Catwalk Artist Residency

Purcell Scheu Palmer ’62 made it big in finance at a time when few women worked in the field. She and her husband Jim—a former pro-basketball star—were ardent travelers who traversed the world. But when it came time to look for their “forever home,” they set their sights on the Northeastern United States, which they both loved.

Barbara Doran, a long-time friend of Purcell’s and Board Chair for the Catwalk Art Residency, says, “Many people think that Purcell acquired this property and later decided to turn it into an artists’ residency, but as she searched high and low for the perfect location, finding a peaceful place for artists to work was in the forefront of her mind.”

In 2004, that dream became manifest when the Palmers founded the artist residence Purcell dubbed Catwalk. (The name refers to a narrow walkway that connects the main house to a three-story tower.) The grand estate in Catskill, NY, about 45 miles north of Poughkeepsie, sits high upon a bluff overlooking the Hudson River and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Visitors can catch a glimpse of Olana, home of the Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church, right across the river. The grounds themselves are as exquisite as the view.

In addition to the sprawling mansion built in 1865 by Charles Herbert Moore, another Hudson River School painter and a friend of Matthew Vassar’s, several additions to the Palmers’ home were constructed, and separate structures were placed around the property, making room for artists to pursue work away from the bustle of their everyday lives. Residents—several of them profiled in this issue—remark upon the beauty and serenity of the environment and the ability to work with few distractions.

Shiela Henderson, Catwalk’s Executive Director, says, “Purcell was keen on providing the time and space to create. Yes, every applicant submits a proposal, but ultimately, nothing is curated or set in stone. You have the freedom to do whatever it is that you want to do. Let the beauty of this estate, the magic of the Hudson River, the entire Catskill-Columbia-Greene area—the trees, the landscape, the water—inspire you.”

The opportunity also inspires friendships. Shiela says she gets a kick out of seeing the relationships that develop between the artists. “They go out to dinner together. They cook dinners together. They just hang,” she says. “If you’re a writer meeting a filmmaker or a musician, maybe there’s a collaboration that comes out of that. We want everyone to be inspired by other people’s work.”

Since its inception in 2004, Catwalk has hosted painters, sculptors, poets, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and multidisciplinary artists. There have been almost 800 residencies to date, with some artists returning multiple times. Residents are selected from among the alums, faculty, and staff of five academic institutions: Columbia, New York University, Vassar, the Art Institute of Chicago, Penn State, and Mannes School of Music.

The residency hit some bumps after Jim died in 2013 and Purcell’s health began to wane. She finally died in 2024 after a long illness. Victoria Meguin, who came to work at Catwalk 23 years ago, says Purcell’s presence was sorely missed. “She was a force, and everybody loved her, including the artists,” says Victoria, who serves as Resident Director. “Even as her health was declining, she would still light up a room just with her presence.”

After Purcell’s death, staff members stepped in to shore up operations. Along with Shiela and Victoria, there is Property Manager Chuck Irwin, who has been there for more than 30 years. (He jokes that he “came with the house,” having worked for the previous owner, too.)

Victoria started as a housekeeper, but as Purcell’s health declined, she pivoted to managing the house and coordinating health-care aides. She now oversees day-to-day operations and curates artists’ experiences.

Shiela, who arrived five years ago as Catwalk’s bookkeeper, says that when the previous executive director left, “the choice was either closing the residency down or having us take the lead on it. We knew how much the residency meant to Purcell, so we said ‘Challenge accepted!’”

The first year was really difficult, but Shiela reports that Catwalk is now in full swing. The staff and board are focused on steady growth. The priority, of course, is continuing to support their residents. Another is to honor Purcell’s legacy as a supporter of arts and educational organizations such as Vassar. (A dedicated alum, Purcell served on the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College’s Board of Directors and chaired the Friends of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.)

Purcell was also famous for hosting grand fundraising dinners at Catwalk to benefit other organizations. “There are a lot of new leaders of arts-focused organizations who have never heard of Purcell,” says Shiela, “but I want to keep her spirit of generosity alive.”

These days, there are more opportunities than ever for Catwalk to link arms with the Hudson Valley creative community. The staff often invites former residents back to share their work with those in the area.

And Shiela says she’d love to expand on what Catwalk currently offers. “We have 65 acres here, and most of them are raw fields or woods. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have our own outdoor performance space, where we could showcase our artists’ work for a larger audience?

Is that possible?

Maybe.

“Catwalk is blessed to be in good financial shape. We don’t even need to fundraise,” Shiela acknowledges. “There has to be smart, balanced growth, but the possibilities are endless.”