3 days to go

Yesterday i spent some time at the shed, laying out cables + opening the barn's ventilation panels. It's cold outside, but it feels good to be getting things ready for the relighting on Saturday. Joe + Sarah Swartz are planning such a wonderful celebration of local food + art in their Blue Barn + it might even snow a little bit on Friday (fingers crossed).

Here are a couple of photos i took yesterday - images of this aging barn being either overtaken or gradually erased by decades of exposure to its environment. Beautiful in their own way, but bittersweet.

Meanwhile...

While you're counting down the days until Shedding Light's reappearance on Dec. 11, 2010, please plan to attend the closing of the Amherst Biennial exhibit Sunday Dec. 5 at East St. School in Amherst, MA. My projection installation titled, "I dwell in Possiblity -" exploring identity + place will be up from dusk - 8pm.

The Details...

Getting there... The giant spool of cable was rolled out to Far Shed yesterday ready to be hooked up to the electrical panels at either end. It felt great to visit the barn again + to feel the soft earth beneath my feet, the mist in my face + to see Pleiades sailing in the distance. Thanks to Derek for helping out.

Pleiades at Swartz Farm

If you happen to drive by Swartz Family Farm in the next few weeks you might see 7 beautiful felted wool sails navigating the field along Rt. 116. Nov. through Dec. 11, 2010.

This installation, called Pleiades by Nancy Winship Milliken is part of the Amherst Biennial. It straddles performance, sculpture and installation as the artist repairs and responds to the changes made by time and weather. (As you plan your viewing please note that the sails are taken down in predicted high winds and rain).

For more information please visit www.nancymilliken.com to view images, artist statement, and a video showing the process of making the felted sails.

If the weather works in our favor Pleiades will be sailing the field during Shedding Light's return on 12-11-10!

Save the Date 12-11-10

Shedding Light returns on 12-11-10! FOR 3 NIGHTS ONLY!
What an auspicious date to relight the shed! If you missed it last year or wish to see it illuminated again please come by.

This lighting will mark the opening of an exhibit of photographs of last year's installation. Anita Licis-Ribak, Charlotte Meryman, Donald David, Stephanie Oates, Terry Rooney and myself will be among the artists showing their own views of the barn and light and landscape. In addition we'll be showing the beautiful film about Shedding Light by Catherine Stryker of ACTV.

Opening Reception: Saturday, 12-11-10:
3 - 5 PM @ the Nacul Center Gallery (592 Main St., Amherst, MA)
6 -10 PM Relighting of Shedding Light @ Swartz Family Farm (11 Meadow St., Amherst, MA)

Hope that you'll join us!

Exciting news!!

Shedding Light, a 10 minute documentary about lighting a tobacco barn is available for viewing! Shedding Light film link: http://204.213.244.104/Cablecast/Public/Show.aspx?ChannelID=1&ShowID=5776 (Click the link + then click "Watch Now".)

In the film you'll see me, Terry Rooney and Joe Swartz at the farm + in the studio talking about the process + our experiences with the project. You'll also see many of the beautiful photographs taken by artists Anita Licis-Ribak, Stephanie Oates, Charlotte Meryman, Donald David, Terry & myself.

Thanks go to Amherst Community Television (ACTV)'s Catherine Stryker for doing beautiful work editing all of the film, images + interviews. I hope you enjoy watching it!

I hope that everyone has the chance to visit the Pioneer Women and Wonderland exhibits at Paper City Gallery in Holyoke!

This incredible show curated by Terry Rooney includes over 40 artists from the Valley and NYC (including yours truly). Make sure you stop by (80 Race Street, Saturdays + Sundays 1-4 until July 31) to see the PREMIER of the Shedding Light documentary and so much amazing artwork!

+ I hope to be posting a link to the documentary SOON! Stay tuned...

We're making a film about Shedding Light! That's Amherst Community TV producer Catherine Stryker filming Joe Swartz, Terry Rooney + me at Swartz Family Farm today.

Stay tuned...

Photographer Charlotte Meryman took some lovely photos of the shed a few nights ago that she posted on her blog... Check them out at http://charlottemeryman.aminus3.com/image/2009-12-31.html.

Amazing Aerials

A couple more of Anita's aerial images, December 18, 2009.Our pilot from Northampton Aeronautics, John Smith.
Above is Anita, intrepid photographer!

New Year Thoughts

It felt great to turn off the shed lights for the final time + bring this project to a close last night at midnight. Thank you to each and every person who helped to make this project a reality + thanks to those who've taken a trip to see it, shared your own photos + comments. Hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I did! Happy New Year.
With gratitude, Erika
Isn't that amazing? Anita Licis-Ribak and I flew over Shedding Light a few nights ago in a Piper Warrior 4-seater plane. What an experience to see it from above! More pics to come...

Photographer Stephanie Oates visited Shedding Light a few nights ago. I love the pattern of light across the ground...
Here's one that I took looking out across the field:

Here's another of Anita Licis-Ribak's wonderful photos. You can see more of her photography work at her blog and website.
















If you have any photos to share please feel free to get in touch with me (Erika, studiozed@comcast.net). I'd love to see them!

Light + Gratitude

Thank you to everyone who came out for opening day on Saturday. The afternoon's book talk, panel discussion & gallery opening was a lot of fun & turning on the lights for the first time in the snow was something I've been looking forward to for a very long time!

Hope you have an opportunity to drive past the shed some night soon... sunset to 10pm every night for the rest of December. The best viewing area is on the east side of Rt. 116, just north of the Meadow St. traffic light. Of course you can also visit the Nacul Center (592 Main St. Amherst) to see the gallery show with drawings by Scott Tulay and photographs by Arthur Mange.

