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MILDRED”S LANE 2013

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SESSIONS  2013  H2O AND OTHER CONUNDRUMS

Details of all sessions are at www.mildredslane.com

Some of the creative practi t ioners involved in hosting and leading dialogs for spring and summer 2013 sessions are: Katherine Ball • Paul Bartow • David Brooks • D. Graham Burnett • Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev • Mark Dion • Jeff Dolven • duskin drum • CoCo Fusco • Hope Ginsburg • Fritz Haeg • Lizzie Hurst • Pablo Helguera • Brian Holmes • Leon Johnson • Gavin Kroeber • Petra Lange-Berndt • Clayton Lewis • Sarah Lewison • Megan O’Connell • Claire Pentecost • Cesare Pietroiusti • Nils Norman • J. Morgan Puett • Jack Ramunni • Sal Randolph • Kerri-Lynn Reeves • Corey Riddell • Jane South • Mark Thomann •  Robert Williams • Rebecca Uchill • Amy Yoes • and others to be announced very soon.

  PONDHOUSESPRINGHOUSEPOND

Spring Studio 2013, March through May Project facilitators_ Mark Thomann, J. Morgan Puett, David Brooks

OPENING Saturday, June 15 Keynote speaker to be announced. Bonfire design by Paul Bartow and Amy Yoes.

TOWN sessions June 17 thru July 7, 2013

Featuring The Mildred Complex(ity), an experimental retail project space. Project facilitators_ J. Morgan Puett, Pablo Helguera, Leon Johnson and Megan

O’Connell, Corey Riddell.

LEARNING TO RESINGULARIZE July 8 thru July 28, 2013

Project facilitators_ Nils Norman, Sarah Lewison, duskin drum, Claire Pentecost, Katherine Ball and others.

ATTENTION LAB WITH THE ORDER OF THE THIRD BIRD August 5 thru 11

Project facilitators_ Sal Randolph, D. Graham Burnett, Jeff Dolven and others.

MI L D R E D ’ S L A N E

517 PLANK ROAD, PENNSYLVANIA,

184 0

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fig.1; 2012 Fritz Haeg Domestic Integrities in progress (Courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

Current and ongoing projects, events, workshops and other such swarmings – to be announced:

The Mildred Complex(ity) and other town projects. AS IS

An exhibition by Jeffrey Jenkins thru February.

Radical Pedagogy: WHOLESCHOOLING featuring Grey Rabbit Puett.

The Alchemist’s Shack, a Robert Williams Project with, Mark Dion, Hilmar Schäfer, Bryan Wilson, and many others.

Mildred’s Lane Renovating Walden House Kit #1 and #2 with Paul Bartow, Mark Dion, J. Morgan Puett, and many others.

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fig.1; 2010 Portrait of the main house (Courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

"I dream of a new age of curiosity. We have the technical means for it; the desire is there; the things to be known are infinite; the people who can employ themselves at this task exist. Why do we suffer? From too little: from channels that are too narrow, skimpy, quasi-monopolistic, insufficient. There is no point in adopting a quasi- protectionist attitude, to prevent “bad” information from invading and suffocating the “good”. Rather, we must simply multiply the paths and the possibilities of comings and goings." ( Michel Foucault from ‘The Masked Philosopher’)

Mildred’s Lane: An Introduction

MILDRED’S LANE is a rustic, 96-acre site deep in the woods of rural northeastern Pennsylvania, in the upper Delaware River Valley, which borders New York state. It is an ongoing collaboration between J. Morgan Puett, Mark Dion, their son Grey Rabbit Puett, their friends and colleagues. It is a home and an experiment in living. Mildred’s Lane is coevolving a rigorous pedagogical strategy, where a working-living-researching environment has been developed to foster engagement with every aspect of life. The entire site has become a living museum, or rather – a new contemporary art complex(ity). It is now important to sidestep overly critical debates in order to activate these tumultuous multiplicities. Our question is where to situate praxis and action, and whether that is in an institution? A Storefront? A gallery? Or deep in the woods at Home?

