Photos by Ron Kochanowski

Pleiades was deinstalled today in the rain.  It was sobering carrying the sodden sails off the field. In an installation that involved a community of helpers, this day was a solo act. With the mast and boom out of the sails a limp mixture of wool and wetness lay in my arms.

The sails started their journey at Thistlebloom farm two months ago in beautiful fall foliage, and ended last night in North Amherst at Swartz Family Farm, dancing with the community in the light of Erika Zecos' Shedding Light installation. They witnessed migrating geese, two full moons, snow, rain, sleet and hail. The sisters have  transitioned from a tightly felted fleet to a wonderfully weathered, lacy and frayed with character flock. Each sail exhibits it's own personality in how it handles weather.  My husband and I have spent many an evening under their spell looking up at the Pleiades constellation directly above. Friends have come from far away to witness their transition in the weather. They are the gift that keeps on giving as I have been privileged to meet a talented community of artists in the valley.

Many thanks to Ron Kochanowski for sharing his photos of the special evening of Shedding light.

An evening of community

Saturday night Erika Zekos turned the lights on in the far shed of Swartz Family Farm for the relighting of Shedding Light.  Joe and Sarah Swartz hosted a reception in their decorated and warm Blue Barn with free ice cream and coffee from local businesses. The community came out in droves. Sarah thinks she counted at least three hundred people visiting within the first two hours.

The light from the shed created such a festive and reverential atmosphere that reached out to the sails. For me the most important part of this evening was the conversations I had with viewers in the field as they looked at the light and sails on a wintery night.  There were so many wonderful questions and insights. It is my favorite part of public art.

Please visit photographer Ron Kochanowski  's beautiful images of Saturday night. It was quite an event.

Images from Last Day

A beautiful day to be sailing.

Signs of wind

A little bit of field on Merope

Pleiades as seen from inside Shedding Light

The Sisters Are Sailing Today

The sails are up and the weather looks calm for the next few days.  On Saturday please visit Swartz Family Farm for hayrides out to Pleiades and Shedding Light.  There will be a reception for Shedding Light in the Blue Barn with free coffee and free ice cream.  This is a wonderful event to see on a long dark cold night.  One day only on Saturday.

Photo by Jeff Derose

One more day of gusts

I spoke too early yesterday.  Wind will be here for one more day. The sails are reefed today. Look for them Friday.

Photo by Jeff Derose

Looks like the sails will be back up on Thursday

Photo by Jeff Derose

Gusts still in the valley

The ladies are resting on the ground today.

Photo by Jeff Derose

Gusty high winds predicted for the next few days

Photo by Jeff Derose

So the sails are down for the next few days until the gusts pass through the valley. As the installation is in it's final week I want to thank the artistic community that has fed me throughout this installation and performance of sailing and sheep farming. Starting with the people I bounced construction ideas off of, back in the days of Pleiades' conception, Tim Holcomb, Miles Herter, and Tim Eliasson, to students coming over to felt with me and help install, Casay Yamazaki-Heineman, Colten McCormick, Olivia Holcomb, Nick Teensma, Eliza Fishman .  Christine White who owns New England felting supply, where you can get lost in the colors and texture of wool, was a valuable resource when my large sails were not fulling (finishing of the felting process).  Thanks to the New England farmers who donated their wool and to Jody at Tregelly's Fiber Farm for sharing her love of all animals wooly and hairy.Thanks to Nicki Robb and Elyce and German Perico for installation help, as well as artist and friends Bryan Gill, Megan O'Brien, Ted Ollier, Holly Lynton, Sarah Bliss, Jeff Derose, James Young and Stephen Kiernan for their support and encouragement.

A hearty thank you to farmers Heather Lee Colson of Thistlebloom Farm and Sarah and Joe Swartz of Swartz Family Farm for their gracious use of farm fields.  Each farm has it's own personality and color ranges that the sails interacted with.

Terry Rooney deserves all the praise that has come her way for a wonderful Biennial exhibition. Not only did she launch the inaugural year for the Amherst show, but Terry continued throughout the show to provide tours to school groups, and interested parties throughout the months.

And then there is my honorable first mate and crew. Andrew and Charlie and Margot, my family, has helped me lift sails that are too heavy for me, think of new mast designs, and encouraged me at every turn.  Thank you my dears.

Shedding Light

The Sails will be up today.

http://sheddinglightamherst.blogspot.com/
Please visit this blog explaining the beautiful public art of Erika Zekos.  Zekos will be relighting the shed for one night on 12/11/10.  Pleiades will be coming down the next day.

A Hearty Thanks

Yes, the sails will be back up at noon today.  That was quite a storm yesterday.

 

Photographs by Jeff Derose

I want to thank incredible artist Jeff Derose for his beautiful photographs of Pleiades in both afternoon and morning light. Please look for more of his work of Pleiades on my website and visit this site of his documentary work with his brother Kevin Derose.

Pleiades deinstallation date of 12/12/10 nears.  This weekend please visit the Amherst Biennial ending party:

Biennial goes out with a bang this weekend! East St. School installations open Sat 1-4, Sun 1-8. Closing reception 5-8 Sunday. Special
performance by Karen Dolmanisth 6-8, and Erika Zekos' video
installation "I Dwell in Possibility" will be projected on the exterior
of the school.