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

Project location: Bloomington, IN

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Project By

Leah Gauthier

Bloomington, IN

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Leah Gauthier (http://www.leahgauthier.com)
is an intermedia artist using natural materials, live plants, cooking and performance to explore ideas of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community building through shared pleasures of good food and conversation.

Her work has been exhibited at Eyebeam, The Decordova Museum, Tufts University Arts Center, The Revolving Museum, 808 Gallery Boston University, The Portland Museum of Art, The Burren College of Art (Ireland), School of the Museum of Fine Art Boston, Bowdoin College, Centro Pablo de la Torriente Brau (Cuba).

She has been an artist-in-residence at Eyebeam in New York City, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow at the MacDowell Colony.

Upcoming exhibitions include FoodCon at the Harrison Center for the Arts, and Tending a Difficult Hope at SoFA Gallery, Indiana University Bloomington. She is an Assistant Professor of Art at Butler University.

Project links: http://www.sharecropperart.org, http://www.leahgauthier.com/soup, http://www.leahgauthier.com/art