Edenfred Art Residency to Close

We have just received the very sad news that Edenfred, Madison's artist residency facility, will be closing at the end of this year. It seems that the city of Madison deemed it a commercial enterprise and was requiring the owners to make renovations that were not only cost-prohibitive but would destroy the beauty of the house. The city also questioned whether Edenfred performs a "benevolent service" to the community. The Terry Foundation and David Wells have been fighting the city for two years. They have come to the sad conclusion that they cannot win this fight.

I am currently a day fellow at Edenfred. I go there on Fridays to work in a silent workspace in a beautiful, calming setting. JESSE LEE recently completed a week-long retreat there. Many of our students and our friends in the Madison writing community have been fellows there as well. Those who are not artists often find it odd that we would leave our homes in Madison to go to another home in Madison for purposes of writing. But any artist would understand completely.

I will be talking to David and asking if there is anything the community of artists in Madison can do to prevent this from happening. At the very least I'd like there to be an outpouring of letters to Mayor Dave expressing our sorrow and outrage.

I am angry. I am heartbroken. City of Madison, this is not your finest hour.