Green Artists League

On May 3rd 2010, the City of Newburyport  received a grant from the Fund for the Arts at the New England Foundation for the Arts in support of the Alchemical Garden –an art park and edible public garden being installed on the southern gateway to the Clipper City Rail Trail by the Green Artists League (GAL). This prestigious award of $20,000 is the result of a request submitted by the City and co-written by the Planning Office and GAL. Letters of support were sent by both Transition Newburyport and the Coastal Trails Coalition.

Part science, part art, Alchemical Garden will remediate the remaining toxins in the soil while honoring the long legacy of agricultural and  industrial history at the site—from farm and brick factory,  to rail corridor and 20^th century industry–to the products and services of the more than 100 businesses currently residing in the Industrial parks surrounding the garden.

“We are looking at the Alchemical Garden as a gift by the community for the community,” said GAL artist, Erin Stack. “GAL is dedicated to co-creating public art which inspires, stirs the imagination and is inclusive, educational, and sustainable.” Using the principles of permaculture, an innovative and “green” gardening method, plantings will require minimal maintenance once established. The art and architectural features will be created mostly from living plant material, recycled materials and benign, non-hazardous, industrial waste.

“The Green Artists League is uniquely positioned to design and install this innovative, interactive, and grant-funded garden on the Rail Trail,” said Geordie Vining, Senior Project Manager for the Newburyport Planning Office. “I am not aware of anyone else who can integrate landscaping, sculpture, education, and outreach in this way.  The G.A.L. has an interesting track record with the New Eden Garden collaborative in Newbury and the community garden at the Griffin House for Aged Men, and they are committed to fund-raising and maintenance.  I think their energy will add a lot to the Clipper City Rail Trail and the community.”

The Alchemical Garden is a multi-year project, with completion anticipated in 2012, with a 2010 fund-raising “target” of securing an additional $36,000 in private donations. GAL believes that no donation is too small and encourages anyone and everyone who believes this will be a valuable addition to both the rail trail and the city’s green mission to be a co-creator. GAL is grateful to the Urban Arts Institute at the Massachusetts College of Art for acting as our fiscal sponsor so that donation can be tax-deductible.

“Funded in part by the Fund for the Arts, a public art program of the New England Foundation for the Arts.”