Yaddo

Established by a pair of philanthropists who believed adamantly in the power of creativity, Yaddo has hosted some of the twentieth century's most renowned writers, composers, and visual artists, including Hannah Arendt, Milton Avery, James Baldwin, Saul Bellow, Leonard Bernstein, Elizabeth Bishop, Truman Capote, Flannery O'Connor, Aaron Copland, Langston Hughes, Carson McCullers, Sylvia Plath, Clyfford Still, Philip Roth, and William Carlos Williams.
The story of Yaddo's genesis and evolution offers a fascinating glimpse of not only the workings of this famously private institution but also the lives and historical circumstances of the artists who lived and worked there. Published to coincide with The New York Public Library's exhibition on Yaddo's role in the development of twentieth century culture, Creative Power is a richly illustrated examination of America's premier artists' colony and its relationship to the ideals of democracy and individuality. From Aaron Copland to Robert Lowell, the book shares the stories of individuals who visited this quiet haven and the debates and controversies that threatened to shatter its tranquility. Assembled by Yaddo curator Micki McGee, with essays by Marcelle Clements, David Gates, Allan Gurganus, Tim Page, Ruth Price, Barry Werth, Karl Emil Willers, and Helen Vendler, Creative Power composes a history that is itself a work of art, a collaborative project that both reflects and incorporates the major moments of a century.

Edited by Micki McGee

Few names in American arts and letters resonate like Yaddo... This lavishly detailed book offers an intimate glimpse into life at this enchanting and storied retreat. Publishers Weekly 9-29-08 [A] beautifully illustrated and engagingly compiled book. -- Angus Trumble Times Literary Supplement 5/22/09