Jason Klein

Of the many reasons I have to be grateful to my wife, my introduction to the Wassaic Project sits high up on that list (and it is a very extensive list). While Bowie’s family and my wife’s family go way back, we didn’t know anything about the Wassaic Project, until we randomly staked out a weekend house in the area over 10 years ago.

We found a happy refuge every time we visited Wassaic — from the captivating exhibitions to the adult slushies at the Lantern to the carefree way our kids could play, make art in the Art Nest, or wander through an old grain mill and see exciting, new artists. More importantly, we saw how amazingly well the project had threaded the needle of introducing artists and weekenders to a local community without mucking it all up and, in fact, genuinely enriching it.

It’s been incredible to see all the captivating work coming out of the residency program and to see emerging artists before they're discovered by the rest of the art world. But, what I’ve also found to be so special about the organization is the focus on arts education in the local area schools, especially as more arts programs get cut in these lean times. It’s wonderful to be a part of an organization that brings this specialized programming to students of all ages in the greater community and provides another anchor for students to find reasons to love school.

As a now full-time resident in the area, I couldn’t be more excited to be involved with this great organization and work alongside such an inspiring team on this mission.