The Team: (Standing) Phil Reynolds and Heather Hartley, co-founders, Trillium Arts, Gracia O’Neill and Sarahbeth Larrimore, owners, Odonata Farm. (Seated) Aelish O’Neill Larrimore and front and center, Mr. Arlodog. Photo by Philamonjaro.

Interior of the Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm

Photo of The Seldoms, ACE Fellowship, September 2021. Photo by Andrew Glatt

Red Clay Dance Company. Photo by Jay Eli.

In the spirit of community and collaboration, Trillium Arts is delighted to kick off 2022 in a year long partnership with Odonata Farm.

This unique partnership evolved with Trillium’s neighbors Sarahbeth Larrimore and Gracia O’Neill, who own a gloriously rustic 80-year-old barn about a 10 minute walk away from the Trillium property. Over various laughter filled conversations, a friendship and a business plan emerged, allowing Trillium to lease the barn for its programming use during the warmer months out of the year. Not only does this provide Trillium with a fantastic and unique option for rehearsal space for guest artists, it also creates a win-win situation and enables the Odonata barn to reclaim its original position as a gathering spot and community space for the surrounding community.

As shared by Sarahbeth and Gracia, "When we first moved to Odonata Farm cars would slow roll by, folks would stop, they'd tell us about their history with "the old Joe Brown" place & how relieved they were to see it being revitalized. Many folks had lived or worked here or grew up hearing stories of their family working or living here on the farm. It became pretty apparent that this 1880s farmplace had been the center of bustling farm life and community for a long time. Fast forward to our friendship and partnership with Trillium, the opportunity to share what was once a farmplace so central to the area, that joy can't be expressed in words. Thank goodness it gets expressed through dance and artistic collaboration! "

Background
Last summer, Trillium Co-Founder, Phil Reynolds constructed a sublime dance studio/work space with a 20' x 30' sprung floor and high quality marley in the barn, with funding support from the PERT Foundation and design consultation graciously provided by Kevin Rechner, Production Manager and Technical Director at the Dance Center of Columbia College.
The barn’s use as a studio was inaugurated during the Fall 2021 ACE Fellowships. The pilot season was deemed by all as a great success. Artists described the barn as both comfortable and inspirational. The Odonata/Trillium team then circled round the campfire and started making plans for longer term use.

Upcoming
Select Trillium resident artists and Fellows will use The Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm for rehearsals, workshops and informal showings from April through October.The season kicks off in April with a 10-day residency by Red Clay Dance Company. Back to back ACE Fellowships are anticipated from August-October. Other programming plans are under development. Anticipated use includes a four-week dance workshop that will be open to the community. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm will primarily be occupied during the 2022 season by artists and Fellows who are in residence at Trillium Arts. However, a select number of dates are available for rental by local folks with artistic or civic minded purposes in mind.

Please contact heather@trilliumartsnc.org for media inquiries or more info on Red Barn Studio rates and availability.