“I am not embarrassed to say that I slept 24 of my first 48 hours. I'm not certain exactly why I was so exhausted other than the obvious, the pandemic, general life, and work or lack thereof. I awoke to the beauty of the trails, a semi-escape from the online tentacles of modern life, and uninterrupted welcome solitude…”
– Virginia Willis, Georgia, Culinary Arts, recipient of the Les Dames d'Escoffier Sponsored Residency
“The noise of our everyday lives drowns out the creative voice. Sometimes it takes completely unplugging from the world to ‘hear’ again…I think it’s sometimes difficult for people to understand that the creative process requires nurturing and I found at Hambidge just the sort of place that understands an artist’s needs.”
– Cynthia Graubart, Georgia, Culinary Arts, recipient of Les Dames D’Escoffier Sponsored Residency
“The opportunity to share meals and have lively discussions with other creative people from various artistic disciplines, especially non-musicians, is not something I encounter often. These interactions reinvigorated my own creative work with fresh energy and ideas…The environment provided by Hambidge meshes with my working style extraordinarily well. I was extremely productive during my time there.”
– Michael Murray, Missouri, Music Composition
“It was such a gift to have the time and space to experiment, mess up, decide something wasn't working and take the time to make it work…I can say that even after a couple of months, I can look back on what I’ve done since and see the connection to thoughts I had while at Hambidge.”
– Kelly O'Briant, Texas, Ceramic Sculpture, Patricia Callan Fellow for Ceramics
“As my daughter is very young (a toddler), I am still in the process of figuring out how to incorporate my writing life with my family life. Hambidge gave me a chance to begin to do this, by giving me space to write that also welcomed my daughter.”
– Erin Hoover, Florida, Creative Writing & Poetry
“You cannot draw parallels and connect new dots or make revolutionary statements without plenty of fallow time to soak in the knowledge you've amassed, then sort it out for yourself and make something new.”
– Osayi Endolyn, Florida, Culinary Writer, Wisebram Culinary Fellow
“As an Executive Director, I am being pulled in several directions day in and day out. …My capacity to think strategically and take time for analysis, idea-generation, and planning is minimal in my day-to-day duties…My two weeks at Hambidge not only allowed me the opportunity to focus on my work with little distraction, it also gave me a chance to breathe, to relax, to refresh.”
– Samantha Teter, Tennessee, Arts & Culture Administration
“When I was at Hambidge, I felt like a child again, in the best sense. I was full of stories; everything seemed new and possible…Living in a city can be hard. Making art can be a struggle. But evolved, enlightened places like Hambidge help you refuel your imagination and get back in touch with the child who started this whole crazy journey.”
– David Cote, New York, Opera Librettist and Playwright
“My experience at Hambidge was incredibly transformative. Being forced to unplug from digital life, it incited deep and challenging introspection about the mission and direction of my practice.”
– Saira Raza, Georgia, Music Composition, Lee and Margaret Echols Fellow for Musicians
“I had no agenda apart from responding sensitively to what I 'met'. Hambidge offered a rich palette and sense of creative rigour that enveloped me and will have repercussions in my practice for some time.”
– Shona Wilson, Australia, Ephemeral Land Art, Garland Fellow
“The energizing landscape of the Georgia hills, the hospitality and support of residency staff, and the great food, helped me accomplish this goal which would have been impossible under the duress of with my work distractions in New York City.”
– Jeffrey Colvin, New York, Fiction and Nonfiction, Nellie Mae Rowe Fellow
“The remote location and extraordinary beauty of the Hambidge Center make for an ideal retreat to foster creativity. Divorced from the distractions of the greater world, the isolation of Hambidge induces a meditative state, allowing one to go deep and connect with energies often dissipated in the everyday world.”
– Constance Thalken, Georgia, Photography and Video
“Having several different pieces vying for attention during my residency, it was important to have three weeks of unstructured time to work through the very different issues with each piece…Having the chance to schedule the time given us at Hambidge is the most important feature of the residency.”
– Beth Wiemann, Massachusetts, Music Composition
“The generosity, time, and support of the Hambidge staff and residency is truly inspiring. I am humbled and thankful to have spent two weeks with this remarkable organization, and hope that I will be able to return in the future.”
– Kate Burke, Georgia, Textile Arts, Fulton County Arts & Culture Fellow
