I Saw the Clouds
Trailing their plumes of rainy gray.
The purple…
Hervey White (1866-1944) was an influential American writer, poet, and pioneering figure in the world of arts and crafts communities. Born in New York City, he was educated at Harvard University, where he was exposed to progressive cultural and social ideas. Inspired by these influences, White became actively involved in the utopian socialist movement, contributing to the establishment of the Roycroft artisan community in East Aurora, New York, founded by Elbert Hubbard.
Dissatisfied with the Roycroft approach, White sought to create his own artistic haven. In 1902, he co-founded the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony near Woodstock, New York, along with Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead and Bolton Brown. The colony aimed to provide a retreat for artists, fostering creativity and mutual support. Nevertheless, tensions over artistic direction led White to establish the Maverick Colony in 1905, a more liberal and less structured environment than Byrdcliffe.
The Maverick Colony became renowned for its bohemian lifestyle, attracting numerous avant-garde artists, musicians, and writers. White himself was a prolific literary figure, publishing novels, poetry, and essays, and his works capture the ideals and struggles of early 20th-century America. White’s legacy lies in his contribution to the American Arts and Crafts movement and the enduring cultural landscape of Woodstock, which continues to be a vibrant arts community.