A Radical Thread

In the face of environmental threats, a radical back-to-the-land community in the Sierra Foothills races to collectively stitch its 50 years of innovative sustainability into an epic 83-foot tapestry, one tiny stitch at a time. San Juan Ridge, an alternative collective of artists and ecologists in the Sierra Foothills, saved the Yuba River from being dammed while surviving numerous challenges like mining, logging, and climate change-created drought and wildfires. Bay Area media artist Jeanne C. Finley’s A Radical Thread documents San Juan Ridge’s struggles and celebrations through the 12 tapestry panels, painstakingly crafted by hundreds of volunteers over 17 years. The making of these visually stunning works of art along with poet Gary Snyder’s prescient archival footage chronicles the group’s ethos of collectivism, optimism, and passion. Finlay takes us on a journey that highlights the accomplishments of this remarkable back-to-the-land community and explores how the elders are passing along new ways of sustainability to future generations.