HISTORY

Founded in 2020, Atland came out of a decade-long dream to build a residency program for artists. Back in 2013 when I was living in Philadelphia, I created The Iron Factory with friend and collaborator Lora Allen (we were originally members of Mascher Space Co-op). We hosted dance classes, residencies, and so many shows. It felt thrilling to run a space and bring people together. Around that same time, I started attending artist residencies here in the US as well as abroad: Djerassi, Yaddo, Playa, Ponderosa, Brunakra, USF, and LKV. I felt nourished as a dancemaker and made life-long friendships and collaborations with those who I met in the residency programs. In 2020 with the pandemic and disappearance of arts funding, so many artist spaces made the tough decision to close their doors (including The Iron Factory); I felt it was the best time to begin a new life-long adventure and create a place where the next generation of artists could gather. I hope that Atland can live up to the spaces that inspired me and be another home for artists to make and share their work.

- Tori Lawrence, founder

Since 2020, we have been undergoing various construction projects to finish the house, surrounding structures, and land. We have come so far and could not have done this without the help from family, volunteers, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Pollination Project, the Chesterfield Cultural Council, the Philadelphia Foundation, and our community who have provided support to this dream. Also thank you to friends Seth Wenger, Kevin Lips, Josh Doster for your help with the dance deck build. And to Tilly Ryan, Lashway Lumber, and the J Team for helping mill wood on site and/or providing local timber for the projects.

the space

Facing south towards Smith Pyramid, the entire timber frame structure was built sustainably using material entirely cut from trees on site. The birch, hemlock, pine, maple, and ash were milled with minimum needs leaving the trees close to original. The work is truly a palace of trees created by a community of brilliant local artisans: Walker Metcalfe, John Messmer, Josh Phelps, Alex Feinstein, John Taylor, Bob Spelman, and Bruce Roth.

The home was designed by original owners Paul and Helene Copp with Northampton-based architect Tris Metcalfe. The Copps worked on the home from 2004-2020. We purchased the unfinished home in 2020 and have been working nonstop with friends, volunteers, and local artisans to complete the structure. We will finish building the main home by summer 2026 and will begin work on a small residency cabin by 2026.

Sharing similar design of stacked roof eaves seen in Japanese timber frame pagodas, the unique home was designed to create an efficient way of heating and cooling via a central wood stove that spans all floors encased by a hand-made spiral staircase by local welder, John Childs. To fair the cold winter climate, our space is insulated by a clay-tiled roof, warmed and lit by passive solar porches, and sided of both tile and metal, making it fire-resistant.

our name

A nod to the legendary dance filmmaker, Maya Deren, our name comes from her 1944 avant-garde film At Land. We honor her spirit as a groundbreaking female artist by offering support to those working in dance, film, and land-based art. Our space is women-owned/run and dedicated to Elizabeth Griffin, Pam Lawrence, and Amy Snow, who continue to inspire us in cultivating a magical gathering place for artisans who push the edges of their media.

An aerial view of a pavilion with a green roof surrounded by trees and a dirt path.
Two workers on a roof construction, one standing on the edge and the other sitting on top with arms outstretched, under a cloudy sky.
Four men inside a wooden structure under construction, with plywood walls and large window openings overlooking a forested landscape.
Close-up of tree limbs being assembled for a construction project beneath a clear blue sky, with leafless trees in the background.
Group of six people standing and talking on a wooden deck surrounded by trees, with a dog running in the foreground, a white van parked to the left, and a small green house with a sloped roof in the background.
Two people smiling and looking down outdoors during daytime, with a white small truck in the background and trees without leaves.
A man using a Bosch circular saw outdoors to cut a piece of wood, with trees and other people in the background.
Man working on wooden table outdoors, beer glass on table, dog in background, green trees and blue sky.
A construction worker standing on the top of a wooden framework under construction, with large logs extending from the framework as part of the roof structure, set against a clear blue sky with leafless trees in the background.
A man in orange shorts and a gray t-shirt celebrating on a newly built wooden deck with others working nearby, surrounded by trees under a blue sky.
A woman standing on a wooden balcony, waving at the camera, wearing a colorful shirt and striped shorts, with blue sky in the background.
Two women working on a wooden deck, surrounded by tools and wooden planks, with a forested background.
People building a wooden deck outdoors on a sunny day, with trees in the background.
Two men are working on the roof of a pagoda-style building with black brick walls and yellow trim, surrounded by trees, under a clear blue sky.
Two beekeepers in protective gear opening a hive box in a garden with dense green foliage in the background.
Black and white photo of two people outdoors, a man with long curly hair and glasses smiling, and a woman with short hair and sunglasses, both appearing happy and relaxed.
Silhouette of a young woman looking out of a car window with sunlight streaming in, creating a backlit scene in black and white.
Two men standing outside a small, colorful wooden house in the snow. One man is opening the door while the other looks down at his phone. A dog is sitting on the snow nearby, looking up at the man with the phone.
Group of six people, five women and one man, posing on a wooden deck outdoors with trees in the background under a blue sky.

atland artist residency

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