A message from the former Ambassador of Entanglement
J. Morgan Puett
Photo by Erik Freeland
About three years ago, I reached out to some of the Plenipotentiaries of Mildred’s Lane* regarding the state of things for a slice of our close supporters and followers. We were entering deep Covid, I was having trouble with Pennsylvania Township Ordinances, and family loss and illness tragically weakened infrastructure, particularly the ongoing, demanding attention to maintenance of the living landscape. All of this contributed to a serious lack of funding for the greater project called Mildred’s Lane. I was ready to give up. There was no way to get around these obstacles, the only thing to do was to work through it!
I called for help, and the response was heartfelt; so many friends and colleagues expressed care, energy, and support for the future of Mildred’s Lane Inc. I realized that what was necessary for this difficult period was to pursue what I had so carefully avoided for too long – becoming a 501(c)3 organization. Why did I resist? Because we were still in a delicate, experimental phase of difference. Becoming an organization too prematurely might suffocate our platform of undetermined outcomes – honest emergence; that is what most institutions are unable to achieve.
The groundbreaking series of events (beginning back in the early nineties) was still brewing. We were able to investigate and analyze new forms of engagement, centered around creative domesticating in the middle of the woods with no constraints of judgment or fear. Our personal efforts were continually rewarded. We were able to wedge open deeper, innovative, visionary experiences in the arena of social engagement. Through these early projects, our young friends became emerging art stars of the 21st century.
During Covid years, mustering all wits, we started to address each hurdle toward a nonprofit status so that we can expand efforts to contribute our work to the greater cultural society; and to situate our project amongst an arena of small artist organizations becoming eligible for grant support and broader audiences. It took more strength and ingenuity than I was prepared for in an administrative and legal learning curve. But we did it. We are now a pending nonprofit organization. But we still need to grow our concerns toward change of all kinds*. (See histories and archives of our programs on our website.)
I could not have done this without the friends and colleagues who stepped up For Mildred’s Sake, and I would like to thank all the people who contributed to our renewal. You know who you are. Your help changed the course of Mildred’s Lane Inc; let me introduce a few core Plenipotentiaries here:
Executive Board
J. Morgan Puett, President
Adam B. Curtis, Secretary
Bianca Nelson, Treasurer
Advisory Council
Including the Mission & Program, Development, and Marketing Committees
David Brooks
Courtney Dailey
Mark Dion
Grey Rabbit Dion Puett
Hope Ginsburg
Jill Goldman
Pablo Helguera
Jeffrey Jenkins
Cameron Klavsen
Richard Klein
Abby Lutz
Thyrza Nichols Goodeve
Shelley Spector
Nato Thompson
Dr. Robert Williams
David Wood
Plenipotentiaries of Mildred’s Lane Inc are friends and colleagues who have consistently followed and supported Mildred’s Lane over the years. If you should be on this list, please contact workstyles@mildredslane.org!
The 2024 Operating Labors of Mildred’s Lane Inc.
Nick Bennett
Ambassador of Transhistorical Agency (Development Committee Chair)
Kyle Berlin & Hermione Spriggs
Officers of Complex(ity) & Resident-Artists-in-Complex(ity)
Cori DeSanto
Land Steward
Kiki Gordon
Fugitive Recorder of Retinal Memories
Alex A. Jones
Minister of Strategic Possibilities (Mission & Program Committee Chair)
Wills Phillips
Resident-Artist-in-Complex(ity) through Maine College of Art
Shelley Spector
Master of Applied Complex(ity)
Samiha Tasnim
Ministry of Comfort
Natalie Wilkin
Fugitive Ambassador of Transhistorical Agency
Latest News
Our First Grant
We are truly thrilled to announce our first grant as the new entity Mildred’s Lane Inc.! This will support our 2024 Town Friday event series in part with funding from a Sullivan County Arts & Heritage Grant, from the Sullivan County Legislature and administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. We are grateful to receive their support!
This grant is encouragement of more funding we will receive through operating grants we are eligible for as a 501(c)3. However, that funding is on the horizon. Now more than ever, we need your support to bridge capital this summer, supporting our sessions, guests artists, and fellows. Support can take many forms, but the two ways to support us are through joining ourPlenipotentiaries or purchasing tickets to our Corvus Summit.
Upcoming
Corvus Summit 2024
A FUNDRAISING EVENT TO SUPPORT 2024 FELLOWS
You are invited to Mildred’s Lane Corvus Summit this summer, Saturday, July 20 through Sunday, July 21.
On Saturday, July 20 from 2:00–11:00 PM, we will be hosting Summit Saturday featuring multiple workshops in the landscape, a keynote address and transmission work by Lauren Bon / Metabolic Studio, digestion choreography with local and sustainable food by Julia Simon, musical performances by PHROGZ, Jon Kessler, and Pablo Helguera, and conclude the evening with Povera Astronave, a bonfire performance culminating the residency session In the Cloud of Unknowing: Encounters with the UFO Phenomenon by Robert Williams & Bryan McGovern Wilson.
On Sunday, July 21 from 1:00–3:00 PM we’ll be hosting an Advisory Council Gathering, where we’re excited to share the progress we’ve made in many departments and committees since our gathering last summer.
or
Support the Mildred’s Lane Inc Fellowship Fund Directly
Fellows are vital to our operations, but not all are sponsored by academic institutions.
To cover the costs of 2024 independent fellows, we are asking a minimum of five sponsors to underwrite the following fellowships:
1 fellow - Land Stewardship Skill-Share (1 week / $1,300) RECEIVED!
1 fellow - Bibliophantics: Marx for Cats (1 week / $1,300)
1 fellow - Queer Ecologies Research Collective (2 weeks / $2,400)
1 fellow - Encounters with UFO Phenomenon (2 weeks / $2,400) RECEIVED!
1 fellow - Encounters with UFO Phenomenon (3 weeks / $3,600)