September 30, 2023
Tom Boland
Provincetown Community Compact
P.O. Box 819
Provincetown, MA 02657
Dear Tom,
Since my residency in the C-Scape in 2018, an idea has been taking shape. Recent events brought a sense of urgency, so I’ve begun to earnestly pursue the idea, which involves a long-term stay in a shack during the fall and early winter of 2025. What I’m proposing to do during the project seems easy compared to the complicated task of actually getting out there.
I recently wrote a creative project proposal (link below). Friends who are professors, board presidents, and grant writers have reviewed it and found it compelling. I sent it to Bill Burke at the NPS, and he responded that it “looks ambitious - but it might turn out grand.” A few friends, those who prefer flushable toilets and hot showers, have trouble understanding why I would want to do this. My husband is one of those people, but I have his full support.
There is a lot about this idea of staying 100 days in a dune shack that is difficult to communicate without either writing a book or having some conversations. I’m hoping to have some conversations.
If you’re interested in reading the proposal, it might be helpful to keep in mind the following:
The goals and ideas in the proposal are intended as a framework to start a conversation and to show the project’s importance and potential. Everything is up for discussion.
My own personal goals are the same as the project’s but with a slightly different bend. These are…
First - To live in the dunes of Cape Cod for several months during the change of seasons, and to give attention and honor to Nature by observing, responding to, and recording the experience.
This is not about self-discovery or self-expression, although those may be intrinsic outcomes. It is about the magic that exists out in the dunes, year after year, whether or not anyone is witness to it.
Second - To go with the intention of sharing the experience while respecting the seclusion of the landscape and shacks.
Staying in a shack happens to be the only way to accomplish the first goal. The intent is not to focus on life in a dune shack but to share observations of Nature and its connection to the human spirit, specifically in this unique landscape. If there is hesitation around drawing too much attention to the shacks or reluctance to setting a precedent for longer stays, I believe there may be ways around this. I understand the mission of the non-profits is to allow artists time in solitude and nature without expectations, as I have been the beneficiary of this mission. However, a longer intensive stay with the intention of sharing the experience seems important, maybe even critical, especially at this moment in time.
Third - To ensure the experience is mutually beneficial for those involved.
I have confidence in my ability to secure funding to cover expenses and lost income from lottery stays. I understand the importance of securing this funding before the call for lotteries goes out in January 2025. My hope is to raise additional funds over the long term to benefit partnering organizations.
3. About Beston - While Beston may not resonate with some, his writing has been an important influence for me. I don’t seek to elevate him, but to emulate his attention and his awe of Nature. I believe his kind of attention (which is love), along with a desire to share the experience as he did, is needed now more than ever. Plus, a 100 year anniversary is pretty special.
I’ll be in Provincetown October 26 and 27 and hope to set up a time to briefly meet. Just email or call if you’d be available and interested in chatting in person.
Thank you most of all for reading this!
Very sincerely,
Stacy Caldwell
View the project proposal at:
https://www.stacycaldwellart.com/100-years-100-days
Contact:
717-419-4225
stacycaldwell@comcast.net
www.stacycaldwellart.com
www.instagram.com/stacy__caldwell
