About

The Wilders’ life has always veered between art and politics. When they got together in the late 1990’s, Kimberly and Ian ratcheted up their activities. Together, Ian and Kimberly Wilder published chapbooks; gave dozens of poetry readings; wrote newspaper articles; and hosted events.

At a master class in poetry, Mark Rudman proclaimed of Kimberly: Distemper is your muse. At another master class, Yevgeny Yevtushenko proclaimed that Ian’s untitled snowflake poem is perfect.

One of the most memorable readings the Wilders gave was as a group with George Wallace and Kate Kelly at the Lowell, Massachusetts Kerouac festival, where they had the opportunity to perform with David Amram. Ian was also particularly honored to be one of the narrators for the 2002 Across the Generations: A Woody Guthrie Restrospective, A Musical Biography in Three Acts.

• Our poetry
• Prose by us
• Media coverage of us

Ian has performed spoken word as a part of the near-mythic folk groovin’ band Nylon & Steel, and was co-founding lyricist for the duo Spiritwalkers. His work with Nylon & Steel can be found on the album Slip Behind the Molecule. in 2008, Ian added a spoken word piece for N&S lead singer Jim Frazzitta’s solo album Twenty Years Below, and Kimberly added a flute track.

With Nader’s 2000 presidential campaign, the Wilders were drawn back into politics. Within four years they had co-founded the Babylon Greens at their kitchen table; run the first full ticket of Greens in their town’s history; got Kimberly twice elected to the Executive Committee of Green Party of New York State (GPNYS) in 2002 -04; and then she stepped down when Ian was elected to the position of GPNYS State Party Co-chair in 2004. They both served as delegates to the 2004 Green Party Presidential Convention in Milwaukee, and as delegates to the 2008 Green Party Presidential Convention in Chicago.

In early 2006, beginning with conversation at a Green Party meeting in New Paltz, NY, Ian created the peace slate concept which was used statewide by the GPNYS and nationally by GPUS. Kimberly & Ian developed the Long Island for Malachy campaign which increased the vote totals for Green Party candidate for governor by 42% in their county. The website they created to underpin this effort was archived by the Library of Congress as an example of the 2006 election. www.LongIslandForMalachy.com

In 2006 , Ian stepped back from state politics after retaining the right to enroll Green in NY by successfully getting Malachy McCourt on the ballot for Governor , and Kimberly returned to the GPNYS Executive Committee for a third term. Kimberly served a term as Co-chair of the GP-US Dispute Resolution Committee, and then as Co-chair of the GP-US Diversity Committee. Kimberly resigned from the Green Party in February of 2009 and is currently enrolled “blank/do not wish to enroll in a party.” She looks forward to new and different art and activist projects.

Ian is currently active with the state and national Green Parties.  Ian continues the tradition of  hosting the monthly Babylon Green Party Gatherings at Pisces Cafe, Babylon. Ian also sponsors a public access TV show on Woodbury Cablevision Channel 20 on Thursdays at 5:30 am . You can also see the same shows on videos posted at this website.

In 2007, the Wilders had a year busy with activist work such as organizing: a local UFPJ Peace Vigil; a pro-day laborer/Love Thy Neighbor Rally; and a Step-It-Up 2007 event at the Solar Cafe. They also presented “Fighting Global Warming through Electoral Politics” at the 2007 Long Island Global Warming Summit.

Kimberly has stepped in as the interim coordinator of Peacesmiths after the death of its long-time coordinator Susan Blake. The Wilders were pleased to help organize Love Song for Susan Blake: A Life Celebration.

Ian’s biggest non-partisan project is being an elected member of his Co-op board, where he has served two terms as treasurer.

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