2020 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE:
Susan Bickford
(stillness) 20
A gathering of artists across disciplines celebrating connection to nature and invoking a deepening sense of place. Movers, vocalists, musicians, writers, visual artists, foragers, an astrologer and a cook are among the players who were part of the retreat on Cousins and Little John islands in Yarmouth Maine filmed by Juliette Sutherland for a production to be premiered in the Spring.
The (stillness) project, which was conceived and is led by Susan Bickford, is an annual interdisciplinary gathering which brings together artists, scientists, dancers, musicians and others to create an immersive experience that has something to offer everyone. We were especially excited about learning more about foraging and preparing “found food”. Our expert botanist and forager, Rachel Alexandrou, has written a short cookbook packed with delicious recipes. In the past five years, this gathering and associated performances were undertaken elsewhere in Maine along our beautiful rivers and lakes. Of course, this year everything is different, however, the 2020 (stillness) project went ahead on June 20 as planned with the creation of a film documenting the making of (stillness)20. We will premiere the film at a date to be determined in the winter that we anticipate will provide a condensed but no less excellent experience. We also anticipate that a cocktail party will precede the premiere and will offer an opportunity to try some of the foraged delicacies as well as signature cocktails created using foraged ingredients.
Bickford is a lecturer at the University of Maine at Augusta as well as Director of the Danforth Gallery. Bickfords’ approach to art is a deep ecological one. A Certified Nature Therapy Guide, Susan Bickford also holds an MFA from Maine College of Art and a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. Winner of the 2017 Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship in Media and Performance, Susan Bickford has been making interdisciplinary collaborative retreats/performances in nature since 2001.
These performances also result in a video installation which is shown in traditional art spaces. The (stillness) project is an annual event that first began in 2015, migrating through sites along the waterways of Midcoast Maine.
2018 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: Maestra Kim Diehnelt
Maestra Kim Diehnelt has been called “a renaissance woman” for bringing her own brand of beauty and passion to the world through her work as an international conductor, accomplished composer and artistic coach.
Trained in the United States and Europe, Maestra Diehnelt established her craft as conductor and composer in both Finland and Switzerland, leading Baltic, Russian, and European ensembles.
Maestra Diehnelt has been composing works for solo instruments, chamber, orchestral and choral ensembles since 2011. Her style is best described as a “Nordic Palestrina” as her works possess a lyrical, vocal quality with an attention to beauty and the sense of an unfolding story. She was a semi-finalist for The American Prize in Composition in the Professional Orchestra division in 2015 for her work Montegar for viola and strings.
An active guest conductor in the United States and abroad, she is acknowledged as an authority on the music of Edward Elgar. Maestra Kim Diehnelt recently served as Music Director and Conductor for the Northwest Symphony Orchestra in the Greater Chicago area.
During her time as the Resident Artist, Kim composed a piece dedicated to the town. Maestra Kim calls this piece “Yarmouth Time” because it is a reflection of impressions gained during her time as the KISMET Foundation Artist-in-Residence in Yarmouth, from March through May 2018.
In the artist’s words: “For me, the work has three sections. After a brief introduction (Sunrise), I tried to capture my experience of two Nor’easters - the gusts of wind and snow, leaping waves, swaying trees, shifting winds. The second section is a lullaby. I was thoroughly touched by the warm hearts of the people of Yarmouth and the town motto “Our Latchstring is Always Out.” The sense of caring and welcoming others so moved me to write what I call “The Latchstring Lullaby.” With the third section I tapped into the feel and fun of walking the trails and streets of Yarmouth. Moving through nature along the many walking trails, enjoying the scenes, hearing bird calls, taking in the fresh air and vibrant colors. I called this section “Walkabouts.” During the transition from the lullaby music to this walkabout section, I tried to capture a sound from the Yarmouth sound-scape which was new to me - a lobster boat motor! The walkabout concludes with a colorful sunset.”
Listeners were invited to absorb the music and create a personal interpretation/”title” based on their own experience. In the 2018/2019 NAME THAT COMPOSITION Collection, the KISMET Foundation gathered submissions. The selected title of the 2018/2019 NAME THAT COMPOSITION Collection: Footsteps Amongst the Wonder by Tamara Bowdren.
The 2018/2019 KISMET Foundation Community as Art program is sponsored by Bath Savings Institution.
2017 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: Adriane Herman
“We are very fortunate to have Adriane as a resident artist – she exudes the very essence of The KISMET Foundation’s residency, embedding and becoming a part of the social fabric of our Community.”
During her residency with the KISMET Foundation, Artist Adriane Herman brought her investigation into cycles of accumulation and release to Yarmouth in a two month intensive collaboration with students in visual art and poetry at Yarmouth High School, as well the Public Works and Transfer Station, YCAN, and the Historical Society, where Herman organized an "emotional value auction." The Village Improvement Society hosted a talk by Herman about her decade-long investigation into "to do" lists and, most recently, the power of witnessing vis a vis the challenging but often rewarding process of letting go. An Associate Professor at Maine College of Art, Herman occasions opportunities for individuals to offload physical and non-tangible things that may be holding them back by blocking physical or emotional space/s.
2017 TEACHER-IN-RESIDENCE: Louise Bourne
“Louise Bourne’s paintings offer a visceral response to the physical world … Like the paintings of Fairfield Porter, Bourne’s paintings make us care about the most humble yet the most universal of subjects, our everyday lives.”
The KISMET Foundation’s first Teacher-in-Residence, Louise Bourne experimented with students in the Advanced Placement studio art class at Yarmouth High School, hosted workshops and weekend painting retreats at the Artist Cottage.
2016 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE: Benjamin Noyes, Cellist and
Tracey Jasas-Hardel, Violinist
“Classical chamber music can happen anywhere, anytime, and for any reason at all. It doesn’t need to be in concert hall. It should be out and around, teaching and transforming people and places”
Tracey and Ben’s six week residency all embracing with performances at the The Yamouth History Center, Cousins Island chapel, and St Bartholomew’s Church, master classes at Yarmouth High School and the 317 Main Music Center and a private concert at the Sparhawk Mill.
2015 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: George Mason
“This residency is not a cookie cutter residency…it challenges you to really dig deep into the community, and I like that very much. I am here for a month, but I’d like to spend more time here actually. It feels like we are just getting going”
