Beatrice Modisett (’07) Curates One-Day Exhibition

The Skin of our Terrain IV, Beatrice Modisett

Montserrat alumna Bea Modisett has co-curated an exhibition with Kerri Ammirata and in collaboration with Project Art Distribution.

The exhibition, More Trees than People!! is open for one day only on Saturday, October 28^th in SoHo, New York City (exact location can be found on Instagram at @project_art_distribution).

More Trees than People!! is the result of an artist residency hosted on Modisett’s off-grid property in up-state New York. The exhibition includes the work of seven different artists, including two live performances of experimental music. In addition to Modisett, it highlights the work of Natessa Amin, Kerri Ammirata, Charlotte Munn-Wood, Aimée Niemann, s.arinade, and Christine Stiver.

Read more about the exhibition below:

Under the trees, ten fingernails dug and scraped at the dirt, removing just enough material to create an indent the size of two hands cupped together. A wax cast was made and the dirt was returned.  Up the hill in a grassy clearing, four hands collected hundreds of fallen acorns one by one, while many more continued to fall around them. These acorns and the great potential they hold collided with the rosewood of a one-hundred-year-old violin and a sonic celebration filled our ears. The acorns were returned. In the meadow, two hands wrapped grass around a twig and paper structure, two hands rested in a lap, one hand held a paintbrush. A campfire was always burning. 

In August of 2023, five city based visual artists and two musicians came together to spend three days sleeping, cooking, showering, resting and otherwise living outside in the woods of Upstate New York to make the work for More Trees Than People!!  With our physical conditions upended cognitive shifts soon followed. The work created during these three days, and in the time since, reflect the ability of artists to adapt and thrive when parameters are changed. Specifically, this work presents seven different takes on a single place. Most of the artists had never been to this land, yet formed a deep relationship with it. The idiosyncrasies of each work, and each artist’s approach, highlight the generosity of non-humancentric landscapes as places that make space for novel ideas and ways of creation. Once back in our familiar working conditions, we metabolized our profound experience with this place and with each other into the objects presented in this show.  When transported to P.A.D these objects create a space to consider the poetics of the woods and the politics of SoHo, and serve as portals to a place where there are many more trees than people.

Du.0

Live experimental music performances:

s.arinade Performances 4:30 and 5 PM

SOUND:SUITES | of earth &&& air’ is a multi-part sonic offering dedicated to mother nature and her elements. through live improvisation and vocal rendition (accompanied by saxophonist STAGNARO) s.arinade will explore sonic stories of honoring the land and her restorative power across various traditions, genres, and homelands.

Du.0 Performances start at 6 PM

Experimental violin ensemble Du.0 (Aimée Niemann and Charlotte Munn-Wood) will perform SOUNDNEST. This piece is an integrated space to listen and reflect on the sounds of nature. Du.0 will bring trees, bugs, and stars to SOHO with field recordings from upstate and graphic scores by Niemann. Du.0 will be joined by guest performer s.arinade.

The residency More Trees Than People!! took place on 26 acres of woods and meadow in Summit, NY. Surrounded by farmland and lakes the property presents myriad opportunities for both solitude and intentional community building. As the current caretakers, artist Beatrice Modisett and percussionist Ellery Trafford are hand-building environmentally friendly dwellings for artists, musicians and writers to enjoy this space with minimal impact. Despite human presence the property continues to be a haven for wildlife. Every decision made on the property centers reciprocity, gratitude, equity and sustainability and we welcome artists and makers with similar ethics to the property. For more information about possibilities for hosting artist residencies, recording sessions, performances, outdoor installations and more, contact [email protected].