Delight.IN THE GROUNDS OF A CALIFORNIANVILLA, ARTISTS AND WRITERS CAN GET DOWN TO SERIOUS CREATIVITY. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Named after the popular Spanish writer Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo, who coined the name California, the Villa Montalvo Villa Montalvo is an Italian Mediterranean style mansion nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in Saratoga, California, United States. It was constructed from 1912 to 1914 by California statesman and businessman James Duval Phelan. was built in 1912 by James Phelan There are several prominent people named James Phelan:
Charles Edwin Anson Markham (April 23, 1852 - March 7, 1940) was an American poet. , and over the years the house and its extensive grounds in Saratoga became a focus for artistic, intellectual and political life. On his death in 1930, Phelan left the Villa Montalvo to the people of California, with the express wish that it be maintained as a centre for artistic endeavour. Today, it operates one of the most successful artist residency An artist residency is a program where artists are given space to live or work for some time at reduced or no cost. Residency programs often give access to tools, and offer the chance to meet and work with notable artists, curators, writers, and theorists. programmes in the US, with 600 artists taking advantage of its facilities since the programme was initiated in 1939. Throughout history, artistic exploration has played an important role in the evolution of human culture. The Montalvo programme provides artists, writers and composers with time, space and community support in an environment conducive to both individual contemplation and energetic exchange between culturally diverse fellows. In the Bay Area there is also a strong tradition of architects designing houses for artists, and this fertile reciprocity continues with a recent series often live/work studios designed for the Montalvo estate. Five architects worked with artists to create contemporary, picturesque dwellings dotted around an abandoned orchard. There are some intriguing cross fertilisations--Hodgetts + Fung worked with playwright Lee Breuer Lee Breuer (born 6 February 1937) is an American theater director and playwright. He is a founding member and an artistic director of the avant-garde theatre company Mabou Mines, based in New York City. , and Mark Mack collaborated with artist David Ireland. Each house is small, particular and self-contained, each a tranquil setting for different sorts of artistic processes (writing, painting, composing) and together they form a kind of modern bohemian community in the landscape. Faux primitive folly-like structures, made of woven twigs and grass, complement the dwellings and provide contemplative refuges around the grounds. Within this idyll idyll or idyl In literature, a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes or suggests a mood of peace and contentment. , the creative juices can really flow. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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