1991

The Friends' Studio was constructed, providing live/work spaces for visual artists, composers, choreographers, and performance artists. This large, well-lit space also functions as a place for performances and exhibitions.

"The Friends Studio was conceived and paid for by Alice Hayes and John Holabird to commemorate the long friendship of their mothers, Sylvia Shaw and Dorothy Holabird. Alice, always focused, had coined the Ragdale motto, 'A place for artists and writers to work.' As there was a growing demand for different kinds of studio space, it was decided to create a composers' studio and a larger studio that could be used by painters, sculptors and dance choreographers. This would be the first new building since the creation of Ragdale and it had to blend in. The site was selected and the design created with a little fear and trepidation. Would the new studio intrude or would it be a complementary addition? The answer came months later in the form of an unintended design critique of the new studio from a former Ragdale resident. She said, 'What did we used to use that building for?' Whew!"

-Walker Johnson, architect and former Ragdale Board President