Who is Jamie A. Hulley?

Artist Hands
I have artist hands
Blue paint under my nails
ink stained fingers
Smudges of midnight charcoal
I attract color like north attracts south
When water runs cold over my skin
the colorful beauty marks remain embedded
in my palm, a purple crescent
A splash of green
I like them, I hope they never wash off
Because I am an artist
And I should have artist hands
                            — Jamie Alaine Hulley, 1999
                                          

For nearly 10 years Amity and other communities have known the name Jamie Hulley.

But why do we know it? The Jamie A Hulley Arts Foundation has given grant money and supported the arts in the three Amity towns, Bridgeport, Milford, Fairfield, and Wesleyan University.

The foundation is run by Judy Primavera and Fred and Kari Hulley in honor of Jamie Alaine Hulley.

Most Amity residents know Judy Primavera on sight, she is the face of the foundation, writing checks at the Amity Film Festival and visiting schools. But who was Jamie Hulley? What did she look like? What did she do to earn this recognition for the past 10 years?

About Jamie

Jamie Hulley was a vibrant young woman and a Junior at Wesleyan University. A singer, dancer, photographer, and artist in every sense of the word.

She came home from a spring semester in Italy in 2002, reenergized and ready to take on the world and her senior year.

But before she could realize all of her dreams, Jamie became ill and was diagnosed with an aggressive type of lymphoma. On Sept. 6, 2002, just two weeks before her 21st birthday, Jamie died.

Soon after her death, Jamie's family established the Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts — now known as the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation — as a way of keeping Jamie's memory and spirit alive.
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The Foundation

A Brochure from the foundation reads, "The Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing young artists with opportunities to explore their artistic talent and pursue their dreams. Each of the annual awards and scholarships reflects and important “artist experience” in Jamie’s life."

The Foundation flourishes on private donations and monies raised from its annual fund-raising gala.

Following are the programs that the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation helps each year:

Annual Scholarships, Awards & Educational Arts Programs

For our youngest artists:

•    Jamie A. Hulley Childcare Center in Bridgeport, CT 
Educational programs in the arts & curriculum development through the arts.

•    Creative Arts Award at RaceBrook School in Orange, CT

•    Children’s Summer Theater Scholarship at Fairfield University

•    Jamie Hulley Dance Award at the Lee Lund Studio of Dance in Milford, CT

For teens:

•    Art Award at Amity Middle School in Orange, CT

•    Studio Art Scholarship at Amity High School in Woodbridge, CT

•    Visiting Artist Program at Amity High School

•    Drama Club Production Grant at Amity High School

•    Shakespeare Ventures Summer Acting Workshop Scholarship

For College Students:

•    Studio Art Senior Thesis Stipend at Wesleyan University

•    Travel Stipend at Wesleyan University to Bologna, Italy

•    Theatre Fairfield Student Production Grant at Fairfield University

•    Summer Arts Internship Stipend

For Artists of All Ages:
•    Jamie A. Hulley “Musicians Unplugged” Series at Fairfield University

Jamie's Art

From May 1 to May 31, a celebration of a life's work will be featured at the Case Memorial Library.

Come see Jamie Alaine Hulley's art on display with an opening reception on Thursday, May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The library is located at 176 Tyler City Road.