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Eléonore de Montesquiou, ‘Par Exemple, Ebenthal’
Included in The Lay of the Land exhibition – 2011.
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The documentary Par Exemple, Ebenthal considers the relationship of farmers to their home and land in the suburbs of growing cities, drawn from the example of Ebenthal, a suburb of Klagenfurt in Austria. There are strong parallels to our own regional development here in southern Chester County, PA.Responses:
1A. Julia Dooley - HG Shelf
In response to the example of Ebenthal, Austria, this work addresses the consumerism inherent in suburbanization of rural farmland. 'Big Box store' sprawl follows concentrations of new-housing construction, providing opportunities to shop, at affordable prices, for home decor options that mirror the land's farm community roots. Sometimes described as 'shit on a shelf', this is literally true; look closely at the contents of the blue mason jar. All other objects are clearly marked, "Made in China" and were purchased from a Big Box store. Purchased objects will hopefully be returned for full refund at the conclusion of back, forth. 
1B. Rich Lombino
Homeless Guy: A (Brief) Opera in Three Acts by Rich Lombino Act I - Guy lives a “normal” life A. Guy LoVilla grows up in the suburbs with his parents and younger sister. He enjoys sports, music, and sometimes acting out in class. He does well in college and decides to become an attorney. B. Guy graduates from law school in the top 10% of his class. He lands a prime job at a “top” law firm in the big city. Rents a one bedroom apartment downtown. C. Guy has a girlfriend and asked her to move in with him. She does. He’ll maybe propose sometime soon. He goes out with friends to bars on the weekend. Has a dog. Act II - Guy gets “hurt” and loses everything A. Guy is a successful attorney for 5 years. But something’s been going on with him the past year. Out of the ordinary. He’s been depressed and anxious and doesn't know why. A family member has a history of depression, but Guy refuses to believe he’s possibly inherited it. He doesn’t get into treatment. B. Guy’s girlfriend says “I can’t deal with you anymore” and moves out. Guy meets with a supervisor at work who expresses concern about Guy’s productivity. Guy assures her he’ll do better. He starts drinking more and calling out from work. C. Guy is fired from his job. They give him a nice severance package and thank him for his work. He goes home and drinks. D. Guy wakes up day after day and drinks more. His depression has become severe, he’s in denial about his mental health and his alcohol use, and he’s not in treatment. E. His severance and savings are gone. He misses two rent payments and gets an eviction notice. Due to extreme shame, he doesn't reach out to friends or family. He withdraws further into his depression. Act III - Guy becomes homeless … and finds hope A. Guy is evicted from his apartment. He leaves everything except his guitar and dog. He goes to the park to think. Thankfully, it’s Summer and it’s warm. He falls asleep on a bench. B. That night, Guy is awoken by five teenagers. They are mocking him and calling him a “homeless guy.” He asks them to please leave him alone. Instead, they beat him and take his guitar and dog. Guy lays on the ground bleeding. C. He stays there until the next morning when he is woken up by a kind police officer. She gives him the address of the closest homeless shelter. He says thank you, but after she leaves, he stays in the park. He can’t get himself to go to a shelter. In his mind, that would make him Homeless Guy. D. Guy is still homeless. He’s just no longer street homeless. After two weeks of sleeping in the park, he went to a homeless shelter. E. He’s residing at a shelter now and realizes that it’s a community of good people. Many just like him. His negative image of a “homeless guy” is shattered forever. The community support he’s received has helped him get into treatment for his mental health and alcohol use issues. Guy is hopeful for the future. And he now knows that anyone can be homeless. 1C. Sarah Alderman
BYPASSED is an interactive documentary about the city of Coatesville. The poorest municipality within the state's wealthiest county, Coatesville is a once-prosperous steel town that has struggled to reinvent itself in a postindustrial America. This documentary serves to go beyond the biased local media and to share the real Coatesville with the outside world. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, our project has been designed to celebrate residents' hope and determination to challenge the stereotypes forced upon them by mainstream media. The local media has often been criticized for its biased and unflattering portrayal of the town. Last summer Al Jazeera America added their voice to fray when they referred to Coatesville as "2 square miles of ghetto". This project will circumvent the mainstream media to present a more complete truth about Coatesville. The finished website will weave video portraits, photography, audio interviews and storytelling projects into an interactive user experience artfully designed just for BYPASSED. We will blend professionally produced and community generated content into one web-based documentary, to build bridges between Coatesville and the greater community, and to facilitate healing and progress within the city itself. 
1D. Original paintings by John Abner
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