With our one-year anniversary coming up on Friday, June 5th, the space is shifting. Because MACRE functions as a community-led ecosystem, this evening is built around the ideas of emergence and transmedia.
For us, emergence means we set the stage, but the night changes shape based on who is in the room and how we interact. Transmedia means our stories are fluid—they don’t stay contained within a single format. You will see narrative and memory moving across physical wood, analog letters, interactive sound mechanisms, visual print, and video loops. The evening is experimental and open, leaving room for spontaneous projects and conversations to shape the space as the night unfolds.
When: Friday, June 5, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Live performances from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: MACRE, 415 N. Tioga St., Ithaca, NY
What: Art, community, light drinks, and snacks.
We are filling the building and exterior with a distinct cross-section of transmedia work:
The Dead Letters Mailbox (New Exterior Installation): Launching on June 5th on the outside of the building, this project is a permanent outdoor repository for letters of grief, unsaid words, and messages to those who have passed away. Conceived and stewarded by georgianna Van Gunten of the @ithacawritingstudio and built by Barb Neal, it serves as a physical drop point for processing loss. Pens, paper, and envelopes are provided at the box. Drop a sealed letter into the slot anytime; the contents remain entirely private. Bi-monthly, the locked box is emptied and the envelopes are burned intact—the smoke carrying what remains.
(The mailbox will be mounted on the post pictured below)
Summer 2026 Incubator Artist: To kick off Pride Month, we are welcoming our new seasonal resident, Oliver Rose (@oliver.rising). Oliver is a queer poet, musician, and full-time local carpenter who will be utilizing the space this summer to build Poems from a Fall Flower—a project that translates long-form poetry into a tangible, physical zine integrated with collaborative photography. On June 5th, you can view some of his visual poetry collages, learn about his upcoming local zine raffle, and find out about his plans to launch a bi-weekly community poetry meet-up in the space.
The Story Machine by Norm Scott: MACRE member and sonic tinkerer Norm Scott will showcase an interactive sculpture built from found objects, wood, cast aluminum, and electronics. Originally built in 1999 and rebuilt in 2023, The Story Machine brings a playful, multi-sensory experience to the space, allowing visitors to operate the mechanism and engage directly with tactile media.
Creative Showcase (Painting & Photography):
Jennilie Brewster: Returning to the gallery, our Summer 2025 incubator artist will be showcasing a new collection of paintings and mixed media. Reflecting on the source of her work, Jennilie writes: “On a trip to the Painted Desert in 2004, I remember looking out at the amorphous terrain, and seeing nothing—no buildings, no telephone poles, no trees—to measure distance, to locate myself, to navigate a path. In this ancient sea bed where dinosaurs once swam, everything comes at you all at once from all directions and all times. And I felt if I wandered too far from the canopied viewing area, I would surely get lost and die out there.”
Lusca Waters: A public debut photography feature. Lusca is a resident member who holds down the space by stewarding our Creekside room, and this marks the very first time her photography is being shown publicly.
Lifelong’s “Learn to Paint, Love to Paint” Students: Featuring works exploring the theme “Connection to Nature,” taught by MACRE member Isa Goico. Isa was the very first artist to exhibit a show when we opened our doors, making it fitting to have their students anchor this milestone.
Poetry & Performance (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Live readings and performances adding to the evening’s collective energy, featuring Oliver Rose, Jada Simone, and Seth Gottfried, with more participants being added as we get closer to the night. (Note: Saviana Stanescu is no longer able to perform for this event).
Open Studio: Check out what’s happening behind the scenes and see active workspaces with Skeleton Hands and other resident members, featuring ongoing video and media experiments.
Music: Live DJing by The Brat Dondada.
Jennifer Brown, Sarah Hollyday, Rob Ferguson, Lauren Stefanelli, Tim Turecek, Tom Shelley, Mary Catt, Marge Parker, April Porress, Larry Campbell, Eileen O’Connor, Pat Shea, Shuly Gross, Roz Guterman, Carolyn Bals, Rob Bello, Jennilie Brewster, and Isa Goico.
What makes this milestone matter is that MACRE is built on shared responsibility. Our members step up to share their work, build infrastructure, and give their time to maintain this space.
Come check out our ongoing setups and help us mark our first year of active presence in downtown Ithaca. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or are stopping by for the first time, we’d love to see you there.
See you on Tioga Street! macreithaca.com
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