed of creating an Arts and Crafts community. He wanted a place where all kinds of art could come together. This included painting, sculpture, music, metalwork, and furniture making.
He first tried to start a community in California and Oregon, but it didn't work out. So, he sent his friend Bolton Brown to explore the Hudson Valley. Bolton chose Woodstock, New York, as the perfect spot. The colony was named "Byrdcliffe" by combining Ralph Whitehead's middle name and his wife Jane's middle name.
Artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers came from all over. They stayed at Byrdcliffe to find inspiration. They loved the setting and being with other artists. The colony had studios for painting, weaving, pottery, and woodworking. It also had cottages, a library, and a large home for the Whitehead family. Ralph Whitehead's home, "White Pines," had a special weaving room with a skylight. It offered beautiful views of the Woodstock Valley.
Hervey White, one of the founders, later left Byrdcliffe. He started a new colony nearby called Maverick Artist Colony. Byrdcliffe was well-funded and run mostly by Ralph Whitehead. Maverick was more relaxed and communal.
Byrdcliffe didn't quite become the self-sufficient art community it hoped to be. It became very expensive to run. Also, Ralph Whitehead's strong control made it feel less free for some. Still, Byrdcliffe continued for almost 30 years under his guidance.
After Ralph Whitehead passed away in 1929, his wife Jane and son Peter tried to keep the colony going. After Jane's death in 1955, Peter sold some land to pay for taxes and upkeep. He kept the main part of the colony intact. The Whiteheads wanted Byrdcliffe to help people in Woodstock study and practice fine arts and crafts.
Even though the original "utopian experiment" changed, Byrdcliffe continued to attract many famous people. Educator John Dewey, author Thomas Mann, and naturalist John Burroughs visited. Dancer Isadora Duncan performed at White Pines. Bob Dylan lived in a house at Byrdcliffe in the 1960s and early 1970s. Actress Joanne Woodward was involved with the Byrdcliffe Theatre.
Artist in Residence Program
The Artist in Residence program has been running at Byrdcliffe for about 20 years. It now hosts over 75 artists during four summer sessions. Artists live in shared buildings or private cottages. This helps create a strong creative community, just as the founders wanted.
There are many large workspaces and studios available. Many visual artists, writers, college professors, and composers come to focus on their work. Artists can use a ceramics studio, a jewelry making studio, and a darkroom. There are also large performance spaces like the Byrdcliffe Theater and the Barn. Composers can work in a studio with a 1905 Steinway piano.
Byrdcliffe Today
After Peter Whitehead's death in 1975, Byrdcliffe was given to the Woodstock Guild of Craftsmen. This group has continued to manage the colony and its programs. In 1979, the Byrdcliffe Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognized its important history and architecture. Since 1984, Byrdcliffe's cottages have been rented only to working artists. This helps keep the founder's artistic vision alive.
Byrdcliffe is now owned by the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild (WBG). This is a non-profit organization that supports many arts. It has over 600 members. The WBG's Kleinert/James Center for the Arts hosts local and national artists. They perform, show visual art, and read literary works. The WBG also offers many art classes.
