A creative workshop, led by Caroline Preziosi and Tom Bosket of ENGN for youth & community centered around defining career opportunities and identifying skills applicable to our individual and communal ecosystems, co-conceived by Mildred’s Lane and ENGN, an educational nonprofit based in Callicoon, NY. “Adapt and Thrive” invites participants to create trading cards featuring their unique “adaptations,” drawing on the world of animals, plants, and fantasy characters, as an exercise in thinking through our abilities to survive and thrive in catastrophic times. The workshop interweaves the annual DWLF topic of utopia with themes of the concurrent Mildred’s Lane residency-retreat on interspecies dialogues and class struggle.
The workshop will think through questions like: What is your own utopian vision? How would you operate in a perfect world, and what kinds of work would you do or not do? What are ways that you see the plants, animals, and humans around you adapting their skills to meet the needs of a changing environment? How can survival skills you have learned and developed through your own life experiences translate into skills applicable to different workspaces? Materials will be available for writing and illustrating trading cards that explore these questions as an approach to identifying a “career” in a more fluid and holistic way.
The workshop will be followed by an open-house at the Mildred Complex(ity), the field office and living archive of experimental arts residency Mildred’s Lane Inc, to showcase student work and invite members of the public to participate in conversation and creation.
This event is organized as part of Mildred’s Lane 2024 TOWN FRIDAY event series, which is supported in part with funding from a Sullivan County Arts & Heritage Grant, funded by the Sullivan County Legislature and administered by Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.
Part of Ratty Books Children’s Programming
Bring the whole family for a self-guided meander through The Tusten Heritage Community Garden and follow a book through the way! A way to pause and connect reading to nature. Our walk features the beautiful book In the Garden by Emma Giuliani and follows a garden throughout the four seasons. Stop and consider questions for kids and growns alike such as ‘what do we see in nature that shows us Summer is coming?’ Come, slow down, and enjoy a book in nature at your own pace.
Illustration from In the Garden by Emma Giuliani
Part of Ratty Books Children’s Programming
Join teacher Liana Rosenberg for a nature themed story reading and yoga practice inspired by the book. All ages but extra fun for 0-10. Bring the family!
Join Lyra Vega as she reads three banned picture books at the Bridge St Bakery. Suitable for children of all ages, come celebrate the right to read, dress up and imagine.
Plus a bonus reading of Broadway Baby by local author Russell Miller.