In the winter of 2017, The First Coast Collective began renovations on a 1976 Airstream Sovereign Land Yacht. One year later, the Airstream began its journey along the Maine coast in March of 2018!
"Cilla" (named after Galen’s grandmother, for good luck) is a The First Coast's 31' Airstream mobile studio and exhibition space.
As of January 15, 2017, Cilla's insides were completely torn out and the long process of renovation began. It took over a year but, with the help of many hands, Cilla began her journey along the Maine coast in March 2018!
To see The First Coast's renovations, follow us on instagram @thefirstcoast
Cilla pre-renovations, January 2017. Galen Koch © 2017
The First Coast Airstream is where we gather and entertain, where we work and create. It is a home after long days of collecting stories both on land and at sea.
The Design
The Airstream will serve as The First Coast sound studio, workshop space, community meeting place, and traveling exhibit and listening booth.
The mobile studio/exhibition space is entirely off-grid. We're rigged with solar panels, a composting toilet, independent water tank, and small wood stove (for those chilly Maine shoulder seasons). Solar energy powers our own personal "hotspot" - the Airstream is a fully operational archiving and recording space for radio documentaries and digitizing film/audio.
The Airstream mid-construction, December 2017. The studio is outfitted with a small kitchenette and sleeping quarters, for off-grid living while documenting along the Maine coast.
Galen on rust removal duty in the Airstream.
Jenny Rebecca Nelson © 2017.
The First Coast studio / exhibition space is designed in collaboration with woodworker Seth Brayton and Jake Ryan of Portland's Open Bench Project. The final build-out was made possible through the work of many helping hands, including Gene Koch, George Lyons, Ben Jackson, Tom Meyers, Ezra Koch, Adrian Smith, Sandra Benson, Briana Holt, Max Brooks, Kendall Mackey, and Brad Boy.
Follow the Story on The First Coast blog...
It's a painting party! And I can't believe the transformation!