On Samhain, the Celtic tradition of marking the beginning of winter or the shadow half of the year, when the boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world grow thin and porous, ithaca writing studio invites the fans of the Dead Letters Mailbox to Buffalo Street Books to view a film by the artist Elizabeth Seldin. The film captures the 120 letters written and deposited into the box as it stood at 415 N. Tioga street from May 2026 to October 1st 2026. These letters written for the dead were collected from the box and burned in the woods just above Six-Mile Creek where the box was originally found.
If you wrote a letter to the dead? We invite you to join this free event and see your letter burned. If you want to write a letter to the dead in your life? We will provide pen and paper for you to do so.
free
letter writing supplies provided
vegan hot cocoa provided
at Buffalo Street Books 215 N. Cayuga street in Ithaca, NY
The Dead Letters Mailbox is a safe place for your letters of grief; providing the pen and paper to write, the envelopes with which to seal your words, the always-locked mailbox to deposit the package, and the attendant who will carefully collect these letters, the contents of which will only be known to you and the deceased loved one you are addressing. These letters will be collected bi-annually and burned with that process being recorded and shared at live events and online.
The concept of the Dead Letters Mailbox was created and written by georgianna Van Gunten and the physical installation was built and funded by Barb Neal. The Dead Letters Mailbox is located at Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, NY.
Barb Neal is a retired arborist and Cooperative Extension agent. She and her wife have a small homestead farm in Danby, NY where they grow fruits and vegetables and tend to a small flock of sheep. Barb enjoys farm carpentry and building fun things.
Elizabeth Seldin is a local Playwright, Performer, Filmmaker, Photographer, Devised Theater Creator, Musician, Dancer and Fight Choreographer. Born and raised in Ithaca,NY she has worked in London, NYC, Connecticut (The O'Neil Center) and Russia. She is a trained physical theater artist and teaches workshops in Ithaca and the outlying areas. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for artists of all mediums to collaborate and explore. To work with Elizabeth please visit Pandoluci.com. Insta: @pandolucistudios
Vegan hot cocoa will be provided.
On Samhain, the Celtic tradition of marking the beginning of winter or the shadow half of the year, when the boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world grow thin and porous, ithaca writing studio invites the fans of the Dead Letters Mailbox to Buffalo Street Books to view a film by the artist Elizabeth Seldin. The film captures the 120 letters written and deposited into the box as it stood at 415 N. Tioga street from May 2026 to October 1st 2026. These letters written for the dead were collected from the box and burned in the woods just above Six-Mile Creek where the box was originally found.
If you wrote a letter to the dead? We invite you to join this free event and see your letter burned. If you want to write a letter to the dead in your life? We will provide pen and paper for you to do so.
free
letter writing supplies provided
vegan hot cocoa provided
at Buffalo Street Books 215 N. Cayuga street in Ithaca, NY
The Dead Letters Mailbox is a safe place for your letters of grief; providing the pen and paper to write, the envelopes with which to seal your words, the always-locked mailbox to deposit the package, and the attendant who will carefully collect these letters, the contents of which will only be known to you and the deceased loved one you are addressing. These letters will be collected bi-annually and burned with that process being recorded and shared at live events and online.
The concept of the Dead Letters Mailbox was created and written by georgianna Van Gunten and the physical installation was built and funded by Barb Neal. The Dead Letters Mailbox is located at Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, NY.
Barb Neal is a retired arborist and Cooperative Extension agent. She and her wife have a small homestead farm in Danby, NY where they grow fruits and vegetables and tend to a small flock of sheep. Barb enjoys farm carpentry and building fun things.
Elizabeth Seldin is a local Playwright, Performer, Filmmaker, Photographer, Devised Theater Creator, Musician, Dancer and Fight Choreographer. Born and raised in Ithaca,NY she has worked in London, NYC, Connecticut (The O'Neil Center) and Russia. She is a trained physical theater artist and teaches workshops in Ithaca and the outlying areas. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for artists of all mediums to collaborate and explore. To work with Elizabeth please visit Pandoluci.com. Insta: @pandolucistudios
Vegan hot cocoa will be provided.
