So its like a commune right?
Not exactly. It's more like an open-source cult.
How can I use this website to communicate with other residents?
Simply go to the forum page for the session you are attending and post a comment.
I play music. Why should I come to Harold Arts?
Harold Arts has excellent facilities for musicians: our PoolHouse recording studio runs Logic Studio, has MOTU preamps, a large analog board for mixing out of the box, and an array of high quality microphones, amplifiers and instruments. The studio is exceptionally large and the walls are treated with reclaimed bark stripped pine grown on the farm.
The facilities for musicians are excellent, but we've found that the inspiration offered by the natural environment and the opportunities to collaborate with artists working in other disciplines are the real attraction of a Harold Arts residency. It's the perfect place to complete a project you've been thinking about for years with the help of an engineer prepared to help you every step of the way. Or it can be the perfect place to design a project you never would have dreamed of unless you'd been surrounded by new collaborators.
Musicians are usually offered the opportunity to perform for their fellow residents during the session: feedback from residents you've spent 2 weeks working with can be especially valuable.
Our musicians should expect to spend about 4 hours a day in the poolhouse, with the undivided attention of our team of producers and engineers. In the past we’ve found that resident musicians often prefer to operate outside of our studio, songwriting, rehearsing, and field recording in the natural environment. We also have a garage space equipped with a PA which can used for indoor rehearsal, so you will have plenty of opportunities to rehearse before you hit the poolhouse.
What resources are provided for resident artists?
Residencies at Harold Arts offer participants shared and individual studio facilities, comfortable accommodations, and chef-prepared meals. For musicians and others interested in working with sound we have our Poolhouse recording studio; a huge room, a wide array of gear, and engineers ready and willing to plan and execute your audio endeavors. Other facilities available for residents include modest wood-working facilities and and a wood-fired kiln for ceramic works. And of course, the rolling hills and majestic white pine forests of Haven Tree Farm are yours to explore.
We encourage residents to bring their own materials and tools, as shared resources are limited. If you'd like to ship materials to Harold Arts before you arrive, our address is 8550 OH 377, Chesterhill OH 43728.
Remember that the recording studio is not only for musicians. Residents who have plans to integrate sound into their work on the farm are welcome to book time in the studio. Several portable options for field recording should be available as well, and we are happy to assist you with getting sounds wherever you like.
Is the food any good?
We have a dedicated chef who cooks lunch and dinner while breakfast is continental. His name is Sy Barsheshet, and here’s what he has to say about the food:
“Hi my name is Sy and I’m the chef and kitchen manager at Harold. Allow me to briefly elaborate on the reasons why the food is amazing. First, off I personally purchase all of our meat and produce products locally. I also buy fresh bread and breakfast rolls from the Amish. All lunches and dinners are made fresh daily and meals range from Daal to Eggplant parmesan. I am also very conscious of dietary restrictions. If you have any other questions you can e-mail me personally at Shydellic@yahoo.com.”
Mealtimes are a fairly important part of the rhythm of the residency. Lunch and Dinner are times when you can expect all the residents and staff to be in one place. Collaborations which start at a table full of people eating excellent food are generally off to a nice head start…
How self-directed are the residencies? If I attend a thematic session can I still do whatever I want?
Our Classic session is entirely self-directed, although we do have visiting artists and/or critics, who will give lectures and be available for studio visits with residents. In most cases our visitors are working towards their own ends, in collaboration with the residency community. Feel free to contact us if you'd like to propose a program. Our hope is to provide an environment in which all participants can shape the experience of the group.
The Do Do II and Survival III are ongoing thematic sessions designed in partnership with Kelly Kaczynski and Shannon Stratton (respectively). The Survival III has been developed for artists addressing an impending rupture in natural, economic and cultural spheres, through performance, sculpture, installation and architecture on the tree farm. Doing Do Do focused on excrement as production, doing a doo doo in a variety of media.
We are hopeful that residents attending these sessions will work with us to shape conversations around questions of context while adhering to our conceptual groundings. At Harold, residents are encouraged to savor dedicated time for artistic production among a critical and supportive community, our recipe for over six years.
Do you guys really have ponies?
No, but our friends and neighbors, the Singrees do. Horse rides through the tree farm are highly encouraged..
Additional questions can be answered at info@haroldarts.org