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Art of Sustainability

Spring 2018 newsletter

Greetings from Jay Mead:
It’s another grey morning in February as I tap away here. For anybody living in our region this has been a roller coaster winter. In the beginning of the winter we had many -20° days and then a few days ago we were pushing 70! The outside world is still blanketed with snow but I am beginning to think of tomato seeds and it’s good to see all the sap steam rising from sugar shacks all over the Upper Valley. My wood pile is low, but with a little luck we will make it to spring warmth and fewer fires in the wood stove. With the weatherizations and home repairs I am engaged in daily I am constantly reminded of the needs of my struggling neighbors. I am grateful to be part of an organization that is fostering hope and community. I am also grateful to be able to find time and energy around my 50 hour work weeks to create new art.

"Attraction" at LandARTLab

Artist's Statement:
"This piece is constructed from scrap lumber and old metal roofing. For each side of the arch I constructed four twisted, elongated, diminishing cubes. These structures form the framework for the recycled metal skin. I was interested in making these forms appear organic and visually dynamic. Each side can appear as an individual element and yet together they suggest an arch. While the piece is new, from a distance it may appear reminiscent of something ancient, from our neo-lithic past; yet up close it resembles something industrial. The interplay of metal barn roofs in the background also speaks to the placement and aesthetic of this piece.

“Attraction” is a continuation of my interest in using materials that are headed for the dump and repurposing them. Aside from the material being free, there are unique patinas and colors in the metal resulting from the interaction of air, water, and time."

LandARTLab is an ongoing project, located at King Farm in Woodstock, Vermont. I have been involved with King Farm for about ten years now, participating in Sculpture Fest before I conceptualized LandARTLab. LandARTLab was born as I realized that the land at Kind Farm lent itself well to a project where the art is tied closely with the land. Artists are invited to choose any part of the land that works with the art they are creating. Last fall, 19 artists participated. I consider the entire project to be an open 'lab' for experimentation - if you keep it open, unexpected things will happen, which is what makes it magical.

LandARTLab is seeking new artists and performers to join the project this coming summer. If you are interested, contact me at jaywmead@gmail.com. The land is open for people to explore, on Kind Farm Road in Woodstock, VT.

Click here to read some local coverage of LandARTLab.

Save the Date: April 27th-May 20th
Opening Reception April 27th 5-7pm

"Repurposed," a show at the AVA Gallery

The AVA gallery in Lebanon, NH, will be home to some of my work from April 27th through May 30th. The show will be a continuation of my exploration of art using repurposed materials. As part of my work for COVER, a White River Junction-based nonprofit that helps repair homes of vulnerable residents, I find myself making frequent trips to the dump, to dispose of excess materials. Seeing this as a waste, I have begun setting aside materials that could still have some utility as materials for sculpture and art.

For the upcoming show, I have been experimenting with large forms, as the show will fill two rooms at the AVA gallery. The pieces I am currently working on have a post-industrial feel to them, made from repurposed wood and scrap metal among other things.

A work in progress for the upcoming AVA show.

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