2022 SOANE HONORS GALA
Soane Foundation Awards Luke, an outstanding figure who embodies the Soanean spirit
Luke Ives Pontifell, Founder of Thornwillow Press, is reviving the art and craft of letterpress and hand binding. He has published more than 100 original titles by historic and contemporary writers at his Makers Village in Newburgh, New York. Just as Sir John Soane prized his collection of limited edition books along with his paintings and sculptures as keys to understanding his place in history, so too does Luke work to keep history and the written word alive and tactile in our digital age.
Based in New York City, the Foundation supports Sir John Soane’s Museum in London and offers a rich and growing array of lectures, travel opportunities, and fellowships for young scholars to study the Museum and its collections.
October 20, 2022
CAMPUS RENOVATIONS
Finally, our campus, where it all comes together.
The renovation and restoration of these historic structures allows us to house our people and our efforts, and to revive our corner of Newburgh to the grandeur of its early days.
Celebrating success! We opened the year with a groundbreaking alongside then-Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul. Our residence building at 29 Spring Street and the yellow cottage having been completed, and we are now looking to the final stages of the corner building. Construction on the corner building with the bookstore cafe and 3 more apartments is moving into its final phase and with luck will be done within the coming months. For this project we received significant support from the Hearst Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, New York State and numerous individual donors like you. We have finished the general construction — walls, a roof, and new windows! We are looking to complete this building in 2023 by finishing the electric and plumbing fixtures, bookshelves and cabinetry. The city of Newburgh requires us to redo the sidewalk in front of the corner building which will slow things down, but it is all moving along well. Post-COVID prices exceed our pre-COVID budget. We have secured a short term loan to bridge the difference, but the debt service until we achieve a stage at which the space can earn income is a heavy lift.
We are also looking to the future with our plans for the Carriage House, the large red building across the street from our main campus. This building will house an art gallery and event space as well as several makers studios for use by our staff, students, and visiting fellows. And very big news: the theater company is clearing their materials out of the red building, so we can finally get our arms around how to deploy that fabulous space.
We are also almost done with the renovation of a beautiful new studio space for fellows and folks in the training program.
2021
The Thornwillow Bloomsyear reading series.
The virtual “Bloomsyear” readings have been coming out slowly but surely, and we are very proud of them. Ten out of eighteen total currently online – may we cite “supply chain” issues with our readers as well? We have many wonderful participants including Stephen Fry, David Mamet, Aedin Moloney, Malachy McCourt, Colum McCann, and many more. The numerous scholarly and library readers — showcasing special editions and unique inscribed or annotated copies of Ulysses — pay tribute to the publication history of this difficult, important, and beautiful work. The reading by Salman Rushdie, whose recovery from a recent heinous and unprovoked attack upstate we hope for daily, reminds us of the risks taken by those who dare to question societal and cultural norms in print. We are particularly honored by his participation. Friends of the press from all over the world round out the readings. They are a delight and we hope you are listening to them, either through our podcast (The Colophon), on our blog, or on our Youtube channel.
2021
2021 PATRONS’ PRIZE EMERGING ARTIST WINNERS
In 2020, in collaboration with the New York Foundation for the Arts, Thornwillow Press proudly introduced the The Thornwillow Patrons’ Prize for Emerging Artists. The Thornwillow Patrons’ Prize aims to support and catalyze the careers of up-and-coming artists and writers. Winners have their work published in a beautiful, letterpress printed Thornwillow edition and distributed to subscribers to the monthly Thornwillow Dispatch, as well as to reviewers, critics, editors, and other opinion leaders in the literary and art worlds.
USMA Fellow Visits
THORNWILLOW WEST POINT FELLOWSHIP 2021
This year, in collaboration with the U.S. Military Academy, we again supported several new Thornwillow West Point Fellows, who prepared for publication Tim O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True War Story,” our October Dispatch title. O’Brien (whose reading for our Ulysses project will be released later this year) is enthusiastic about the project. In addition to working on the typography and design of the book, the West Point cadets got their hands dirty in the bindery and made paste paper, the design of which is featured on our Patrons’ edition of “How to Tell a True War Story.”
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL VISITS THORNWILLOW
Empire State Development Announces the Groundbreaking of Phase 1 of The $1.6 Million Thornwillow Makers Village in Orange County
Initiative will foster creative growth in Newburgh’s East End Historic District, Transforming the Properties into an Iconic Destination for Craft and Artisanal Production
June 17, 2021
Events prior to 2020
Orange County Art Council’s
Annual Celebration of the Arts and Member Exhibit
Exact dates to be announced.
NEWBURGH LITERARY FESTIVAL
October 18, 2019 – October 20, 2019
Various Times
Safe Harbors of the Hudson
The Newburgh Literary Festival is a three-day exploration and celebration of the written word in a city with rich history, celebrated architecture and breathtaking natural beauty nestled on the shores of the Hudson River in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Festival goers will be enriched with literature, immersed in history, nourished at celebrated restaurants and charmed by the city’s local flair. Local merchants and restaurants will be offering discounts throughout the weekend for Festival attendees, who will enjoy the unique offerings of local artisans and epicureans.
