Talk of the Arts Collaborations

Talk of the Arts

Collaboration

According to Wikipedia, collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, (this is more than the intersection of common goals seen in co-operative ventures, but a deep, collective, determination to reach an identical objective, for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature)—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus.

Most collaboration requires leadership although the form of leadership can be social within a decentralized and egalitarian group. In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.
Collaboration is the theme running through this issue. We touch on the aftermath of tragedy and how people come together in the face of adversity. It is often in the darkest moments of life that we see the brightest of kindness, love and new opportunity.

The after effects of Tropical Storm Irene will be with us for years and decades. How people and organizations have reacted and changed is what we explore in this issue.

For example, collaboration and creative energy in the arts has blossomed. In Manchester, four major arts organizations are banding together for the very first time and creating a first-ever joint festival modeled after the Berkshires where world-class arts events attract people from all over the world. On the Rock River that was devastated by the storm, artists and town folks are coming together to build community, and in Grafton, Gallery North Star has cleverly tied a successful artist with five top inns for an exhibition they’re calling the Inns and Outs of Vermont.

In another story of collaboration, we look at the at the work of the Riverledge Farm and Foundation in Grafton, which promotes historic preservation, conservation, forest and wildlife management and careful stewardship of natural resources that reflect the character of Southern Vermont. A mission that couldn’t be more timely.
In a related story of preservation, our Designed Observed section features two of our favorite artists, Petria Mitchell and Jim Giddings and the restoration of their Dream Studio. This leads to Open Studio Tours—and the artist tours that are celebrating major anniversaries. Here’s a shout out to the 20th Anniversary of the Vermont Craft Council’s Statewide Open Studio Weekend, the 20th Anniversary of the Rock River Artist Tour, the 10th Anniversary of the Walpole Artisan Tour, and the 34th Anniversary of the Putney Craft Tour.

And, finally, Marty Ramsburg, co-owner with Frank Larkin of Windham Wines, shares with us her trip to the Loire Valley in France.

So, here’s to collaboration this summer and making good things happen.

Lynn Barrett, publisher/editor
prime@svcable.net