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fig.2. 2010 Portrait of Monique Milleson, the farm to table                                                                                                                              liaison (Courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

The Mildred’s Lane site is a home where the creative practitioner, the student and the institution have collapsed roles as they attempt to coevolve with an emergent strategy. In conversations with friends and colleagues – who teach and administer theory and practice in a variety of institutions– the frustrations and limitations of conventional, visual art and other programs become apparent. However, there is a new excitement to explore alternatives to the way we research-work-live. Mildred's Lane welcomes this "new age of curiosity" by activating connections that situate themselves at the nexus of science, methods of dwelling, environmental activism, transhistorical and critical artistic practices, and importantly– innovative domesticating. This unusual situation affords participants the ability to collaborate in the production of large-scale, socially charged, research- driven projects within a truly transdisciplinary environment. Woven into the project work is a curriculum based on creatively and experimentally living and working together – what we call workstyles. These valuable collaborations are designed to become shared experiences that hope to have transformative and lifelong effects on how artists think of themselves as creative practitioners functioning in the world today. Mark Dion and J. Morgan Puett Artist Co-Directors

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RECONSTRUCTING POSSIBILITIES

fig.3;. 2012 Alchemist’s Shack Construction (Courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

A Curriculum for New and Emergent Practices

What is different about Mildred's Lane is that this unusual program affords creative practitioners the ability to participate in the production of large-scale, research driven projects within a truly transdisciplinary environment — a rare opportunity. As Mildred's Lane has developed as a site becoming, working with students has become a critical component. It is out of this realization that we believe social projects and research-based practices require a fundamental rethinking of the parameters of education; thus an emergent curriculum has been forming at Mildred's Lane. At the core of this new curriculum are two principles: (1) for students, project-based art making is best pursued in the context of an actual site-sensitivity, and (2) education should be principally involve the development of new modes of life and work — workstyles. This is an unusual site and a unique program that does not strive to duplicate other studio program models. Students do not get studio spaces — the site itself is the studio. Life is the studio. The Mildred's Lane program is made up of a series of one-of-a-kind research, development and project building sessions during which students live and collaboratively work with internationally renowned artists in residence who will direct the sessions to produce an ambitious new work. Thus each session results in a concrete site-sensitive installation and/or body of research. During the session students will have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of a project's development –– and further, is attached to its future development. Each session produces documentation in multiple forms including internet albums, publications, exhibition or other forms which the students will collaboratively design, author, edit, curate and publish with Mildred's Lane.

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INVOLVEMENT

fig.4;. 2012 Pablo Helguera town workshop. (courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

There are numerous ways we encourage you to become involved with

Mildred’s Land and The Mildred Complex(ity):

• Sending Insti tution Tuition, $2800/per fel low/per three week session. Columbia University, Parsons New School, Virginia Commonwealth University, Portland State University, University of Arkansas, Arizona State University, Columbus College of Art and Design, Maryland Institute of Contemporary Art and many others have structured scholarship funds to send their select students to any or all of the intensive sessions offered during the Summer months each year. Each Scholarship covers $1800. for a 3-week intensive tuition and $1000. for 3-weeks of boarding costs. Travel stipends are optional.

These sending institutions make their selections in different ways, but we think of this program as an award to your most exceptional students. Each institution has put together funds in different ways, some accredited others not. In any case we are happy to help you select who might be right for this unorthodox residency, or your faculty may nominate, or select each fellow.

Your selections should be made by April 1st. Since there are limited openings, there is a non-refundable deposit due by May 15th, and the balance due before or on arrival of the fellow.

• Independent Tuition for a three week session, $2800/fel low.

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• Independent Tuition for a one week session, $1000/fel low. We review independent applications year round for participation. Feel free to contact us with questions at mildredslane@gmail.com

• Independent or Group Visit_ Day trip with tours, $25/person.

• Group Visit_ Day trip with lunch, lecture and tours, $50/person.

• Group Visit_ Day trip with tours, dinner and lecture, $75/person.

