Artist Residency programs provide artists of all sorts—writers, composers, painters, photographers, filmmakers and more—with a place to live, and the time and space needed to concentrate on their art, free from the hubbub of daily life. Artists can collaborate with each other, molding different types of art together, and also interact with the outside community.

The Montalvo Artist Residency program was established in 1939, and today remains the third-oldest program of its kind in the United States and the oldest in the West. More than 600 artists from 20 different countries have participated in Montalvo's program since its inception.

New digs

In 1999, Montalvo put its Artist Residency program on hold in order to commission new facilities to house artists—10 new studio-cottages totaling $10.5 million, to be exact. They decided to rename the program the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Programs at Montalvo Artist Residency, after the longtime Saratoga residents and philanthropists who donated more than $2 million and countless hours of service to the project.

Major construction was completed around the beginning of August, and opening ceremonies and festivities took place last week, Oct. 7­9. A small group of artists have already made themselves at home in the new studio-cottages.

Katy Rees, manager of public relations at Montalvo, says that one of the unique aspects of the 10 new cottages is that each one is "discipline-specific." In other words, each cottage was tailored to fit the type of artist it was intended for. The cottages were built by artist/architect teams. Five teams of two—one artist and one architect—were commissioned to build two cottages each. The sixth team oversaw the building of the 10 cottages and was in charge of designing and building the artist commons, which houses a media room, laundry facilities, a dining area, a kitchen and the directors' office.

Cottages built for visual artists were inspired by barn doors. These cottages are all about space, and therefore at least one wall in each of these cottages is actually two walls in one. For example, artist-in-residence Martha Boyden's cottage has a wall with windows looking out, and a sliding glass door leading out onto a patio, much like an apartment. However, this would normally eliminate one wall that could be used for hanging canvases for painting on, or painting an entire mural on. That's where the "barn door" comes in—a second wall slides in on wheels over the other wall, or in this case, over the windows and patio door. Work can then be done on the "barn door," and then it can be wheeled away for access to the other wall or to the windows and patio again. Another aspect unique to the visual artists' cottages is that the living and work areas are separated, to prevent fumes from paint or other art supplies from wafting into the kitchen or bed areas.

The cottages for composers, Rees says, are quite impressive as well. In these facilities, sound is of the utmost importance. There are no parallel walls, allowing for excellent acoustics, and they are shaped like mini concert halls, complete with chandeliers and even a grand piano.

The writers' cottages are equally as fascinating. Rees says renowned playwright Lee Breuer inspired the writers' cottages from two characters in the works Death in Venice and Sister Suzy Cinema—one introvert, and one extrovert. Rees explains that some writers prefer to look out to the world for inspiration; therefore, the "extrovert's" cottage has one wall made entirely of see-through glass, looking out over picturesque woods and a stream. The "introvert's" cottage provides privacy and seclusion, which some writers prefer, by being nestled into the side of a hidden hill, with only doors and a skylight providing a glimpse to the outside world.

"You can see the influence of the artists in how the space is used," says Rees. "The units were created with the intent that they would be used by artists, creating. They're very unique spaces."

The first tenants

Ivana Massetti, originally from Italy, and Jon Sperry, a Bay Area native, moved into the new Artist Residency facilities a few weeks ago. This husband-and-wife filmmaking team is working on the script for their unique new feature film while living at Montalvo—a comedy about secret aspects of the life of Leonardo da Vinci.

"It's a comedy, about a part of his life that no one really knows about," says Sperry.

"Da Vinci is an untouchable person, totally mythical. But he was a human being, like us. We discovered a part of him that brings alive his humanity. There's never been anything done about him that humanizes him," says Massetti.

The two say that there will be a special, surprise part of the film that reveals information about a secret part of da Vinci's life that no one knows. This information remains a secret at present, while the script is still being written, and it seems no one except the authors of a book they have optioned as part of their research is aware of this information.

"The film is a comedy. It's historical entertainment," Sperry says. "Audiences will be able to learn something previously unknown about da Vinci while also having a great time."

The couple is hoping for a 2006 release for the film.

As for their time so far living in the Montalvo Artist Residency, Massetti and Sperry say it has been an experience like no other.

"It's fantastic. I've never seen anything like this," Massetti says. "When they built these units, they did something very visionary, with all these artists, bridging thoughts. It's really in line with da Vinci. It's magnificent."

