CATWALK Art Residency Program
Catwalk Art Residency is an artist residency program established in 2004 by James and Purcell Palmer at their historic residence, which was originally the home of Hudson River School painter,Charles Herbert Moore. The 60 acre property, now known as CATWALK, is on the Hudson River directly across from Olana, home of Frederick Church, and directly north of Cedar Grove, Thomas Cole’s home in Catskill, New York.
The Palmers were drawn to the Hudson Valley by the rich arts legacy of the area and the collaboration that the proximity to New York could provide. After spending over 30 years in Chicago pursuing careers in finance and sales, a three year search lead them to CATWALK, an estate that they found too wonderful not to share with others. They have long supported artists and arts organizations and find perfect balance in the world they are now developing.
The mission of the Catwalk Arts Residency is to establish Catwalk as a special retreat for art making, collaborative projects and scholarly discourse in a visually stimulating part of the country that has historically provided and continues today to provide significant inspiration to artists, cultural historians, writers and scholars.
The Palmers envision this as a developing concept and intend for participating institutions to have wide latitude in developing the program in a manner that is meaningful for the participants and enhances the recognition of excellence of the institutions involved.
Winter Landscape, Valley of the Catskill, 1866
Oil on canvas, 18.0 x 26.0 cm. (7 1/16 x 10 1/4 in.)
Princeton University Art Museum. Gift of Frank Jewett Mather Jr.
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photo: Bruce M. White
Charles Herbert Moore resided at the property, now known as CATWALK from 1860 – 1872. He had the cottage built in 1867. As a landscape painter, and part of the group that is known as the Hudson River School, he was attracted to the area for its intense beauty, and wonderful landscapes that became a never-ending source material for his paintings. Likewise, his friends and colleagues, Frederick Church and Thomas Cole lived in the neighboring estates. A few images seen here are Moore’s views from the Catwalk property. The “Hudson River, Above Catskill” work is said to have been created right on the riverfront beach belonging to Catwalk. This is the same location where Catwalk’s artists in residence of today can create works of their own.
“He settled for a few years after 1865 in the charming battened and raftered “Lodge” designed by himself, which still stands high on the river terrace, facing to the east over the tops of old trees the Taconic range, and to the west, the nobler undulations of the Catskills”. Half a mile down the hill to the south was the Thomas Cole estate and across the Hudson River the stately Olana, home of Frederick Church, is perched on high.”
–from Frank Jewett Mather, ‘Charles Herbert Moore’
“If my work does anything towards promoting a more universal and true love for nature, it will be the most I hope from it.”
– Charles Herbert Moore, from a letter to Charles Elliot Norton dated April 8, 1866
It is these ideals that Hudson River painters Moore, Cole and Church promoted over one hundred years ago, continue today with contemporary artists who visit Catwalk. The magical attraction to the simply awesome natural setting serves as an artistic paradise, and the never ending source of creative inspiration for the artist’s work.
Charles Herbert Moore
Hudson River, Above Catskill
1865, Oil on canvas, 16 x 10 1/8 inches
Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas 2003.9
For more information on Charles Herbert Moore please click on the following link
Charles Herbert Moore, American, 1840 1930
http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/moorec.htm
