In 2010, Japanese garden designer Itaru Sasaki installed a nonoperational telephone booth in his garden called a “phone of the wind” to have one-way conversations with his deceased cousin. Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, Sasaki opened up the booth to the public, and it became a place for people to “call” their loved ones on the other side. These “wind phones” have spread around the world, including in Vermont, where a phone was installed outside the Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park in 2022. The phone, funded by grants, has become a meaningful space for community members like therapist Kate Donnally and resident Emily Neilsen to process their emotions and connect with deceased loved ones. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger visited the wind phone and spoke to organizers and users in her episode of “Stuck in Vermont.” The episode was supported by New England Federal Credit Union and featured music by Loopop. The wind phone has provided solace and comfort for many in the community, offering a unique way to connect with lost loved ones and process emotions.
Source: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/stuck-in-vermont-visiting-the-wind-phone-at-the-lanpher-memorial-library-in-hyde-park-40800114