• Independent or Group Visit_ Rustic overnight with tour, eventful dinner, lecture and breakfast , $150/person. ( by reservation as available ) Groups and institutions often visit for the weekend or a full week during the year. Mildred’s Lane operates as an emergent event. We can collaborate with you to create a workshop or event specific to your group.

• Adjunct contracts–projects (Negotiable). An institution may make adjunct contracts with Mildred’s Lane or with one or more of the artists working on projects at Mildred’s Lane.

• Insti tutional Projects (Negotiable). Institutions, departments, or faculty may develop a course of study around an existing project, or invent a project for Mildred’s Lane. ( Like that of Mildred' s Lane Renovating Walden.)

• Insti tutional Retreats (Negotiable). Mildred’s Lane is also an unusually engaging environment for institutional retreats, think tanks, symposia, etc

• Proposit ions. Mildred’s Lane is open to your invitations and propositions. Note: We require all visitors to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement and request a copy of the respective institutional liability waiver or other school-sanctioned off-campus activities waiver for our records.

Contact: J. Morgan Puett

Ambassador of Entanglement mildredslane@gmail.com Office# 845 2252 3554

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fig.5; Barn Dinner (Courtesy of Mildred’s Lane)

BEING THERE: APPLICATIONS

Mildred’s Lane hosts an excitingly rare and prestigious intensive curriculum that is seeking to coevolve institutional relationships. We are offering a unique situation in which students and other creative practitioners can be involved in a shared experience in large-scale, research-based social practices with ecological and political relevance. As an insti tution how can I get involved? Many institutions have developed scholarships to award their best students. Please contact us if you are interested in participating as a sending institution. Ask about our Narrowsburg village projects and collaborations where students are involved with town projects through an experimental retail project space, The Mildred Complex(ity). We are also seeking adjunct relationships, where Mildred’s Lane and The Mildred Complex(ity) may host your students and faculty for intensive engagements, retreats, and workshops that meet your needs. Use the site and the creative practitioners that move through it as a pedagogical tool. Can groups or insti tutions hold workshops, retreats or conferences? Yes. This is an ideal site for institutions to hold retreats, workshops, conferences or think tanks. It is a tranquil site far from distractions deep in the woods that is has a unique cultural atmosphere to catalyze creative discussion and making. We are equipped to host 20-30 people at once, with outbuildings for discussions and meetings as well as presentation spaces etc. In addition to this rustic site amenities, we provide gourmet meals

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with organic garden fresh produce and we are in close proximity to villages, museums, cultural sites and institutions. How do I apply? If you are affiliated with an institution, or not, application is an easy and straightforward process for independents, of all ages. We ask that you follow the online procedure that includes your resume, a letter of recommendation from a mentor, an essay or letter of intent (2-5 pages) explaining your reasons for wanting to come to Mildred’s Lane, and a portfolio of your current work (digital format only). Note: Your portfolio should consist of coherent bodies of work and should reflect an engagement with transdisciplinary forms of doing, researching and making. Please apply via our web site. Applications require a $25 application fee. All applications are due by April 1, 2012. Please note that we take a small group of people for each session and those spaces go fast, so we advise you to be in touch with us as soon as possible. Applicants should send digital files of the following to mildredslane@gmail.com. Or, Send Applications to: Mildred’s Lane P.O. Box 454 Narrowsburg, Pa. 12764 845 252 3554 Sending Insti tutions may want to make this an internal process by selecting a fel low they feel is right for this highly unusual program. Sending a digital file is easiest for us; but, CD, DVD, or other supportive material is welcome and can be sent to the address above. Please submit the following: 1. Essay or Letter of interest (2-5 pages). 2. At least one or more recommendation letters from faculty, mentors or sending institution. 3. Résumé with Bio or statement. 4. Portfolio or a cohesive body of work: - 12-24 images, OR - Video or performance documentation, OR - Writings, OR - Other Members of the Mildred’s Lane Advisory Board select the applicants for each project session. (Sending Institutions may make their own selections, but Mildred’s Lane will still want to review the applications of the fellows selected.) We require a 50% deposit of tuition by May 1, 2013, and the balance to be paid upon arrival at Mildred's Lane.

