Rochester Folk Art Guild
The Folk Art Guild is an intentional community and craft center located on a 350 acre property in Middlesex, NY. This community is made up of crafts people working in farming, pottery, woodworking, weaving and fibers. About 16 people live on campus and eat most dinners and breakfasts together as well as participate in community activities. This is a spiritual community studying the teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff. Residents do not need to participate in these observances, but are asked to respect it. You can look up G.I. Gurdjieff online and learn more about his and the Folk Art Guild’s philosophies.
The residency program is for 1-2 years with optional housing. The Folk Art Guild has one very large walk-in propane fired kiln, several other gas kilns, 2 electric kilns and one woodfire kiln. Residents share a studio space with the Guild’s master potter Annie Schliffer. Artist in residence responsibilities include 15 hours per week of support work for the community in the ceramic studio as well as work for the Guild’s community at large.
Rochester Folk Art Guild’s campus is artisan built and the buildings have unique architecture. The coolest thing that stuck out to me was all the doorknobs are hand forged and beautifully designed.
