‘Eco-Interventions’
Metamorphosis: Hungry Ghost
Inspired by Kafka’s Metamorphosis and Buddhist Cosmology, “Metamorphosis: Hungry Ghost” is a cautionary tale of excessive consumption.
Created for Earth Day, 2008, Erin Stack escorted Stephenie Strogeny, who had been transformed into a ravenous ghoul, through the streets of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Stack would tell people about the sad tale of Stephenie, a savvy, yet profligate shopper who awoke one morning transformed into a giant Hungry Ghost. She is now doomed to roam the world consuming without ever being satisfied.
The public was encouraged to feed the hungry ghost by putting their waste water bottles, napkins, candies etc. through the many open mouths of the ghost. The food would then be seen through the exposed stomachs that hang from the ghost.
Legend has it that poor Stephenie is still seen wandering the streets of the Northeast trailing her ever accumulating train of waste.
Savage Rituals
Erin Stack and architect Stephenie Strogney collaborate annually on roaming eco- interventions.
“Savage Rituals”, Earth Day, 2007, Newburyport, MA
This performance addresses Americans anxious, projected as romanticized, relationship to Nature. Our “friendly” polar bear greeted people on the street and in commercial establishments. The bear offered the gift of cards describing assorted “savage rituals”. If performed, these rituals would allow a more intimate relationship with Nature.
Selected Savage Rituals:
2. For the duration of one month from this day, place a cup outdoors every time there is precipitation. Allow the cup to fill for as long as the rain or snow lasts. When the weather changes, drink the contents of the glass.
5. In your mind, determine a length of time: a specific number of hours, days, weeks, years. Next, pick up a rock. Any size that you can carry is fine. Keep this rock with you at all times: in bed, in the shower, at work…always have the rock in arms length of you. At the end of the specified time, return the rock to the exact location where you found it.