Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA Learning English.
I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
On the show today, we play more hit summer songs.
We also learn about the best places in America to visit during the summer.
But first, we go to a small town in Maryland that is supporting its local artists.
Seed Project
A small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland has become a patron, or supporter, of the
arts. The community hopes its effort will permit local artists more creative freedom.
Avi Arditti tells how.
Vicco von Voss has been making furniture from reclaimed woods for 20 years.
"When I get a tree that's been blown over by a hurricane or taken down by a tree company,
I have the opportunity to give this tree a second life."
Mr. von Voss is known for creating beautiful and useful pieces.
"Part of my philosophy is that if it took a tree 80 years to grow, I need to build something
that will last for that same duration."
The artist formed that philosophy when he lived in a 10-square-meter home he had built
near Chestertown, Maryland.
"I grew to understand and love nature. But it wasn't just loving nature, it was observing
the real subtleties of the land, of the trees. And with that, I felt like I became a steward
of nature."
Mr. von Voss makes his living mostly by building specially ordered furniture. As soon as a
piece is done, it goes to the customer. So, he was faced with a problem when a local museum
invited him to exhibit his furniture at an art show next year. He didn't have a collection.
"Basically the idea of borrowing my clients' pieces for two months was not an option. I
couldn't go and say 'I need to borrow your dining table for two months.'"
Art gallery owner Carla Massoni came up with a solution. If people were to lend the artist
money, he could delay the sale of furniture and gather a collection for the show. After
the show, he could sell the pieces and pay back the loans.
Ms. Massoni called her idea the "Seed Project." She says at least 20 people have contributed
money so far.
"Many of the people that are involved in this probably wouldn't be able to purchase a piece
of Vicco's work. But they still want to be part of the process of his creating these
pieces."
Bob Ingersoll is one of the Seed Project's supporters.
"It seemed to me such an interesting project. Here I had a chance to help Vicco concentrate
more on creating pieces of art. I expect to see a beautiful piece come out of this or
more, many pieces."
Art gallery owner Carla Massoni says this willingness to help could have something to
do with the community's historic connection to the area's farmland and river.
"What Vicco does, using the natural resources of the region, the trees, the connection he
has to the living, breathing environment that he is part of. Many people share that philosophy
as well."
Vicco von Voss says the Seed Project has permitted him to grow as a craftsman.
"I thought, what a phenomenal opportunity to get out of my own box and create something
very unique and very sculptural, much more artistic but still functional than what I
have created in the past."
The Chestertown community hopes the Seed Project could expand into support for more artists
and craftspeople in the future.
I'm Avi Arditti.