|
Introduction |
A Brief History of Mildred's Lane  The Old Miller Farm In 1902 Mildred Steffens was born in a tiny farm-house that was a homestead dating back at least to the 1830's. She was one of nine siblings, but only she lived and farmed there for her very full 86 years. Mid-century she was shacked up with a man named Vincent Miller and the site was then known as the 'old Miller farm'. The Buildings were left empty after she died, and the site came to be called Mildred's Lane in memory of her and her remarkable life. Since 1998 when J. Morgan Puett, Mark Dion, Nils Norman and Renee Green discovered the land, it has hosted many experiments, artists, events, projects and other wondrous forms of conviviality. The original farmhouse where Mildred lived is now the site of a museum. The Mildred's Lane Historical Society and Museum is a small museum that holds the preservation of histories and projects of past, present as well as ongoing occurrences of Mildred's Lane. In May of 2007, we began the Mildred Archaeology Project that is an ongoing archeological research of the site's history. The original homestead now holds the efforts of the Mildred's Lane program, history, and archives. The museum is the core archive of this site, and gateway to the greater conceptual and physical environment of Mildred's Lane. Many Artists have contributed works to The Mildred's Lane Historical Society and Museum. This includes a set of hand made canoes by Bob Braine, works by Jorge Colombo, Brian Conley, Gregory Crewdsen, Mark Dion, Moyra Davey, Sean Foley, Hope Ginsburg, Jeffrey Jenkins, Iain Kerr, Julian Laverdiere, Matt Mullican, Nils Norman, Michael Oatman, J. Morgan Puett, Rebecca Purcell, William Purcell, Alexis Rockman, Jason Simon, Allison Smith, Spurse, Jeffrey Valance, Amy Yoes and many others. The diverse and complex projects and installations sited at Mildred's Lane include: a cemetery by Mark Dion, an apiarist's shack by J. Morgan Puett, an Amy Yoes pavilion, a tree house by Scott Constable, a garden (built by Mark Dion, J. Morgan Puett, and Nils Norman with the Yale sculpture students class of '99/'00 – that included Allison Smith, Tricia Donnelly, Adam Putnam, Jennifer Cohen, and other artists). Several situational events have occurred over the years which include Allison Smith's Muster, readings from the authors Nina Burleigh, John Haskell, Rebecca Purcell and others; performances and presentations by Hope Ginsburg, William Purcell, Iain Kerr, Spurse, Moyra Davey and Jason Simon. A Partial List of Projects The Mildreds Lane site is continually producing new projects and events. We are currently developing a wildlife habitat project, building on the discursive public works that Mark Dion has produced on bears; and also rethinking Dion's original Vivarium works; Jeffrey Jenkins is installing Intransient Monument (Stump) memorials; Robert Williams will build a fieldstone Alchemist's Shack in collaboration with RISD's glass blowing department; Iain Kerr and J. Morgan Puett continue working through their experimental corporation on various projects such as comportment. 2009 Sessions Opus Magnum: Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum & The Philosophick Childe Previous Sessions Mildred's Lane Historical Society and Museum (ongoing) Bubble-Gum-Play-Land House designed by J. Morgan Puett J. Morgan Puett and Mark Dion's Horse Shed House Mark Dion's Memento Mori The Grafter's Shack, J. Morgan Puett Scott Constable's Lightning Tree House Amy Yoes' Art Dump Dion, Norman, Puett Garden Project in collaboration with Yale sculpture class of '99/'00 Ericson/Ziegler Memorial Merry-Go-Round Amy Yoes' Lean-To, (Sign Language Variant) Mark Dion's Camera Trap (ongoing) Allison Smith's Muster 2004 The Great Mushroom Hunt for Rebecca Purcell 2001 That Word Which Means Smuggling Across Borders Incorporated, J. Morgan Puett and Iain Kerr An Exode To The Corporeal Conversation, 2006 J. Morgan Puett and Iain Kerr Robert William's Burning Belinus in the New World 2000 and other Eventful Fires Lovin' the Land with Athena Kokoronis Emily Grandgene by Rebecca Purcell and Jorge Colombo Skid Rows II, a performance with Brian Tolle and Diane Balmori Mildred Archeology The Camp Project 2009 with Boris Richter Other Projects The Scott Constable Wind Mill Retail 21st c (phase I, 2008), a think tank in collaboration with Allison Smith, Amy Yoes and others Manufacturing Clothing Machining by J. Morgan Puett (for the Queens Museum.) The Camp Project A Cow Pond Algae Investigation Project The Silo Archive Building and the Dion-Puett History Museum A Pond and Pond House with J. Morgan Puett and Mark Dion An experimental Apiary with J. Morgan Puett and local beekeepers Mark Dion's Bear Grotto A Bat House with visiting architects |