A CENTURY OF CREATIVITY
THE MACDOWELL COLONY 1907-2007

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Tombstones from Alexander & Veltin Studios

Tombstones

enlarge imageTombstones from Alexander Studio, 1954–1958; and Veltin Studio, 1936–1952.
Courtesy of The MacDowell Colony
Digital ID# mc0089

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Tombstones from Alexander & Veltin Studio

In a tradition dating back to the Colony’s beginnings, artists sign and date a wooden board in their studio at the end of each residency.  Every studio has a collection of these boards, referred to as "tombstones" for their shape―and for the fact that they function as "intimations of mortality." The long lists of names inspire some and intimidate others, but each artist eventually adds his or her own name and becomes part of MacDowell Colony history.

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