by Carlene Phillips ·
Friday, February 27, 2026
The new mission for 35 Oak Hill Road is to house emerging artists at the Greenhut Artist Residency. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The stately house at 35 Oak Hill Road was built by Margaret Bromfield Blanchard in 1848 and for a time served as a dormitory for young women attending Bromfield Academy, which Blanchard later established. After years as a private residence, the house is now set to open with a new mission—to house emerging artists at the Greenhut Artist Residency.
Meredith Combs McAlister and Dana Notine are cofounders of the nonprofit. McAlister grew up in the house to which her parents moved in 1998. She now lives in Somerville but comes to Harvard several times a week.
In a recent conversation, McAlister, who graduated from Lawrence Academy in 2013, said that after their dad, Al Combs, died two years ago, predeceased by his wife Jennifer, she and her siblings discussed what to do with the home they loved. After a lot of thought, they agreed a fitting “next step for the house” would be as a place for visual artists and writers to find a space where their creativity could flourish, and they could be inspired by a community of fellow artists and a rural setting. McAlister said she has always loved that Harvard is so rich in cultural history, drawing creative minds like the Shakers and the transcendentalists. Greenhut fits with this cultural legacy, and it combines McAlister’s favorite place and her passion for artists.
McAlister, executive director of Greenhut, has a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis in art history and a master’s from Simmons College in library and information science. She has experience in nonprofits and established that status for Greenhut in January 2026. McAlister met her cofounder, Notine, in a year of graduate work at Hunter College. They stayed in touch, and Notine is now the curator and director of programs at Greenhut. She has curated several exhibitions in New York venues and has a network of emerging artists. She and her husband, Andrew, moved into the Oak Hill house almost a year ago. Greenhut also has a three-member board of directors.
McAlister explained that Greenhut is a family name and it also evokes a natural setting. Her maternal great-grandmother was interested in the arts and supported them through philanthropy. Her grandmother was an artist, and McAlister grew up happily spending time in her studio, sitting on the floor with paint and a pad of paper—“No coloring books for me.” She also visited art galleries with her grandmother, whose paintings hang in the front hallway of the Oak Hill house. McAlister was also inspired by her mom, who had a studio on the third floor of the house. She said her mom was not afraid of change and was always thinking ahead to possible projects.
Greenhut will offer spots for five artists in each of three sessions, each running for five weeks, in May, July, and September. The founders settled on five weeks as “long enough for a deep dive, short enough to fit into real lives.” The first session, beginning May 4, is full, as is the summer session. This year the residents were selected through invitation. Next year, art professionals will nominate candidates, and at some point in the future, artists will be selected by open call. McAlister and Notine strove for a balance between visual artists and writers and for diversity in the attendees. The artists receive a $1,000 honorarium as well as $300 in supplies. Groceries will be provided.
Each artist will have a private bedroom, and they will share the kitchen. There are ramps to the entrance of the house and a first-floor bedroom and bath. Each artist will have their own studio, equipped with appropriate materials. The studios are converted horse sheds, located at the back of the house, each with a work table, shelves, and a large window looking out at the 10 acres of land for walking and for inspiration. McAlister said most of the artists enrolled are residents of city spaces and will enjoy being in nature. The property has a pool, a bee garden established by McAlister’s mom, and trails for hiking.
While most of the artists’ time will be spent on their own work, there will be three scheduled programs each week. One is a family dinner, with two different artists preparing the communal meal one night each week. A second event is a lecture series, presented by a mix of arts professionals, and the third is a more pragmatic talk by a professional in such topics as finance, marketing, and sustainability. Andrew Notine will make a two-minute documentary for each artist about their work. “We want the artists to walk out the door with more than they came with,” said McAlister.
Although the artists will spend most of their time in their studios, Greenhut is within walking distance of the General Store, Fivesparks, and the pond, which is perfect, said McAlister, since most of them will not have a car. She said there is no planned interaction with Fivesparks this first year, but there is great potential for collaboration in the future. Optional field trips to Boston or Worcester museums or to the Rose Museum at Brandeis might be planned.
The Harvard community will be invited to visit the studios on an open-studio day midsession and also to an exhibition at the end of each session. Each artist will participate, whether with something created during the session or a work they had done previously.
McAlister and Notine will hold an informational meeting at Fivesparks on April 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., with plenty of time for questions.