Moth Ball

An annual collaboration with Ash Ferlito in Athens, NY | June 2022 - Present

Created by Patrick Costello and Ash Ferlito, Moth Ball is an annual information-gathering wild science extravaganza celebrating creatures of the night with mothing, art, and performative spectacle. Rooted in citizen science and participatory creative practice, the event, now in its third year, is held around the summer solstice in the Wooshy Woods of Athens, New York.

Moth Ball is an occasion to celebrate summer and track local moth populations (order Lepidoptera). Though small and often unnoticed by the human eye, moths are important pollinators and an essential source of food for birds throughout their lifecycle. Moths are present throughout the year; however, these longest days of the year are when moth diversity in the northeastern US is at its peak. They are critical indicator species, providing clues about the health of the ecosystem we are a part of. Often associated with specific host plants, and dependent upon particular habitat conditions, moths’ sensitivity to changes in their environment provide real insights for us as caretakers of the places where we live.

This gathering is an opportunity to take a closer look, learn more about the other types of life we share this land with, and, at least for the moment, be in a different kind of relationship with those beings.

After the sun sets, we engage in mothing, a low-tech scientific practice that helps collect useful data about which types of moths are living in the area (in this case, the area being unceded Mohican territory [Greene County, NY]). Along with offering summer revelry and an opportunity for interspecies connection, Moth Ball also offers hard numbers and data to the local scientists keeping an eye on the intricate web of connections that make up life in the area.

Special thanks to Ben Simon, Cullen Hanks, Jeremy Bloom, the Athens Cultural Center, Nick Weist, Shandaken: Projects, Anna Ialeggio, The Soil Factory, Dave Snyder, Left Bank Cider, Ashley Bohan, West Kill Brewing, Peter Simon, Mitchell Dose, Lizzie Hurst, Sarah Lammer, Dana Cohen, Billy Dee, Donna Oblongata, Michael Carolan, Maureen Brondyke, and Nina Simon, Tom and Laura Bacon, Kaki Dimock, the JLRS Family Fund, John and Rae Costello, and Nina Simon.

Moth Ball: 2023

Moth Ball 2023 included a dance performance by Moth Friends Shannon Brooks, Alanna Bozman, Elizabeth Weinstein, Nora Einbender-Luks, Jenna Spitz, Dana Cohen, Leigh Huster, and Theo Loftis entitled un message des ducs de la lune (parlé et pensé dans un murmure). Evelyn Manlove was the DJ for the evening.

Ash Ferlito, Cullen Hanks, Evelyn Manlove, and Pawel Pieluszynski served as scientists and moth experts. Ash Ferlito also made a sculptural mothing station.

Ben Simon made the Moth Ball cake, and Michael Carolan was the infrastructure artist.

Moth Ball: 2022

Moth Ball 2022 included performances by harper Julia Haines and the Brass Kill brass band (including Jim Luckner, Natalie Schults, Timothy Allen, Lisa Lindsley, Adam Bert Schneider, Max Hibit, Rosanne Fox, Joe Geraci, Francesca Hoffman, and Chelsea Snider). Chenda Cope composed a choral song and taught it to attendees, who sang it to summon the moths. Shannon Lynn Brooks was the dance and movement coordinator.

Cornell University’s Jason Dombroskie was the lead scientist, accompanied by moth experts Maya Shikhman and Pawel Pieluszynski. Evelyn Manlove led a plant walk focusing on reading the forested landscape.

Chef Dana Cohen prepared a delectable seven-course meal accompanied in the kitchen by Ro Adler, Andrew Keller, Meg Frisbie, and Isaac Dunne. Ben Simon made the Moth Ball cake.

Lizzie Hurst and Sarah Lammer led a participatory cyanotype workshop and created a dozen giant fabric cyanotypes that were used as tablecloths for the long banquet table. Jessi Li made a series of custom ceramic candelabras for the table.

Donna Oblongata was the lighting designer and James Chrzan documented the event via video, photographs, and field recordings.

Mitchell Dose, Billy Dee, Miram Delirium, Ben Simon, and Michael Carolan handled every infrastructural detail and logistical issue with grace and aplomb.