[My husband, son, and I are in Amsterdam for 2 months this spring. John is a writer-in-residence with the Dutch Foundation for Literature, I am working/visiting artists/seeing art, and Henry is doing an exhaustive analysis of each of the city’s sandboxes.]

The other day I made an afternoon tour of a few art spots in Amsterdam—my list made manageable by the fact that it was a Tuesday and many galleries were closed—and wanted to give a brief report.

My stops:

1) Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (the museum’s project space) to see Alfredo Jaar’s The Marx Lounge, a reading room in which to peruse books by, about, or relating to Karl Marx, Marxist theory, capitalism, and post-colonialism. Jaar’s curated selection is laid out in a neat grid on a vast table, surrounded by red walls and carpet, along with couches, lamps, and neon lettering quietly humming the project’s title. As I do whenever I encounter a work by Jaar, I braced myself to be overwhelmed and to feel the enormity of that which I do not know, but should. You would think this would be a negative experience, but somehow, with Jaar’s work, it is not. I spent a while here, picking up books I wish I’ve read, browsing a few, making notes of books I plan to read, and feeling relief when encountering books I have read. Handily, the website provides a reading list, in case you’re feeling ambitious.

Another iteration of the lounge was part of the 2010 Liverpool Biennial, bringing to mind how site-determined the work is, that the reading list alters in each location, and that the social and political histories of each site, city, and nation come to bear on the interpretation of the piece. While the installation could have had a little more teeth for me if installed in a commercial gallery space, The Marx Lounge felt concise, sobering, and relevant—a plea for literacy and academicism in a time in which folks aren’t acting so literate or academic. Like all Jaar pieces, I felt like he was telling me to think and to remember. And I always appreciate that reminder.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Contemporary, Musings, Travel

Things remain incredibly hectic especially in preparation for  the opening of 100 Acres.

Folks are working there daily with very good progress occurring. The rain has put a bit of a kink in the system as it has prevented the laying of the sod for the interior of Alfredo Jaar’s the Park of the Laments. Once that sod is in place things will move along swiftly to finish this major piece by the 19^th. We begin planting the area around the Visitors Pavilion next week (including two all staff planting opportunities).

I have a few shots of us planting the exterior of Jaar from a few weeks back.

Removing the burlap from some large Viburnum trilobum. You dull a knife blade really quick on burlap by the way. Volunteers have put in many hours on this project too.

The artist wants the stone walls to be hidden as quickly as possible so we are planting trees and shrubs along the wall and vines on top of the wall. Here Neil and Josh cut holes in the gabion baskets to plant some Campsis radicans (trumpet vine).

We put in at least three cultivars, including yellow and red ones, along with the straight species. We also used two cultivars of native wisteria. It is going to be beautiful. I will try to post pictures when they bloom. I’m quite anxious to see the different colors of trumpet vines.

Here’s a whole group of pictures of us busy planting. Note the incredible soil. Thankfully we had giant augers for digging the big planting holes.

That’s it for now. I will try to post something again next week on 100 Acres since we are only two weeks from opening. Build that buzz.

Filed under: Art and Nature Park, Current Events, Horticulture, Local

The planting within and around Alfredo Jaar’s the Park of the Laments has been upper most on our to-do list lately. Of all the inaugural installations at 100 Acres this one has the greatest number of new plants associated with it. All of the species used are listed in Charles Deam’s seminal work, Flora of Indiana.

Let’s take a look at the vomitorium (I hear that is the term being used in meetings). That would be the exit. Or egress if you wanna get all fancy with your talk and use two-dollar words. We’ve balanced like mountain goats on the slopes of the entrance to Jaar’s piece, tucking our toes into the soil as we planted the grasses and sumac.

Heading down the entrance path.

In the tunnel (a little X Files feel here).

The 45 degree slopes. Covered in plastic to keep them dry prior to planting.

Katie clinging to the wall with one hand while removing the plastic.

Removing excess soil.

Planting Panicum virgatum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ (switch grass).

This is actually a different side from the next image so just pretend it’s the same. Work with me people. I don’t really have time for blogging this spring.

Panicum all along the top of the bank just behind the benches where you can relax (after they are built and the Park is ready – June 20).

Planting the Rhus aromatica ‘Grow-Lo’. This cultivar of fragrant sumac gets about 2-3 feet tall and roots along its stems. That along with the geo-webbing will help hold the steep banks. It has very fragrant foliage when bruised – the foliage not you. And good fall color tending toward the reds and oranges.

A mostly finished bank.

We have just a little more planting to do in the vomitorium this week. Planting the interior of this piece is well underway. We have quite a bit planted on the exterior as well. Maybe I can get something to you about that real soon. Maybe not.

Filed under: Art, Art and Nature Park, Current Events, Horticulture, Local

Over the past fourteen weeks I have run about 150 miles. With one foot in front of the other, at a pace just slightly faster than a brisk walk, I’m creeping towards my goal of running the Mini Marathon. My feet, to my great amazement, have carried me through snow and rain, over hills, under bridges, across busy intersections, along quiet trails and triumphantly across finish lines both real and imagined. With just about a week to go until the big show, it’s time to leave the struggles of training behind, and reflect on all of those little supporting factors that’ve been like a wind blowing me forward. I won’t bore you with the details about the clinch songs on my iPod, my snazzy new running shoes, or the discovery of some stuff called GU. What I would like to tell you about is my favorite mile…

To find some extra motivation for my long runs, I signed up for a Mini Marathon training program with a local runners’ organization. What I didn’t realize at the time is that the training run they sponsor each week uses the White River Tow Path which runs right through the IMA campus. Bonus! Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art and Nature Park, Guest Bloggers, Local, Musings

March is Disability Awareness Month. This year they are encouraging everyone to “Free Your Mind”.

(via indianadisabilityawareness.org)

Last year my blog at this time concentrated on what we do in the gardens to make them accessible to as many people as possible. All of that information is still relevant so check it here.

With 100 Acres – The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park opening June 20 I decided to take a look at it this year. Since it does not have an asphalt road running through it, or concrete walks, it won’t be as easily accessed for those with mobility issues as the rest of our gardens and grounds. But there will still be much to experience and enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art and Nature Park, Horticulture, Public Programs