Something to Say? What is The Airlock? What's in the Jar?

The Airlock rose from the wharves in 1820. In an area teeming with shipbuilders, sailors and soldiers, it began its life as an oyster saloon. Since that time, it has served as a brothel, a barbershop and a dance hall. It has housed blacksmiths, coopers, grocers and veterans of vaudeville. It has stood vacant for decades — its bricks warming in summer, cooling in winter as in any other year. Its residents have come. They've gone. Today, most of the drunkenness and mischief have left The Airlock and it serves as a launching pad for a rotating crew of artists. Grey Branches is their first completed project and was made by Paul Foster, Jeremy LeClair, Alex Mead, Ethan Sager, and Ben Tillinghast. As you read this, they and others are tinkering away inside The Airlock. Soon, new projects will be posted here. Thursday June 26, 2008 Here's something to get us started. German director Werner Herzog became a kind of spirit guide to us during the production of Grey Branches. Picture us constantly quoting him, discussing his films and, worse, speaking in a ludicrous Bavarian accent. Example: in moments requiring a particular gusto, we would call upon the spirit of Werner and say: "Haf you got thee gutz?!" It happened. Anyway, this mash-up came out of that. The recipe includes a track from Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, an interview Mr. Herzog did for NPR's Fresh Air, and a photo by Robin Holland. Play it LOUD, mister!