Founder; Executive & Creative Director
Otto Pierce (he/him) was born and raised in Central Vermont. In 2013 he founded The Sable Project, and with endless support from family, friends, and the local community, the project has been able to thrive over the years. He is now the proud father of Màiri Rose with his partner Sara.
Otto graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in dance. As a sculptor, dancer, and film maker, he explores myth, environment, and what it means to sculpt material, bodies, and space. To see some of his creative work, click here.
Director of Operations
Jessica Lee (she/her) was born near the Rocky Mountains, grew up ten minutes from Long Island Sound, and now depending on the season, considers Brooklyn, VT, and CT her three homes. She is a dance and teaching artist, arts administrator and organizer. Her artistic work and teaching practice are grounded in the legacy of her mentors, fueled by the joy of movement, and dedicated to inclusive community building.
After graduating from Middlebury College in 2013 with a Joint Major in Dance and Environmental Studies, Jessica missed the creative rigor and supportive environment that school had once provided and craved an adventure. The Sable Project was born at just the right moment; she was thrilled to be a part of Sable from its infancy as a Resident Artist in 2014, and considers that summer a transformative experience to her life as an artist.
As Sable's Director of Operations since 2015, Jessica is the glue that holds the many pieces of the org. together. She thrives in welcoming artists to Sable, designing systems for the collective, and collaborative visioning.
In Sable’s off-season, Jessica is a Teaching Artist at BAX & Bay Ridge Ballet. See her 2023 Sable Ensemble profile here.
Director of Good Food and Healthy Artists - June
Ella Floyd (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist primarily working with digital-based photography and writing focusing on cycles of pain and pleasure within Appalachia. Reigning from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia, Floyd left her rural practice to attend VCUarts in Richmond, Virginia, where she earned her BFA in May 2024. Ella was a Sable Resident and Photography Intern in 2023 and is so excited to be back on the Sable Land!
While Ella is on site at Sable in June, she will engage with artists to foster strong community based collaborations and discussions during their time on the land that best guides each individuals practice (including using her incredible AUX powers). Ella will also collaborate with the many local resources in the area to source and prepare incredible, nutritious foods. Ella is CPR/First Aid Certified, and is known for her frequent water safety tips. Ella looks forward to being available to artists during their stay and help bring inspiration to each area of the Sable Team to assist visitors in having a memorable, positive, and healthy experience!
Director of Good Food and Healthy Artists - July
Maggie Segale (she/her) is an artist working within performance and the visual arts field. She is originally from New Jersey and is presently based in Lisbon, Portugal. Maggie was a Sable resident in 2019, joined the Sable team in 2023, and is very glad to be back!
During her time on site at Sable in July, Maggie will foster a culture of good food by sourcing and preparing delicious local food. She will also be a resource for artists during their stay and bring inspiration to all of Sable’s communal spaces by helping The Sable Team to facilitate enjoyable and healthy experiences for our residents and guest artists.
Community Engagement Organizer
Bex Love (they/them) is a community builder, theatrical facilitator, and clown originally from Pittsburgh, PA. They first came to Vermont in 2019 to live and work in the woods with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. While traveling throughout the state doing conservation work, they fell deeply in love with the magic of Vermont’s landscape. They have now grown roots here, and currently live in a tiny house in Northfield.
As a clown and a theatrical facilitator, Bex believes deeply in art as a tool for community connection, radical joy and collective liberation. Their work at Sable is rooted in this belief, as well as a passion for making new friends! This summer, Bex hopes to help Sable bring people together to cultivate and experience life affirming beauty.
Bex loves gazing at mushrooms, skateboarding and finding play in everything they do! To see their work as a clown click here!
Sable Arts Projects, Inc. Board of Directors is currently:
Jeremy Cline, Jessica Lee, Otto Pierce, Tyler Rai, and Kern Samuel.