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.

Shedding Light

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.

A beautiful day to be sailing

Images from the last day in the field

Pleiades as seen from inside Shedding Light tobacco barn

A bit of field on Merope

The wind and weather has created beautiful lacey material

The sail collected down at the boom creating tail feathers

The sisters are sailing today and Saturday

For the last two days of the installation Pleiades will have calm weather. On Saturday there will be hayrides taking viewers down to Shedding Light and Pleiades, free coffee and ice cream and a reception for Shedding Light in the blue barn at the Swartz Family Farm.

If anyone has taken images of Pleiades I would love to see them.  Please contact me through the website.  Thank you!

Photo by Jeff Derose

Gusts are still in the valley

I spoke too soon. The sails are reefed today.  I plan to put them up on Friday when it is calmer.

Photo by Jeff Derose