Education
4/2023 - 4/2024
A Temporary installation of 52 orchard ladders bursting from the widows of the old Alum Ridge Public School of Floyd Co. VA – a re-creation of the similar installation I created in 2014. From 3/17/2024 - 4/7/2024, in celebration of this project before the ladders are removed, and especially in celebration of all education, we are temporarily installing solar powered light streaming out of the windows with the ladders. Education offers us, each and all, ladders of hope and light for the future.
For 52 years - from approximately 1905-1957, students attended this school, and then went out into the world with their education.
The old ladders are part of the 100 given to me by Frank Levering of Levering Orchard. Since 2007, I've used them in at least 15 different temporary installations from Long Island to Atlanta.
Thanks to Ryan Baker, owner of the school property, for permitting me to install the ladders one more time and to Patrick Hand and Juan Pablo Cubur for helping with the installation, and to Rick Brown and SOLSHINE Energy for making it possible for the light of education shine.
In 2014, I made a booklet with stories told to me by people who attended the school and, some old photographs they loaned me along with some I took of the project that year. For me, meeting with these people and hearing their stories was the best part of the project.
A digital version of the booklet and printed copies are available for $10 – just email cbrouwer@swva.net
Photo by Juan Pablo Cubur, 2023