Dan's Papers - July 13, 2007 - The Project of the Summer

"I don't believe in art. I believe in artists." This quote, spoken by Marcel Duchamp, the French-American artist whose work and ideas had significant influence on the evolution of post-World War II Western art, typifies the artwork seen in The Project: ECO-VISION, a three-part collaborative art installation whose paramount intentions include bringing ideas for "going green" to the local community by working with Rock 'n Renew, a New York-based organization that uses art and music to promote conservation of our planet.

Last week, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to head down to the Parrish Art Museum to the "Garbage Garden," the first installation put on by The Project ECO-VISION. Perhaps this doesn't appeal to you, but when you consider the fact that the party under the stars included live local music from We'red Jelly Fish, Dan Bailey Music and a special appearance from New York singer-songwriter Dawn Landes, not to mention New York City's DJ E-Frank, a Chinese auction featuring items that promote a green lifestyle and lastly, the night brought together various environmental organizations including Group for The South Fork and the Surfrider Foundation - garbage sounds more like gold.

The festivities began at 8 p.m. and continued through the night until 11 p.m., taking place on The Parrish Art Museum's West Lawn, which was lit up and crawling with creative and intelligent people ranging from their early twenties all the way up to mid-eighties. The weather was gorgeous with little humidity and clear skies making it seem more like a September night. The Garbage Garden featured recycled materials by over 60 Long Island artists, amateur and established alike. The idea behind and focal point behind the art installations is collaboration - the creative process from which individuals and groups come together to form a product. A few of the art collectives that worked on the Garbage Garden included FRESH from Port Jefferson who are a group of gypsies, ARTS from Sag Harbor and Bonic Tonic from Springs. Jackie Pizza, one of the clever minds behind The Project, invited participants to channel Cornell, Duchamp and the like to create a 5 ft. square plot out of all found objects in the theme of the garden. In a mass e-mail she wrote, "Please feel free to take this literally, fantastically, abstractly. Hell, take it anywhere you want. Involve your sister or co-worker and get a special sense of fulfillment teaching someone how great it feels to make something." Duchamp is most famous for his work "Fountain," where he dubbed a urinal art. He is most often associated with the Dada and Surrealism movements and thousands of books and articles attempt to interpret Duchamp's artwork and philosophy, but in interviews and his writing, Duchamp only added to the mystery. The interpretations interested him as creations of their own, and as reflections of the interpreter.

Although the artwork at the Garbage Garden was not as elusive as Duchamp's, it was nonetheless aesthetically beautiful and a breath of fresh air to see just how many creative, young minds came together in the Hamptons. Throughout the night there were about 400 people at the event and some of the exhibitions included were one by Hampton Style's Art and Production Director, LiAnn Alcon, who created an untitled piece that consisted of a garden slice screen. Her husband, Bryan Landsberg, created "Julia's Garden." LiAnn explained that being a part of The Project was "great. I was involved last year and thought that it was so important to get a young, creative crowd together. It is really good that this year the theme is 'green.'" Others included a sandbox with found objects from on the beach, another was a political statement centered around the war and the universe's inability to find peace, another a garden of flowers (bonacker garden) made from recycled soda bottles and painted different colors. Another was a woven net of all the plastic lining that keeps together soda cans and the by far the most entertaining was the Garden Of Eden where the artist, who was decked out in body paint, handed out forbidden fruit (apples) where people then dispensed their recycled forbidden fruit into a plastic receptacle.

This summer's event roster for The Project include Project Hot-Shot on July 28th; and Project Night-Beat on Aug 25th. All events are open to the public and will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the West Lawn of The Parrish Art Museum. The Museum's galleries will be open until 11 p.m. during The Project events. Guests will have the a opportunity to explore the galleries at night, enjoy a drink with friends and experience new art while listening to local music at this venue for art and music in Southampton Village. To get involved or learn more about this year's events call (631) 283-2118 ext. 24.