News Release

Randy C. Bolton, a printmaker and digital artist from Philadelphia, is the first artist-in-residence at Evergreen House. During June and July, Bolton has exclusive use of former Evergreen owner Alice Warder Garrett's studio, now located on the grounds of Loyola College. The residency provides the artist the opportunity to respond to aspects of the Evergreen collections, architecture and grounds in creating new works of art. The work Bolton produces during his residency will form the basis of an exhibition in the summer of 2002.

The new residency program continues the tradition of patronage by Alice Warder Garrett (1877-1952) to emerging and well-known artists of her era, including Leon Bakst, Henry Varnum Poor, Gari Melchers, Jacques Maroger and George Grosz, who all benefitted from her hospitality and support. In turn, the Garrett family's lives and collections were enriched by their guests.

The invitation to Bolton to use the collections for inspiration recalls Garrett's invitation to Leon Bakst, a Russian who in 1923 came to Evergreen to design a private theater. Bakst drew the spectacular stencil designs seen in the house's theater today from images in a Garrett Library book, Peasant Art in Russia. Bolton also is using rare books at Evergreen as a point of departure.

Bolton is professor of art at the University of Delaware. His recent work explores themes found in old children's books and in Japanese art. Bolton is also participating as a visiting artist in the summer MFA program at the Maryland Institute, College of Art. For information about the artist-in-residence program or Randy Bolton, call Evergreen at 410-516-0341.