Teacher's Guide
Episode One: Living at the Colony
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Overview
In the woods of southwestern New
Hampshire, there is a magical place where artists go and create. The MacDowell
Colony, located in Peterborough, was founded by Marian MacDowell, the widow
of composer Edward MacDowell, on the farm they purchased in 1896. The Colony
consists of 32 one-room studio cottages where poets, playwrights, composers,
painters, authors, sculptors and others artists come to stay in this 450-acre
haven of quiet beauty to create their works away from the hubbub of everyday
life. Through its natural surroundings, studios, living conditions, and
simple rules, the Colony is a nurturing environment which inspires and
enables artists to create great works of art.
Additional
Lessons:
 Episode
2: Edward & Marian MacDowell
Episode 3: The History of the Colony
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Curriculum
Applications
Social Studies
Arts Appreciation
Language Arts
Focus
Students viewing Living at the Colony will develop
a sense of place by understanding how havens like the MacDowell Colony
can enhance the creative process.
Previewing Activities
1. Ask students to outline the environment in which they
work best when trying to develop something creative. What is it about those
environments that motivate and inspire them?
2. In order for students to have some background on MacDowell
colonists, have them research examples of work by a MacDowell artist. (Examples:
Willa
Cather, James Baldwin,
Alice
Walker, Thornton Wilder,
Leonard
Bernstein, Aaron Copland.
Focus for Viewing
Direct the students to listen to the artists-in-residence
describe how their stay at the Colony influenced their lives and their
work.
Post-Viewing Activities
1. Have students read the beginning of Thornton Wilder's
Our Town and then compare Grover's Corner to their own community.
Encourage students to describe their community for an outsider or during
a particular historic time period.
2. Have students compare various descriptions of Northern
New England from MacDowell colonists. For example, compare Thornton
Wilder'sOur Town with Carolyn Chute'sThe
Beans of Egypt, Maine and student's personal experiences.
Have students debate the merit of artist colonies and
how they should they be supported. |
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