xander marro(American b. 1975) is a fake scientist/olde style tinker residing at the dirt palace; a feminist cupcake encrusted netherworld located along the dioxin filled banks of the Woonasquatucket river (which is to say in Providence, RI USA). From this post she makes movies, puppet shows, prints and phone calls. Her adventures underground have included curating the "Movies with Live Soundtracks" film series and performing in various theatrick/musical formats as one of the variety of her alter egos (Madame Von Temper Tantrum, Lady Long Arms, Lil Blood-n-Guts, Madame Von Malt Liquor etc.) Of recent days she has gotten herself deep into the wild world of community organizing around neighborhood social justice and human rights issues.

 

Sasha Wiseman, raised on the leaden tapwater of Providence, is now incapable of leaving the city for long periods of time due to the enormous electromagnet secretly buried under the statehouse for this purpose. She contents herself with a few hobbies- mostly waiting for the postman to deliver the latest issue of National Geographic so she can gaze jealously at the fantastic scenes inside, dreaming of the alchemic reaction that would set her free.

 

Pippi Zornoza is a jack of all trades.   Some may more aptly describe her as a renaissance man. Pippi's personal creations utilize the old techniques of craft to make everyday useful objects magical. She embroiders, laces, knits, carves, prints, and stitches to make quilts, shawls, lamps, chairs, signs, posters, books, wallpaper, and blankets. You may see them here. She was awarded the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts Fellowship in Design in 2006 as well as the Council’s Request for Proposal Grants in 2005 and 2003. Her printmaking work has been exhibited in the United States as well as Japan, Argentina, Columbia and Sweden,and was published in the art-poster anthology, The Art of Modern Rock. In her spare time Pippi studies magic and the art of coin sleights, tango, enjoys jogging, and playing music. Her own musical and performance exploits have included the bands Bonedust, which toured the U.S. in 2006; Throne of Blood (2002-03) released on Corleone Records; Sawzall (2001-02); and currently Master Pizor (songs for the heartbroken, horny and metalheads)and VVLTVRE.   Pippi is also the star in the cult movie classic, Die You Zombie Bastards, directed by Caleb Emerson. Someday she will direct and perform in a musical where she will star as death.

Kate Gronner survives exclusively off of chickpeas and chard, and possibly drinks as much tea, coffee, and other beverages as the whole dirt palace combined. She relocated to the providence from chicago during a blizzard in february 2006. She is excellent at loosing her cell phone, climbing trees and parallel parking pippi's van. She works in various mediums, such as embroidery, drawing, crochet, papier mache, carving, and printmaking, and is contemplating working in film again in the near future. Her interests include taxidermy, old pick up trucks, stereocards, blankets crocheted in striped patterns, succulents (and select other plants), her accordion, wood paneling, nature guides, encyclopedias, her mother's button collection, objects with a history, and the olneyville new york system. Rest in peace Salty.

Cassie Tharinger grew up in vermont—-but redneck vermont, not hippie vermont. she shares a birthday with george washington, teddy kennedy, frederic chopin (though his birth date is contested,) her great aunt faith, and julius "dr. j" irving, and someday they will all form a superstar basketball team together. she has been known to make costumes, undies, lampshades, little boxes with stories in them, movies, collages, drawings & sometimes prints, overly-conceptual installations involving ebay, and various apple desserts. she is fond of obscure children's books from the 70's, listening to the radio, irish whiskey, wendell berry, things that really happened, popcorn, and salt. currently, she is learning about herbs (cultivation and lore), and pondering the inevitable, imminent apocalypse.

Jean Cozzens is an artist, screen printer, poster designer, and "emerging professional in the field of architecture". She has lived in Providence since 1999, except for 10 months spent living and traveling in Italy. In June of 2005, after many years of effort, she received TWO! bachelor's degrees, one in Fine Arts and one in Architecture. She is currently following various pursuits including learning more about buildings and construction, mentoring high school students in design and screenprinting, and figuring out how to become a social justice architect. As an artist and designer, she hopes to use her skills to create radical change in the world!

Laura Rodriguez is in love with clay, candles, marinated mushrooms, maria (the cat), teaching, video & new media technology, and shamanic meditations. She is currently working on 2 installations & finishing up her movie, Lydia Li, which will soon be distributed to queer- & diversity-focused youth groups. For more info on that, check out www.LydiaPink.com.

Jo Dery draws pictures and makes short films. Her current project, "Echoes of Bats and Men," has received funding from theLEF Foundation and RI State Council on the Arts, and was screened in 2005. In 2002, she and friend Devon Damonte brought you the 24-hour Movie Making Experiment Tour, a project where crazy people stay up all night and make short films any way they can. She doubles as Peace Fancy Fancy, a former Dirt Palace pioneer, and faithful student of the natural world.

Carrie Collier is the co-founder/curator of Magic Lantern, a monthly screening series for experimental film, video and performance work. She currently resides in the Dirt Palace, where she writes stories and makes movies about animals, murder, food, sex, and dress-up. She prefers analog technologies to their digital counterparts.

Polina Malikin is a member of the Olneyville Collaborative, a founding member of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association.   Polina makes film, videos, prints and installations. She has studied arts collectives and and traveled the world.   Her political poster projects have led her to infiltrate the often boy dominated grafitti sub-underground.