Holidays at Fountain House Filled with Music

On Tuesday, December 5, 2006 nearly 200 supporters, friends and family kicked off the holiday season with an evening of art and music by the Fountain House community.

The main Fountain House building on West 47th Street was beautifully decorated with cranberry votives, pine garlands and wreaths created by the members and staff of the Horticulture Unit. Long-time member Sheldon Sweeper was joined on trumpet by his fellow musicians from the Harlem jazz community. Member Larry Dupler treated guests to American standards and holiday classics on the piano in the living room.

Guests enjoyed wine from Bottlerocket Wine & Spirits and delicious food by The Cleaver Company, while they shopped for holiday gifts at the Fountain Gallery Holiday Shop, curated by member Bernard Stote. The shop offered hand-knit items made with High Point Farm alpaca fiber, along with notecards, jewelery, gifts, and ornaments by Fountain Gallery artists. By evening's end the shop had raised $7,000 in support of the Gallery's operations.

Nearly half of the attendees were visiting Fountain House for the first time, and were able to tour the newly dedicated Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Education Center, which supports members in returning to and completing school.

Chairman Emeritus, Anne Mai, hosted a program celebrating the creative achievements of Fountain House members. Fountain Gallery artist, Michelle Cohen, shared her experiences with mental illness, and spoke to the importance of a place like Fountain Gallery where artists with mental illness can display and sell their work.

Michelle's remarks were followed by a concert performance by world-reknown composer and pianist, Inessa Zaretsky, and avant-gard cellist, Madigan Shive. Madigan is also the co-founder of The Icarus Project, a radical mutual aid collective and mental health support network. The Icarus Project partners with Fountain House on outreach to young adults with mental illness.

Fountain House looks forward to making the Open House an annual holiday event.