Medal Day

August 12, 2018

Our 2018 Medal Day is now behind us and what a spectacular day it was! If you were able to be with us on Sunday, August 12th, 2018, we thank you for joining in our celebration of the cultural contributions made by Pulitzer Prize-winning “co-mix” artist Art Spiegelman. Thirty artists-in-residence and 1,200 arts lovers from around the region and the country came to celebrate with a ceremony and 30 open studios after a picnic lunch.

Each August art lovers from around the region and around the country converge on the lush Colony grounds to celebrate the achievements of a leading voice in American culture. This event is free and open to the public.

If you missed it, or if you attended, please join us next August as we award the 60th Edward MacDowell Medal to a visual artist we hope to announce next spring.

Read about our 2018 Medalist Art Spiegelman.

The Medal Day attendees litter the field next to and under a large tent. They sit at tables and on the grass enjoying the sunny day.

Scenes from Medal Day 2018

Medal Day programs are laid out on a table.

(John W. Hession photo)

The Lehners, a family who has long time supported MacDowell, stand together for a photo while awaiting the Medal Day Ceremony.

Medal Day attendees speak to MacDowell staff at the information table

A Fellow smiles as they ride their bike across the lawn

A large crowd, seated under a large tent, await the start of the Medal Day ceremony

Two people stand together and pose for a photo, warm smiles on their faces.

Two people stand together for a photo in front of the Medal Day tent

Art Spiegelman dons a bright smile as he poses for a portrait.

Michael and Art stand together in the garden as photographer snap photos

(Jonathan Gourlay photo)

Medal Day VIPs stand together for a group photo. Some are sitting on a bench and others are standing behind them

David, Cheryl and Andy pose together for a photo

Two people stand together. They are making their way to a studio tour.

(John W. Hession photo)

Michael Chabon stands at a podium, speaking to the audience.

Michael Chabon stands at a podium, addressing the audience. To the right of him sit four people who will also speak during the ceremony. In the foreground, you can see the back of the heads of the audience who are there to see the ceremony.

Medalist Art Spiegelman sits in a chair next to the podium and claps his hands.

Medal Day speakers sit in a row of chairs. Some are smiling at one another while the others look at the person speaking at the podium.

Sitting in a row of chairs on a stage that is decorated with colorful flowers are five Medal Day VIPs who will speak during the ceremony

Andy Senchak stands at the podium and speaks, making the crowd and the other speakers laugh

Art Spiegelman smiles brightly. He holds a pen to his mouth.

The Medal Day crowd from the perspective of the stage. A large crowd sits in rows of chairs under a large tent, awaiting the start of the ceremony.

(Dan Millbauer photo)

Cheryl Young speaks at a podium on stage, the audience and the other speakers look on.

Cheryl Young receives a standing ovations during the Medal Day ceremony. Her fellow speakers and VIPs stand to applaud her.

David Macy speaks at the podium. Next to him in a row of chairs sit the other speakers and VIPs. The crowd looks on and listens.

Cheryl laughs while sitting on stage during the ceremony

Hilary stands at the podium and speaks to the crowd. Next to her, sitting in a row of chairs is Michael Chabon and Art Spiegelman.

Hilary stands at the podium and speaks to the audience

A large audience sits in long rows of chairs under a large tent as they enjoy the ceremony

Art and Michael shake hands and smile brightly as Art receives the Edward MacDowell Medal

Michael Chabon holds the Edward MacDowell Medal up high as he stands with the recipient, Art Spiegelman

A close up photo of Art Spiegelman speaking at the podium during the ceremony

The audience, sitting in long rows of chairs, look on and enjoy the ceremony.

(Christian Holland photo)

Art Spiegelman stands at the podium and speaks to the audience

(John W. Hession photo)

Art Spiegelman stands at the podium, addressing the crowd who look on from their seats under a large tent

Art Spiegelman croutches at the front of the stage and holds the hand of an audience member, smiling brightly.

