Are We Saying Time is up for Cornish Colony?

By Experiencing the Arts Director, Christopher Morse

On October 6th, Mascoma Valley Regional High School students became the latest artists of the Cornish Colony. I say it this way to help make the point that the inspiration and history of the Cornish Colony continues for each person that participates with it and the young artists that may arise from Mascoma are now part of the energy of the Cornish Colony, a place where so much creativity coalesced. Numerous presidents visited, many of the greatest artists visited and worked there, women were there recognized as artists and there fought for the right to vote. Without a great effort, the Cornish Colony will close at the end of this month.

It is disturbing that we can see the value of certain historic places, recognizing them by preserving and passing them on to future generations yet we have failed to recognize this about the Cornish Colony. It should be possible to define such a place in such a way to prevent property taxes alone from threatening its continuance. Perhaps we could quickly define it in such a way to stay its closing. The students of Mascoma enjoyed a detailed and captivating tour of the colony, much of the tour was lead by Mrs. Gilbert. Alma Gilbert has been the champion and caretaker of the Cornish Colony for more than 20 years. She was an impassioned host.

If you could stand in front of the Maxfield Parish paintings and witness first hand the luminous color of the layers and layers of glazing that can only be appreciated by seeing the original and allow yourself the rush of feeling that it was the place surrounding you that inspired and allowed this level of creativity, you will believe the Cornish Colony could inspire future students and young artists if it is allowed to continue. If Alma Gilbert's dedication is not inspiration enough for us to try and save the Cornish Colony, and you are not inspired by the collection of great works of art and the history that has taken place there, perhaps you will be motivated to get involved saving the Cornish Colony by the words of some of Mascoma's Experiencing the Arts students:

Jasmine Sweeney wrote:

"I loved the Cornish Colony. I thought it was great. It really stinks that they are selling that stuff because it was really really inspiring. There are two pieces I liked the most. Daybreak was one of them. I loved how the lighting hit it and made it light or dark. It was amazing. It was also interesting how they added fool's gold to make sparkles in the paint. I didn't get to see the pieces that had sparkles very clearly (Jasmine has limited eyesight) but I could just imagine it in my head as the tour docent was telling us about it. The other piece I liked was in three panels.

I hope that place doesn't go out of business because it could be inspiration to any artist or just anybody in particular. It took a really long time for them to get it all together and if they sell everything, some of the pieces may never be seen again. It would be really sad to see all that go. Some of the pieces almost made me cry because they were so beautiful."

Karissa Bandieri wrote:

"The museum was really cool. I liked the stories that went along with each of the paintings. I also liked that most of the paintings and sculptures come from real life stories and not made up stories. My favorite piece is the one about the three kids and the little boy in the front was paralyzed. I thought the story behind that was really sad. I really wouldn't want that museum to shut down because it is very interesting and educational and there are allot of original pieces that nobody around here would ever get to see if we didn't have that museum."

Ian Kelly wrote:

"There is no reason why the Cornish Colony should be closed. For one thing, it has large historic value, artists came there, and where inspired to paint, or draw, or do whatever they do (write, sculpt, compose). It inspired me, and I know it inspired most people around me, and if not then it at least affected them in some way. I don't see why the state hasn't recognized this place yet. Some of the work there was just amazing, especially Maxfield Perish, who's natural light in his paintings was just fabulous. It is also historically important for women; There was a woman painter there who was one of the first artists to have paintings sold in the millions, which, back then, was a big thing for women. It really razzes me that they want to close such a neat building, especially since they let in people and schools to look at the work there. This place is too important to shut down."