Proposal for an Ecological Arts Residency at Ellisville Harbor State Park

Ellisville Harbor State Park is a geographically small park with an exceptionally large ecological value. Within this 97-acre plot of temperate, coastal plain is a diverse assemblage of healthy, rare and special habitats. 

The natural and archeological resources of the park are well documented. But such a unique concentration of ecological value requires an equally unique approach to long-term conservation.  As an ecologist who’s research and work has come to span science, nature, art and culture, I’d like to explore developing an innovative program that would be appropriate to both the park’s amazing resources, but also its real constraints.

I propose to design an artist/writers residency program, modeled after the long-standing and successful "Arts in the Parks" to be based in the Pumpkin House. 

Artist/writers residencies are a well-established tradition that provide dedicated time and space for creative work. You can learn more about them through our partner organization, The Alliance for Artistic Communities.

An Ecological and Cultural Balancing Act

Both the park and the Pumpkin House are very special, but also fragile and very small. This makes them generally unsuitable for a large-scale interpretive or educational programs that would require large numbers of visitors. A small art/writers residency wherein one ecologist and one artist/writer are paired to create place-based, conservation-themed, collaborative output, could meet the goals of fostering a nuanced appreciation for the park without adversely affecting the very ecological sensitivity that makes it such a special place. We want to celebrate the unique nature of the park, but not in a way that qualitatively degrades it. 

How can a program both celebrate and protect a resource? By relocating the celebration offsite while simultaneously enhancing low-impact forms of appreciation that do not adversely affect the essential value of the resource. A small-scale art/writer residency scenario respects this tension by allowing for creative research and contemplation within the park, but then relocates the celebration back out into the surrounding community (and beyond) through art.

This preliminary inquiry proposes an initial vision in order to gather advice from park administrators before reaching out to other potential partners and local stakeholders.

Other Program Considerations:

Appropriate Arts:

Visual Arts - Painters, photographers, digital artists, etc.

Writing - Poets, documentarians, authors, journalists, etc.

Appropriate Ecological Subjects:

Conservation ecology of: Bees, Birds, Bats, Eels, Harbor Seals, Sharks, Flora

Indigenous ecology, archaeology and culture, Vernal Pool & Sphagnum Bog ecology, Pasture/Restoration Ecology

Possible Permaculture Elements:

Oika is a set of ecological principles based on the research of Dr. Rich Blundell that will guide program design and administration.

Aquaculture - a small-scale (non-motorized) oyster, clam, fishery for program and possibly community consumption (CSA?)

Agriculture - small-scale (non-motorized) garden, small livestock for program and possibly community consumption (CSA?)

Possible Affiliations:

Art residents can be generated and administered through the AAC or Plymouth Center for the Arts?. Ecology residents can be generated through partnerships with research and academic affiliations such as Wildlands Trust?  Manomet Center for Conservation Science?  Dr. Rich Blundell can serve as resident ecologist as-needed.

Other Financial and Program Considerations:

• $30K-$50K for Pumpkin House systems and interior renovation 
• $50K per-year for program administration (five-year guarantee)
• Philanthropically funded initially with eventual conversion to non-profit administration within 5 years (TBD). 
• One or two ecologist-artists per season for 10-months per-year
• Occasional small meetings for education and conversation
• Linkages with local museums and galleries for off-site art-opening and performances etc.