Art embraces someone warmly as he comes off the stage after accepting the Medal

(Dan Millbauer photo)

People gather around tables with brightly colored tablecloths, enjoying the Medal Day picnic

Picnickers smile joyfully, enjoying their lunch at a table

A small group of people gather for a conversation

(John W. Hession photo)

A group of people enjoy their picnic and smile for a photo

A group of people gather on a porch for conversation and a picnic

Fellows sit in chairs awaiting the arrival of Medal Day attendees during studio tours

(John W. Hession photo)

Fellow Mark Dresser stands next to their double bass and smiles

(John W. Hession photo)

People look around a studio, admiring the artwork during studio tours.

(Todd Lippy photo)

(Tod Lippy photo)

A group of people look through books at the Medal Day shop

Groups of people walk together in different directions on their way to studios

A stamp used for an activity for Medal Day attendees

(Christian Holland photo)

(John W. Hession photo)

People look around a studio, admiring the artwork and talking with an artist during studio tours.

(John W. Hession photo)

A small group of people walk up a path while touring studios

An artist sits among his many instruments, awaiting the arrival of Medal Day attendees on studio tours

A stunning bouquet of flowers made up of bright pinks and yellows

(John W. Hession photo)

A small group of people walk across the lawn while touring studios

An Artist speaks to a small group of people about their work during studio tours

(John W. Hession photo)

(Tod Lippy photo)

Two people make their way down a dirt road as they travel to the next studio during the tours

A man walks across the field, a sleepy infant rests their head on his shoulder

(John W. Hession photo)

Michael Chabon Welcomes the 2018 Medal Day Crowd

Hillary Chute Presents 2018 MacDowell Medalist Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman Accepts 2018 Edward MacDowell Medal

Medal Day Schedule

Award Ceremony under the Medal Day Tent 12:15 p.m.

Michael Chabon

Chairman of the Board

Andrew M. Senchak

President

Cheryl A. Young

Executive Director

David Macy

Resident Director

Hillary Chute

Presentation Speaker

Art Spiegelman

Medalist

Picnic Lunch 1:15 p.m.

Basket tickets can be collected at the Registration Table before 12:15 p.m. After the ceremony, basket lunches are distributed from the lunch tent located on the south side of Colony Hall.

Open Studios 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Studio tours are self-guided; please refer to the map and artist biographies. To allow artists-in-residence time for lunch, studios will not be open before 2:00 p.m. Parents accompanying young children are encouraged to preview studio displays and/or performances

About the Edward MacDowell Medal

The Edward MacDowell Medal has been awarded annually since 1960 to an individual artist who has made an outstanding contribution to their field. These artists include Leonard Bernstein, John Updike, Georgia O'Keeffe, I.M. Pei, Stephen Sondheim, and Toni Morrison. The artistic discipline in which the award is given rotates in order to celebrate all of the creative fields practiced at MacDowell.

Scavenger Hunt

Once again, we’re excited to offer a scavenger hunt for all ages! This time with a signed copy of Spiegelman’s Maus, Wacky Packages, or Jack and the Box as the prize for student participants. Beginning at 10 a.m., we invite students* (grade school through college) and adults to collect stamps that will be hidden around our 450 acres. Hand-carved stamps are cached in public locations and complete a comic inspired by Mr. Spiegelman!

MacDowell staff member Ann Putnam has carved four rubber stamps that commemorate this year’s medalist, and she will hide them around The MacDowell Colony for the Medal Day hunt.

*Participants NEED NOT be present for the drawing to claim their prizes.

Edward MacDowell Medalist

Discipline: Visual Art – drawing, Literature – nonfiction

Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman became the first comic artist to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for his masterful Holocaust narrative Maus, which portrayed Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. Maus II continued the remarkable story of his parents’ survival of the Nazi regime and their lives later in America. His…

Learn more about Art Spiegelman

Artists of Medal Day

Learn about all 30 artists-in-residence, and discover a little about their processes and current projects. Visit the artists in their studios on Medal Day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's a rare opportunity for the public to get a look at where art is made at MacDowell.

Learn about the Artists

Other Medal Days

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Next (2019)