Flashback Friday – Episode 40: "TreeSon"
Early in 2005, the visual artist and award-winning theater director David Schildkret approached John Stasio with a proposal to create a quarter-mile forest installation piece. John agreed, and David came to Easton Mountain in the spring of that year. He camped at the foot of Grandfather Oak and spent many days alone there as his vision of the installation developed. When he came down to the Lodge for meals he often ate alone, in silence, at a small table.By July he was busy hanging fabric, rocks, leaves, twigs, feathers and even a living sapling, along the path. By mid-summer guests walking the path saw the results of his labors. At was during that time that he named his installation, "TreeSon."
In a press release announcing the installation, John said, "We're excited to have David manifest his art here at Easton because it aligns with out mission to develop and present workshops and other learning activities that promote wholeness, health and peace and to foster the growth of spiritual community, respectful of all religious and spiritual traditions."
This was the first major project by a visual artist at Easton Mountain. Subsequently, other artists have come here to create graphic art, sculpture, music and dance. Last Summer we inaugurated the Pavilion of Imagination, a space for creating art that will be available to those coming to our summer programs, including Gay Freedom Camp (July 1-5) and Summer Gay Spirit Camp (Aug. 8-14).