About this project
Hi there, I'm Leah Gauthier, an artist/professor of art living and teaching in Indiana.
In " A Poem of Difficult Hope", Wendell Berry says "What we do need to worry about is the possibility that we will be reduced, in the face of the enormities of our time, to silence or to mere protest."
My work over the last 5 years has been dedicated to growing rare heirloom vegetables to help save them from extinction, ensure the safety of our food supply, and engage the public to do the same through sculptural installations and relational works focused on home grown produce and home cooked meals.
Last summer I launched my art project entitled "Sharecropper" in New York City. With volunteers, we stitched together a micro farm from 17 donated growing spaces located in all 5 Boroughs of the city. Sites included, private residences, office buildings, community gardens, galleries, a historic property and non-profits. We grew beautiful organic heirloom vegetables on rooftops, patios, in community gardens, backyards, on windowsills and fire escapes. It was truly amazing what we were able to accomplish by pooling our resources of time, energy and space. We re-purposed and redeemed an old idea with an exploitive history, into something profoundly necessary for our time--inspiring, efficient, sustainable and generous. Complete documentation, including a short video documentary by Skye MacLeod of Columbia University's Education Lab can be found here: http://www.sharecropperart.org
Now I want to take all of the knowledge of hyper-urban farming learned from last season, and expand the project into other urban and suburban environments. I'm planning a suburban iteration this season in Bloomington Indiana, where I live. From there I hope the idea will sprout wings and inspire more folks to start their own local sharecropping communities. Because of "Sharecropper's "online presence and documentation, I've been overwhelmed with countless emails from around the world showcasing projects influenced by this work, and asking how-to? This good work must continue, and I need your help!
Sharecropper NYC 2009, was supported in part by an artist residency at Eyebeam (http:www.eyebeam.org), through private donations, and by me taking on a heap of side web design jobs. Now I'm a full time professor, pouring lots of time and energy into my students, and I don't have enough hours in the day to work enough extra jobs anymore to fund these larger public works.
YOUR DONATIONS WILL COVER
- materials for the Bloomington project (the suburban model);
- creation of online and print coffee table-style books documenting both of these projects in full detail;
- creation of online, video and print diy instruction manuals of urban/suburban sharecropping models, sharing agreements, how to utilize social networking to build farming communities;
- and expanded online diy resources for planting, seed starting, seed saving, farm design, plant care, land sharing and related media.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
First, you can donate. I've created some yummy incentives!
THIS CAMPAIGN IS ALL OR NOTHING:
If donors like you collectively pledge at least $17,500, we get to keep it. If the collective donor pledges do not meet the $17.500 goal, we will not get to keep any of the funds pledged. So every dollar counts!
The second best way you can help is to SPREAD THE WORD! If everyone even just takes a few moments to send this on to 10 people who might be interested in the continuation of "Shareropper"and in contributing to a delicious healthy food supply, and/or posts the widget to your blog, or on your facebook page, we'll have a great chance at meeting our goal.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
- Leah Gauthier
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
3
Backers
$76.00
pledged of $17,500 goal
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on May 27, 2010.
Pledge $25 or more
A hand signed packet of rare heirloom seeds saved by the artist from the upcoming 2010 harvest.
Pledge $100 or more
A digital copy of Sharecropper New York City, a self-published coffee-table style book documenting the 2009 installation.
Pledge $250 or more
A hand signed print copy of Sharecropper New York City, a self-published coffee-table style book documenting the 2009 installation.
Pledge $300 or more
A hand sewn by the artist sharecropper pot made from window screen material, suitable for growing peppers and greens.
Pledge $400 or more
A box of loose rare heirloom herbal tea grown, dried and packaged by the artist from the upcoming 2010 harvest.
Pledge $500 or more
A jar of rare heirloom pickled vegetables or fruit jam, canned by the artist from the upcoming 2010 harvest.
Pledge $5,000 or more
A jar of jam made from the nearly extinct marshall strawberry deemed by James Beard as being the most delicious strawberry in America, cooked and canned by the artist.
Pledge $10,000 or more
The artist will personally help you organize and start your own local sharecropping community.
Project By
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My name is Leah Gauthier. I'm an artist living and working in Bloomington, Indiana. I'm also an Assistant Professor of Art at Butler University in Indianapolis. I received an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and Tufts University and a BFA from the School of the Art Institite of Chicago.
My art practice straddles sculpture, relational art and performance art. I'm inspired by handmade, home grown, chords of colors, random conversations, cooking and eating beautiful food, simplicity, friendship and a job well done together.
My work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in museums, galleries and alternative spaces. I've been an Artist-in-Residence at the MacDowell Colony, Burren College of Art (Ireland) and Eyebeam (New York City), and the recipient of grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Efroymson Contemporary Arts Fellowship, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and The Puffin Foundation.
