Spring Lyceum Series—MAKING HOME

What does it mean to be home? Making a home is on ongoing process rather than a one-time choice, reflecting an active effort to sustain natural and human communities through the years. Our spring lecture series, centered on that process, features speakers ranging from a landscape painter whose artistic practice has both rooted him here and helped preserve the environment he loves, to a panel of people who grew up here, left for other places, and returned to re-make their homes and businesses.

Marissa Jonke will talk about the evolution of her taxidermy practice and settling into her current home in Jay, New York, as the owner of Styx River Taxidermy.

Upon moving from Queens to New Paltz to study painting and sculpture in college, she began to see roadkill for the first time. Disturbed by this newly common occurrence, she began to learn how to work with animal remains as a way to honor their former life. Using her background in fine arts and love of the natural world, she aims to produce the most lifelike taxidermy pieces possible—some of which she’ll exhibit during her talk.

$5, students free.