"Working here has been intensely productive," says Sperry. "You're really breaking the pattern of everyday life."

Martha Boyden is originally from the United States, but has been living in Rome for some time now. Boyden was the first artist to move into the new Artist Residency facilities, on Aug. 1.

Boyden has been working on two different projects during her time at Montalvo. The first will stay behind when she eventually leaves—a Peace Garden on the Montalvo grounds, on the crest of the hill overlooking the Artist Residency complex. The garden borders the existing creek trail and is composed of three heritage oak trees strung with prayer flags that offer a pool of shade and a place to reflect. Boyden says the garden was conceived and created "for the future of all beings, especially the young who will inherit our deeds of today."

Boyden says more than 200 volunteers from Saratoga designed and decorated flags to be hung in the garden.

"People were calling me night and day to participate in this garden," she says. "I just lit the fire, so to speak."

Some wrote prose, poetry or messages on their flags, and some sketched pictures. Several classes of second-graders from St. Andrew's School in Saratoga decorated amusing flags as well, Boyden says—some wrote about or drew their favorite things, one wrote a blessing for the Peace Garden, and one child wrote an obituary for his cat.

Boyden's other major project is a layered, sketched drawing called "Still Waters." Boyden says it is a "time piece," sketched on overlapping layers of sheer paper that is now 40 layers deep. It is being drawn with sepia ink on the end of a long stick she found on a walk one day.

"It's called 'Still Waters' because it's a metaphor such that in looking into the still water, when one looks into the layers beneath, the surface is a still reality," she explains. "Each time I add another layer, I see through to its past."

Boyden says living at Montalvo has been enriching.

"It's been a wonderful experience," she says, "mainly due to all the people I've met. Montalvo does an incredible job, and they're obviously loved by the community. It's remarkable, the giving and the sharing—for that, it's been a marvelous experience."

Vision for the future

Gordon Knox, now the director of the new Artist Residency program, was invited to visit Montalvo and consider the position toward the end of 2002, when construction of the new facilities was nearly finished. He had previously served as executive director of the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, an artist residency program he helped establish in Italy and New York City, and had also consulted for many arts organizations. When he arrived at Montalvo, he says he was taken by what he saw.

"I was astonished to find the absolutely unmatched facilities," he says. "Given the vision the board had for building a world-class program, and given the facilities they were completing, I considered it the opportunity of a lifetime, and so my family uprooted from New York, and we came to Saratoga."

Knox says he couldn't be happier with the way things have progressed.

"I think things are coming along wonderfully. The first artists that have come through are already completing projects," he says.

Knox says the vision he and the staff at Montalvo have for the new Artist Residency is to attract the finest, creative minds from all over the world to a place where they can not only perfect their individual craft, but also work together to combine different disciplines and interact with the community.

Rees says that internal collaboration is one of the unique aspects of the program's new "global perspective"—with up to 10 different artists of various disciplines living in the facilities at any time, one might see a composer working together with a visual artist or many other innovative combinations.

Knox is particularly excited about partnering the program with the outside community.

"While they're here, one of the predominant features of the Artist Residency is interaction with the community," he explains. Rees offers the example that some of the artists in residence can attend some of the educational programs and speak to children about how they came to be an artist and what their dreams are for the future. "It also includes interaction with local industry," Knox adds. "Silicon Valley is one of the most creative, innovative communities in the world. Combining technical innovation with expressive creativity often produces some of the most amazing breakthroughs."

Knox says one of his immediate goals for the future is "to develop residency that will create new pieces of art that will be displayed in the 2006 ISEA conference in San Jose," he says, referring to the annual conference for the Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts. ISEA is an international nonprofit organization that fosters interdisciplinary academic discourse and exchange among culturally diverse organizations and individuals working with art, science and emerging technologies.

Other immediate goals, Knox says, are "to develop partnerships with local cultural and educational institutions, and to bring greater attention to the local region's contributions to culture and art. I think all three of those goals will see progress made in the course of a year."

Knox says he feels that the new program's possibilities are endless.

"The potential is extraordinary. We're opening new doors and creating new linkages every day."

For information on the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Programs at Montalvo Artist Residency, or any of Montalvo's other programs, visit www.villamontalvo.org or call 408.961.5800.