And now a few more thank yous...
My huge and heartfelt gratitude to Joe and Sarah Swartz of Swartz Family Farm for welcoming this project, Terry Rooney, Amherst Public Art Commission Chair for her vision and the entire APAC committee for their support, Bruce Wallace of Theatrix Lighting and Production for his guidance about the lighting, Paul DiBenedetto Electric for getting the wiring accomplished and Larry Schaffer, Amherst Town Manager for his appreciation and coordination magic. I couldn't have done this without their support!

Thanks to everyone else who helped “see the light” including Scott Tulay & Arthur Mange, Darcy Purinton & Dale Cahill, Tom Hartman, Meg Vickery, Derek Noble, Gretchen Schneider, Alex Lefebvre, the Jones Library Special Collections, Nacul Center, Dave Damery of the UMass Amherst Department of Natural Resources Conservation, UMass Amherst Graduate School, Nora & Tony Maroulis of wunderarts, the Amherst/ Mass Cultural Council, WMECO and Art Angels.

On opening night we had help with parking from Aisik and Alex Newman and the wonderful Officer Jaime and UMass NAHB students helped people to find their way out to the shed. Not an easy job in the snow! Thanks also to the Black Sheep and Mom's House for helping with the food.

And thanks to my friend / amazing designer and photographer Anita Licis-Ribak who took these beautiful pictures Saturday night!

Ready to go! See you Sat. Dec. 5!

Opening Night December 5!

Shedding Light on view "in the field" AND at the Nacul Center: Starting SATURDAY December 5
You'll be able to view Shedding Light starting December 5th all lit up in the field at Swartz Family Farm. We are also excited to announce that during that time we'll also be hosting an exhibit about the project at the Nacul Center Gallery on Main St. in Amherst. Highlighted will be the black and white photographs of Arthur Mange and beautiful drawings by Amherst artist/architect Scott Tulay.

Save the Date: SATURDAY December 5, 2009 Shedding Light exhibit opening and discussion!

at the Nacul Center Gallery:
2:00 Opening Talk by Darcy Purinton & Dale Cahill, photographer and author of the new book, "Tobacco Sheds of the Connecticut River Valley". Darcy & Dale will discuss their experiences and interest in tobacco sheds as well as show some of their beautiful photographs.

2:45 Panel Discussion, "Living Green: From the Past to the Future". Join us in a discussion about the role of design excellence and ingenuity in creating sustainable environments. Panelists:

• Thomas RC Hartman AIA (architect, Coldham&Harman Architects)
• Meg Vickery (architectural historian & curator UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center Gallery’s upcoming "Greening the Valley" exhibit)
  
• Dr. David T. Damery (Associate Professor and Director, Building Materials and Wood Technology UMass Amherst Department of Natural Resources Conservation)
  

3:30 Exhibit Opening Reception. On view, Shedding Light images and charcoal / pastel drawings of tobacco sheds by Scott Tulay and black and white photographs of tobacco sheds by UMass Amherst professor emeritus Arthur Mange.

at Swartz Family Farm:
5:00 a Visit to Swartz Farm to turn on the lights. Joe + Sarah Swartz are offering a special Open House at the farm. See their greenhouses, enjoy a hot chocolate, sign up for a farm share AND see Shedding Light!

Another Supporter

Thank you to Art Angels for their recent support of Shedding Light! Their contribution will allow for collaboration with the Youth Action Coalition of Amherst. YAC's Video Vanguards group will help me to document the project and create a short video documentation of the project and the farm.

WMECO Supports Shedding Light

I'm happy to announce some wonderful news that brings us even closer to bringing this project to reality. WMECO (Western MA Electric Company) has funded our grant request to provide public outreach and education about sustainability issues in our region. We are grateful for their support!

Thank you Amherst Cultural Council

The Amherst Cultural Council has granted Shedding Light $2000.00 towards making this project a reality. Many thanks for their support!

Shedding Light Featured in Brooklyn Exhibit

A large format photograph from the February test lighting and a model of the tobacco shed will be exhibited as part of Pioneer Women show at Tabla Rasa Gallery in Broolyn, NY from April 18 - May 30, 2009.

Article in the Amherst Bulletin

Friday February 13th's Amherst Bulletin included a great article about the project!

Click HERE to read the whole article. Here is a quick excerpt:

'Shedding Light': Public art project looks back and forward for Amherst's 250th.
by Bonnie Wells

On a frigid Friday night late last month, a small but hardy crowd turned out at the Swartz family farm in Amherst for a sneak preview of a public art project planned as a finale to Amherst's 250th anniversary celebration this year.

As the dusk deepened, the tobacco barn that Joe and Sarah Swartz call "the far shed" was transformed into a gigantic lantern. With its ventilation panels opened, and lit from within, it sent broad beams of light deep into the surrounding fields, picking up the contours and glint of the snow.

Click HERE to read the whole article.

All Lit Up

On Friday January 30th I had the chance to do the first test lighting for the project. With just one light (we'll eventually use 12) we saw a beautiful preview.

Bruce Wallace (from Theatrix) brought one of the metal halide lights. Sarah and Joe Swartz (owners of the barn) brought hot chocolate & donuts. And Terry Rooney (chair of the Amherst Public Art Commission) brought a dozen or so friends of the project out into the field to watch the sun go down and the lights come on.Thank you to everyone who came out. Your interest in and support of Shedding Light is so important!