AUTUMN HUDSON VALLEY MUSICALE
The English Concert American Fellows
October 5, 2019
2:00PM
The Thornwillow Institute
7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, NY
RSVP by September 18 , 2019 to Therese Heyn
Telephone: (203) 423-3135
Email: therese@tecinamerica.org
The Art Affair
The Annual Gala of the Orange County Arts Council
October 5, 2019
6:00-10:00PM
The Palacio, Goshen, NY
Join us for an elegant evening celebration, support the OCAC’s programming, grant funding and arts support services. This year, the Council presents an engaging night of games ranging from Poker to an Escape Room. Enjoy the live music by the String Trio of New York, beverages and freshly prepared tapas-style dinner. Attendees will receive $10,000 in “Fun Chips” to play with all night.
The Hudson Valley Creative Impact
HONORED GUESTS
Jodi Joseph, Director of Communications for MASS MoCA
b, Executive Director for New York Foundation for the Arts
Anthony Davidowitz, Deputy Director Operations, Administration, and Legal Affairs for Storm King Art Center
July 23, 2019
5:00-7:00PM
Storm King Art Center
The after-party will be held at Newburgh Brewery (88 South Colden Street, Newburgh, NY 12550) culminating in a Mothership! dance party. Producer/DJ Mark Carranceja plays Deep Afro Tech House and incorporates live electronic music production into the mix while cueing up a steady stream of real-time visual projections.
The after-party is FREE and open to the public!
Spring Street Reading Series
Press Fair
June 29, 2019
Press Fair and Cocktail Party 5-7PM
Atlas, 11 Spring Street, Newburgh, New York
On Saturday, June 29, Thornwillow will be taking part in a press fair for publishers in the Hudson Valley. The Spring Street Reading Series, organized by Atlas Studios, gathers distinguished writers from in and around the Hudson Valley to discuss and share in the region’s growing literary arts culture. Thornwillow is honored to be joined by Colonel David Harper, head of the English and Philosophy Department at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He will read selections from Beauty is the Beginning of Terror, which was conceived and compiled by Thornwillow Institute / West Point Fellows under his direction.
The Press Fair will take place at 11 Spring Street in Newburgh, New York from 5 to 7pm with readings beginning at 7pm.
The Thornwillow Institute and Orange County Arts Council present
Etrangers en France
March 8, 2019
Doors open at 6:30pm, Concert begins promptly at 7pm
Thornwillow Institute, 7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, New York
Voyage Sonique is a period ensemble devoted to historical performance of baroque music. The founding members – Juilliard alumni – met during their studies at The Juilliard School, forming the ensemble after discovering a tight-knit friendship and united passion and playing styles.
Currently in their third season as an ensemble, Voyage Sonique is praised for their “…strong interpretative inclinations” and “haunting quality” (The Herald). Most recently, they’ve taken second prize in international competition at the Lyceum Club International de Suisse 40th Concours de Musique.
Voyage Sonique has been featured with GEMS (Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc.) multiple times on their Midtown Concert Series, and they are an Early Music America Emerging Artist. They have held residency at the prestigious Avaloch Farm Music Institute. Upcoming highlights in their 2019 – 2020 concert season will be performances on concert series such as The Angel’s Share (New York City) and Friends of Chamber Music (Troy, NY).
As individual musicians, each enjoys a flourishing solo and chamber career: Augusta McKay Lodge, described as “the real thing, a true virtuoso” (Seen & Heard International), enjoys her recent CD release Beyond Bach and Vivaldi which was under consideration for the 61st Grammy Nominations; Jeffrey Girton recently gave his solo Lincoln Center debut with Tomasini’s Violin Concerto; Keiran Campbell performs regularly with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra as principal cellist and recently gave a concerto debut with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Robert Warner has performed with conductors such as Masaaki Suzuki, Kristian Bezuidenhout, and Ton Koopman; and Adam Cockerham pursues a busy career in New York and on the West Coast with ensembles such as Trinity Baroque Orchestra and Philharmonia Chamber Players.
Click Here for Individual Musician Biographies
Orange County Arts Council: Annual Members Exhibit
Opening Reception March 1, 2019 – 6pm to 9pm
Open Gallery Hours – March 1 through March 24, Thursdays and Fridays, 12pm to 5pm
Thornwillow Institute, 7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, New York
Orange County Arts Council: Grant Award Event,
Awesome Foundation Pitch Party
March 17, 2019 – 3pm to 5pm
Thornwillow Institute, 7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, New York
Orange County Arts Council: Artist Material Exchange
March 22, 2019 – 6pm to 8pm
Thornwillow Institute, 7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, New York
Orange County Arts Council: Family Workshop
Scavenger Sculpture with Agrisculpture Amy
March 23, 2019 – 11am to 2pm
Thornwillow Institute, 7 South Lander Street, Newburgh, New York
Talk – Making Books Familiar to George Washington in the Digital Age
by Luke Pontifell
February 20th, 2017 | 2:45pm
West Gallery, Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site
Newburgh, New York
Winter Gala: Black & White
by Teran Studio Creative Facilitation
January 28th, 2017 | Open Hours: 5 to 11pm
The Thornwillow Institute | Newburgh, New York
During WINTER GALA, TERAN STUDIO merges with THORNWILLOW INSTITUTE and creates a full exhibition of current artists living and working in the Hudson Valley. The compilation is considered to be one of the most exciting collections of outsider art in the area.
Re-Juvenation
by Through an Urban Perspective
April 30th through May 15th, 2016 | Open Hours: 12 to 6pm (Friday through Sunday)
The Thornwillow Institute | Newburgh, New York
