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A Resurgence of Research at Threefold
Though underfunded by any measure, the sections at the Goetheanum, in Dornach, Switzerland, begun by Rudolf Steiner, provide an international focus for research. The on-going need for institutional support and funding for research in North America is a large one. In the USA, the Threefold Educational Center, originally the “Threefold Farm,” was already a center in the 1930s.
Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (right, with colleague Sally Burns) had a laboratory at Threefold.
Frank Chester, the 2010 Threefold Visiting Researcher, by Bill Day
Thirty years ago, Henry Barnes called on every anthroposophical institution to set aside resources to support research. Of “the urgent need for research arising from anthroposophy,” Henry wrote: “We must find the way to work for future values (the purpose of all genuine research), while meeting the needs of today, tomorrow and the next day.” Henry was inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s call at the 1924 Christmas Foundation Conference for the establishment of research institutes that could support and carry forward spiritual scientific research. Through the work of these institutes, Steiner said, the insights of spiritual science will penetrate the general culture.
Today, anthroposophy has proven its ability to foster, for example, beautiful schools and productive farms that freely acknowledge Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual research as the basis of their work. But even the most prosperous and stable anthroposophical institutions still devote most of their resources to simply keeping the wheels turning, paying the bills, and staying alive for the next school year or planting season. Our people are busy just doing their jobs, we say, and there’s hardly enough money even to meet our immediate needs.
At the same time, who can deny that the need to discover our “future values” feels more urgent than ever?
With that in mind, Threefold Educational Center has created a Visiting Researcher program to bring together innovative researchers, motivated students, and Threefold community residents and guests.
The inaugural Threefold Visiting Researcher is artist, sculptor and geometrician Frank Chester. This fall, Frank brought his studio to the Threefold community, where a select group of research fellows have joined him in conducting investigations into the properties of new geometric forms.
An example of Frank Chester’s work, much more of which may be seen at frankchester.com
Fellows entered the program on one of two tracks. Those in the Apprenticeship Track are working on projects assigned by Frank Chester, while Fellows in the Research Track brought an existing project or question to the Fellowship, with the aim of applying research methodologies they are learning from Frank Chester. Fellows in both tracks received intensive, hands-on instruction in Frank’s methodology. They will then have the opportunity to apply those methods to previously uninvestigated forms, with completely unpredictable results. Through their guided experience of one researcher’s methods, fellows will develop unrealized capacities and unexpected insights.
The 2010 residency has been structured in three parts:
September 19-25: Frank and his research fellows work together at Threefold. This intensive week-long gathering included morning lectures, work with projective geometry and orthographic studies, geometric net development, two- and three-dimensional drawing, perspective, form studies, basic construction techniques, and group discussions. Frank provided instruction on his research methodology, assigned research projects to fellows in the Apprenticeship track, and guided fellows in the Research track as they apply the methodology to their own research question.
September 26-October 23: Fellows work independently, on their own projects or on the forms and elements assigned by Frank. This independent research can be completed anywhere – fellows can return home or stay on at Threefold, where studio facilities are available. Each fellow will have at least one personal phone consultation with Frank during this time to check on progress and ask questions.
October 24-30: Frank and fellows reconvene at Threefold. This second group session will include presentations of independent work and a group compilation and reporting of research findings. An exhibition in Threefold Auditorium will feature the work of the research fellows, and time will also be devoted to exploring how the research methodology might be applied to each fellow’s own life questions and themes.
In early November 2010, after the Visiting Researcher program is completed, the Threefold community will host a research symposium co-sponsored by Threefold Educational Center and the Collegium of the School of Spiritual Science. This event will include contributions from researchers of long standing, and be a fitting cap to a season marking a resurgence of research at Threefold.
In shaping the Visiting Researcher program, we at Threefold have worked hard to ensure that it is adequately funded and appropriately structured so that it can achieve the Christmas Conference ideal of institutionalizing spiritual-scientific research. As we work, continuous dialog with the Collegium of the School of Spiritual Science is intended to ensure that Threefold’s work harmonizes with the Collegium’s efforts in the same direction. We are striving to temper our enthusiasm and sense of urgency with a commitment to ensuring that the 2010 Residency is the first of many for the years to come.
Bill Day is Development Coordinator at Threefold Educational Center.
