October 21, 2007 The MacDowell Colony Is Subject of New Book To Be Discussed on Oct. 30

The Library’s commemoration of the centennial of The MacDowell Colony continues at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 30, when senior music specialist Robin Rausch discusses and signs the book “A Place for the Arts: The MacDowell Colony, 1907-2007” in the Pickford Theater on the third floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave.S.E., Washington, D.C. Part of the Books & Beyond author series hosted by the Center for the Book, the event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. The program is cosponsored by the Library’s Manuscript Division, the home of the archives of The MacDowell Colony, and the Music Division, which houses the Edward and Marian MacDowell Collection. The latter includes composer Edward McDowell’s music manuscripts and first editions of his music, along with correspondence and related materials. Founded in 1907, The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, N.H., was the first artists’ residency program in America and is the model for hundreds of others. The vision of founders Edward McDowell and his wife Marian, both pianists, was to provide artists of exceptional talent with uninterrupted time, a private workplace and a dynamic community of peers to inspire creativity and excellence. To date the Colony has awarded fellowships to more than 6,000 writers, visual artists, composers, playwrights, filmmakers, architects and interdisciplinary artists. In 1997, The MacDowell Colony was awarded the National Medal of Arts for nurturing and inspiring many of the 20th century’s finest artists. Rausch was the curator of “A Century of Creativity: The MacDowell Colony 1907-2007,” which was on view at the Library of Congress from Feb. 22 to Aug. 18, 2007. Composers Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, playwright Thornton Wilder and novelist Willa Cather were among the many artists featured in the exhibition. The exhibition, which was made possible through the generous support of the Lehman Brothers, can be viewed at www.loc.gov/exhibits/macdowell/. “A Place for the Arts: The MacDowell Colony, 1907-2007” is a 240-page, richly illustrated hardcover book that includes a history of the Colony by Rausch, essays by former MacDowell Colony Chairman of the Board Vartan Gregorian and current chairman Robert MacNeil, and contributions from 11 former MacDowell fellows, including Michael Chabon, Ruth Reichl and Wendy Wasserman. The book is available for $39.95 at the event and in Library’s Sales Shop. Credit card orders will be taken at (888) 682-3557. Online orders can be placed at www.loc.gov/shop. For more information about The MacDowell Colony and its yearlong celebration of creativity, visit its Web site at www.macdowellcolony.org.