Salons at In Situ Polyculture

In spring of 2025, In Situ Polyculture launched a series of salons at the Art Barn— what is a salon?

“A salon is a gathering of people held by a host. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace’s definition of the aims of poetry, “either to please or to educate” (Latin: aut delectare aut prodesse). Salons in the tradition of the French literary and philosophical movements of the 17th and 18th centuries are still being conducted.[1]” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_(gathering)

Salons at In Situ Polyculture are gatherings where attendees are invited to bring something (anything!) that will please or educate, inspire or uplift, illuminate or confound. Things are harrowing out there— we need to keep our sanity and our creative connections and capacity for laughter alive.

So far, attendees have brought; kimchi mac and cheese, graceful trees in more ways than one, screen prints, a song sung with guitar featuring Tennyson’s poetry, the generosity of volcanoes, loaded blueberry and kale salad, the quietest naturally occurring maraca ever, oracular readings of cartomancy, fine conversation, anecdotes of ancestral investigations, a helluva sunset with wispy rosy vapors, a nice bottle of Donkey and Goat wine, and homemade Cara Cara orange marmalade sticky buns, a harp solo, a mandalele ballad, found objects from soil, found objects from fire, ash magic, poetry, meditations, and more.

The invitation goes like this:
FOR THE SALON
Hosts will provide a small, excellent provender for the animal body, and a spirit or ferment of good quality, as well as ample teas and tisanes. Hosts will also start the salon offerings, so no guest need “go first” as a sacrificial ice-breaker.

Guests are encouraged to bring a small victual contribution to the evening (food or beverage), but not required.

All guests are required to bring an offering to please, educate, inspire, uplift, illuminate, or confound.

Examples such as;
-a new poem
-a favorite poem or passage of literature
-philosophical warbling that can illuminate and confound
-an excellent joke
-a terrible joke
-a painting or drawing
-a movement performance
-a song
-a demonstration (how-to or know-how)
-research either read recently, or self-discovered
-an anecdote of novelty or note
-small, beautiful objects to pass around, admire or share
-whatever else could please or educate, inspire or uplift, illuminate or confound

*We have 2-3 sleepover accommodations for anyone who wants to make a night of it. First come first served— especially for guests coming from 1+ away
**This is an adult gathering, but children are not explicitly barred. If it means you will be able to come as opposed to foregoing the evening, please bring the kids! We have Legos!
***Carpools recommended.

Space is limited at the salon, to guarantee intimacy and that all joiners-in have an opportunity to share, and respond to each other’s share in organic conversation. We are starting with private invitation-only, and then will open up the salon guest list once we get confirmations. Perhaps in the future it will simply be a set day each month, and folks can come as they can!