Erin Stack
In the summer of 2008, GAL installed green haikus at various sites near the Newburyport, MA waterfront. These were hand-lettered on canvas, affixed to the ground in various locations, and had content reflecting their surroundings. These will be put together into a book.
Our “Air Your Dirty Laundry” installation at Newburyport’s Green Expo on Energy and Sustainability, November 14th and 15th at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport, MA, was very well received. Many people stopped by to give kitchen table “Eco-Confessions” with one of the GALs and hang their green transgressions out to dry.
In the spring of 2008 GAL began collaborating with the First Parish Church of Newbury, Greater Newburyport CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) growers, shareholders, and organic “Victory Gardeners” in experiment in sustainable community. GAL will be working with the three communities documenting their experience of working together through out the growing season. In July GAL and the New Eden Collaborative worked together on the design and construction of a float Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming parade. The theme of the float was The Octopus’s Garden- One Earth One Family. Our float won the coveted Mayor’s Award for originality and best exemplifying Yankee Homecoming’s theme of “Family”
The New Eden Collaborative will be continuing next year as the community organic gardens will be expanding from 12 plots to 30 plots. GAL projects for next year include an extension of the Sustainability Mural, working with organic gardeners in construction of Waste Folly (a unique compost pile), Community News and Eco Action board, recycle scare crows and whirligigs and working with First Parish Church in creating a 20’ x 20’ outdoor labyrinth.
Roaming Interactive Performances: Hungry Ghost
Stephenie Strogney and Erin Stack collaborate on interactive performances. including a 2008 Earth Day roaming performance called “Metamorphosis: Hungry Ghost”. In this performance, a “handler” (Stack) would tell people about the sad tale of Stephenie, a savvy yet profligate shopper who awoke one morning transformed into a giant Hungry Ghost. She is now doomed to roam the world consuming without ever being satisfied. The handler encouraged people to feed the hungry ghost by putting their waste water bottles, napkins, candies etc. through the many open mouths of the ghost. The food would then be seen through the exposed stomachs that hang from the ghost. Legend has it that poor Stephenie is still seen wandering the streets of the Northeast trailing her ever accumulating train of waste.
