a strong foundation - Maryland Institute College of Art

Born and raised in Baltimore County, Isabel
Hulings Klots met her future husband Trafford
P. Klots, also from Baltimore, while traveling
in Paris in 1939.They were married in 1942
and, after Captain Klots’ military service in
World War II, they began to split their time
between Baltimore and the Klots family’s
Château in Rochefort-en-Terre, France, which
became a welcome home and inspiring painting
site for many of their artist friends.After
Trafford’s death, Isabel continued to welcome
artists to paint at the Château, a tradition
which evolved into The Alfred and Trafford
Klots’Artist Residency Program at Rocheforten-Terre.
Formally initiated in 1990, this program
brings established mid-career American
and French artists to the Château for monthlong
residencies in spring, summer, and fall
each year. It has been administered by MICA
since 1995.Today, it is an important component
of the College’s international programs for
artists. In July 2005, Mme. Klots, the Chatelaine
de Rochefort, was named a Chevalier of
the Legion of Honors by the French government
to recognize her eminent service to the
Republic of France.
“
There have always been artists here—in Brittany, of course,
but also at this Château. My late husband, Trafford Klots,
spent his life as an artist sharing his time between France and
the United States. His father, also an artist, had purchased the
ruins of this structure in 1905 and transformed it. It became
our second home after World War II, and was always a haven
for the artists who visited us. I have a strong belief that the
cross-cultural exchange between American and European
artists that was our daily life here is valuable to any artist. It
enlarges their vision.
THE FRIENDS OF ROCHEFORT-EN-TERRE HAVE BEEN One reason why we established
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAM CONTIN- the artists’ residency program at
the Château was to continue to
UES. THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT MADE IT POSSIBLE
provide this experience to con-
TO RENOVATE ARTIST’S HOUSING AT THE CHATEAU.
temporary, established artists.The
artists who have stayed here have loved it, and, in turn,
the support the program receives has been helpful in maintaining
the Château. And the presence of this program
makes the Château a true center of cultural life in this
region.The annual exhibition of work by the resident artists
is a major event, and the quality of that exhibition is
a tremendous reflection of the quality of the artists in the
program. This program wouldn’t be possible without the
Maryland Institute, which attracts really top-caliber artists.
The Friends of Rochefort-en-Terre have been essential to
ensuring that the program continues.Their generous support
made it possible to increase the endowment that I established
at MICA, to renovate artist’s housing at the Château, and to
provide four artists a year with fellowships to help cover the
costs of their travel to Rochefort for their residencies.