Flooding, Fire and Rebirth in Ghost of a Dream’s New Show

Ghost of a Dream is the collaborative project of Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom, residents of Amenia, N.Y., but also somewhat nomadic former residents of Brooklyn and New York City.

Was and Eckstrom are accomplished and much-exhibited artists whose work often reflects a thought, a concept, a trend, always something that is personally meaningful to them. One of their early pieces, shown at the Wassaic Project in Wassaic, N.Y., was images created from discarded lottery tickets found on the streets of New York.

The duo’s new show, at Geary on Main Street in Millerton, N.Y., until Oct. 2,  is called “If This Is Paradise …”.

Although the show notes don’t go into the specifics of the artists’ history of water trauma, they have more than once experienced significant flooding (part of the reason, perhaps, that they have moved studio spaces often in the past decades). This show takes a wider look at the impact that flood and fire have on the world and on art.

The show notes explain that, “The five composite images included in the exhibition are sourced from collections of burning police cars, oil rig fires, melting icebergs, homes in floods, and red tide coupled with toxic green algae.

“Fire and water mark the end of things, destruction, and demise, but throughout history fire and water can also signify rejuvenation and growth. This cycle of death and rebirth of nature and culture has repeated on this planet since the beginning of time, yet, with the inevitable repeat of this cycle upon us, it’s evident that things are different this time around: the planet is in trouble."

Geary Gallery at 34 Main St. in Millerton, N.Y., is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at https://geary.nyc and www.ghostofadream.com.

“If This Is Paradise …” is at Geary until Oct. 2.