July 1, 2008
The Coleman Center is pleased to announce the beginning of a two year project and residency by artists Bob Bingham, Ally Reeves, and Robin Hewlett, from Carnegie Melon University. The artists visited the Coleman Center earlier this month to begin learning about the York and Sumter County community.
In 2009, the artists will be completing “the One Mile Garden,” which will be completed in close collaboration with with area residents. The project will consist of a community garden, an “edible townscape” of fruit and nut trees, and individual “satellite gardens” in participants homes. The project is meant to catalyze small scale food production and celebrate and strengthen residents connections to the land and each other.
As a way of learning about the community, the artists hosted “The One Mile Meal.” This potluck meal featured dishes the artists made with local food they gathered while riding their bikes. Over 35 people attended the event, and participants brought dishes that revealed something about the food they like to eat, grow, or prepare.
Some of the dishes included a greens casserole, fruit cobbler, corn bread, fresh vegetables, squash casserole, and many many others. Conversations about gardening, local fruits and vegetables, and favorite foods filtered through the event, which was hosted at the Prsytup guesthouse in York.
The artists will return again this fall to continue planning of the final project. For more information please contact the Coleman Center at (205) 392-2005.