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SOCIALS [Sharing is] the most universal form of human economic behavior, distinct from and more fundamental than reciprocity. . . . Sharing has probably been the most basic form of economic distribution in hominid societies for several hundred thousand years. (Price 1975)

Social Saturdays/Town Fridays

We invite you to share experience by taking membership or becoming involved. Rethinking modes of being in the world requires efforts in the form of collective and emergent event-based practices. We collaborate with creative practitioners and their Projects, Artist Chefs from around the world in exercising our sharing experiments in workstyles and comportment projects on Fridays and Saturdays. Request a reservation for involvement Invitations for events including tours of Mildred’s Lane Projects, lectures by international visiting artists and artful dinners are announced on our website calendar and must be requested by email, mildredslane@gmail.com, each week. Reservation confirmations are based on available space for each event. A schedule for 2013 will be posted on the website. During the daily sessions, there are ongoing lectures and dinners throughout each week. These are designed with and for the participating practitioners and institutions that are contributors. We can sometimes fit in visitors during the week (reservations by email and based on availability), with donations and offerings: Suggested donations membership and for Social Saturdays Dinners and lectures_ $25.00 – $50.00 per person (sliding scale) Weekend overnight stays (with breakfast.): Camping_ $50.00 (dinner and lecture not included.) Rooms or Cabins (as available with tours, dinner, lecture and brunch.)_ $150.00 (Or we can suggest comfortable local accommodations.) Membership/Donation sliding scale_ $100. for the year. MLP fees are based on our domestic operating costs. We welcome any additional generous support toward the Mildred’s Lane Historical Society and Museum Project(s). The Institutional Involvements are negotiable with these relations in mind.

www.mildredslane.com

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PRESS Select Press on Mildred’s Lane

Churchill,  Abbye.  “Mildred’s  Lane  and  The  Mildred  Complex(ity)”  New  York  Times  T-­‐Mag.  October  1,    2012.  http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/cultivated-hive-minded/?ref=t-magazine    Linden,  Christina.  “From  Pennsylvania:  Drift.  Mildred’s  Lane…Brian  Holmes”  Art  Practical,  August,  2011.  www.artpractical.com/review/from_pennsylvania_drift/    Thompson,  Nato.  “Roving  Eye:  Pennsylvania  Workstyles”  ART  in  AMERICA,  International  Review,  July  25,  2011.  http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-­‐opinion/finer-­‐things/2011-­‐07-­‐25/roving-­‐eye-­‐07252011/    Lange-­‐Berndt,  Petra.  “Test  Site  Bohemia”  TEXTE  ZUR  KUNSTE.  Spring  2011.    Murphy,  Jennifer.  “A  Curator  of  Food  Curiosities”  FOOD  AND  WINE.  March  2011,  www.foodandwine.com/articles/j-­‐morgan-­‐puett-­‐a-­‐curator-­‐of-­‐food-­‐curiosities    Haskell,  Jack.  “Jack  Haskell  on  Mildred’s  Lane  and  Trade  School”  NYFA  (NEW  YORK  FOUNDATION  FOR  THE  ARTS),  October,  2010,  http://www.nyfa.org/nyfa_current_detail.asp?id=17&fid=1&curid=871    Archey,  Karen.  “The  Road  to  Somewhere”;  ART  IN  AMERICA,  August  8,  2010,    http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-­‐opinion/news/2010-­‐08-­‐20/mildreds-­‐lane/    Fuller,  Daniel.  “A  Day  at  Art  Disneyland,”  August  2009,  ART  21  BLOG  http://blog.art21.org/2009/08/18/a-­‐day-­‐at-­‐art-­‐disneyland/      Gordon,  Alastair.  “In  Her  Own  World”  NEW  YORK  TIMES,  Thursday,  May  29,  2008.  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/garden/29puett.html  

www.mildredslane.com