Over the summer, Deb Fleischman transformed her Montpelier driveway with an interactive art installation that one could cheekily describe as “new wave.” To create the illusion of an underwater kelp forest, she hung 765 satin ribbons in 12 shades of green and blue from deer netting over her 10-by-10-foot parking spot. Visitors are welcome to walk through the display, titled “Kelpy,” and experience an artistic ecosystem of oceanic color.
In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger did just that. She met Fleischman and joined students from nearby Main Street Middle School for a dive into the immersive installation.
Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.
How did “Kelpy” come about?
Fleischman was inspired by a massive ribbon installation that she saw in Portugal three years ago. If you do an online image search for “ribbon installation,” there are hundreds of photos of projects from around the world. Fleischman did a lot of research but had difficulty finding a step-by-step guide. It took her a few months to figure out how to bring this project to life, and she had some help from her partner, Gary Miller, and her friends Gordon Grunder, Ally Tarwater and Jesse LoVasco.
What has the reaction been?
“Kelpy” was featured in the October 3 Montpelier Art Walk and on the cover of a couple local newspapers. Fleischman lives on a busy street with lots of foot traffic, and she estimates that hundreds of people have visited. It was important to her to share “Kelpy” with the public, and she enjoys meeting the strangers who show up. She has also planted flower boxes downtown and would like to bring more public art projects to Montpelier.
What did the students think of this installation?
We experienced “Kelpy” with a school counselor, Jenna Bravakis, and a group of sixth and seventh graders. It was interesting to see how different people waded into the watery depths. Some visitors spun around merrily, and others stood still and soaked it up. It is not a large sculpture, but when you’re in it, your perspective shifts and it feels like an underwater world.
After the students left, I stood in “Kelpy” with Fleischman and Miller, who constructed the wood frame and cable system for the project. We were joined by their neighbors Patti Casey and Will Forest. It struck me how different it was having a casual conversation amid a sea of colorful, undulating ribbons.
How can people see “Kelpy”?
You can visit 24 North Street in Montpelier through November 15. Fleischman hopes that a school, hospital or gallery will then bring the installation indoors so even more people can experience it.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Making Waves”
This article appears in Oct 8-14 2025.
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