The Infinity Garden

When entering into this Art and Ecology summer course, I was infatuated with this concept that seems to be present in so many aspects of life. The infinity symbol is used in math to represent a pattern of a never ending sequence of numbers. It is also the shape that is made if the sun is measured every single day for a year in a particular place. It seems so interesting because of the initial habit for use to think that things are cyclical. I became enamored by the idea that things do not function in a line or a circle, but rather in the same pattern as infinity.

How I decided to relate this to ecology was to create this symbol on a vacant lot in the University neighborhood. Using the site where one of the oldest houses in Albuquerque once stood, some dedicated friends of mine and I constructed a rock sculpture in the shape of infinity. Being about 40 feet long and 15 feet wide, this is relatively hard to miss on a pleasant stroll down the street. I also chose to build here because of a guerilla movement that was already in action. People had created a "seed shrine" near a tree on the corner of the lot. More and more people began to contribute to this shrine and I thought, what a great idea if we could plant those seeds and create a community space.

So far we have had three work days and I have recruited about seventeen people to help when they have the time. Although the ground is arid and nearly concrete, we are determined to rebuild the soil and plant sun-resistent crops like corn and sunflowers. The dream is alive and we can't wait to keep working. I've created a facebook page where I will post updates on the progress and hopefully attract more followers. It was a great experiene for me to put this concept of infinity into something tangible, yet still holding on to the mystical idea that things continue forever in a peculiar, yet undeniable, cycle.

Check out this video about the Infinity Garden on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/69775023
Also, if you're interested, follow the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Infinity-Garden/145422755652609

Wrapping Up

As part of the open-sourced approach that I’m taking with the Garden Toolbox, here are some schematics I used when making the papercrete mold, as well as the slightly modified version for the wooden box. Over the week I would like to make a printable paper model where you can cut on the dotted lines and have your very own mini paper Toolbox! I’ll post that up as soon as it’s done.

(Click images for a larger size, it's way better)

Outer and Inner molds used for the Papercrete 

Outer mold perspective

Measurements for the wooden version (still under way!)

Also, I wanted to thank you all so much for making this class so enjoyable and inspiring! So often, I get into the dusty parts of issues like local food vs. industrial food, global climate change, and sustainability and get so dried out and un-inspired. But from an art-expression perspective, I’ve rediscovered that drive, the intrigue, the myth, the wonder that keeps us going. Each one of your projects sparked this wonder in me, and really motivated me to continue with renewed enthusiasm.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all again, and inviting you to join in the Toolbox community when it goes online (hopefully soon!).

Cheers all,

Keenan           

            

Global articles can impact Albuquerque

Here are some good and quick articles about designs being installed and issues going on around the world related to plants, sustainability, land use, art installations, public infrastructure, ect.

Click here

PALESTOPIA

2013. Qalandia Checkpoint/Apartheid Wall, Palestine. Iktemal Jaber.

Fugitives of the land--
A birthing seed frees the oppressed heart, making plants the ultimate healing medicine to the human mind. A flower is proof of our existence—of water, of air, of sunshine and of land. Like a refugee, it sails upon whirlwinds and returns back to its native sands. Beautifully resilient it stands and caresses the land, knocking through the stones and the walls holding its roots down. Land filled with milk and honey, exiled and deserted like quick sand. A starling orchestra of flowers interrupts the dopey autocrat, with the pulse of the olive seed prevailing, rebirthing, and breaking through. The children of the land, speckled like seeds swimming through the rivers, they are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect. Children are original blessings, here to learn their own songs of purpose like flowers reaching beyond walls. They are entitled to love, to dream and belong to a loving village as their home. Where the land holds on to their smiles like a prisoner holds on to freedom. As a confused lover searching every petal for an answer, seeds become our prayer beads. We emerge and transform from their absence, only to dance under the Canaanite moon with the tulips, and the pheasant’s eyes of Palestine.

Praying and awaiting for the right of return.

 2013  Palestopia  Iktemal Jaber

2013 Palestopia, (Installation View), Iktemal Jaber

See related posts:

Flowers of Palestine

Sprouting update

Sprouting workshop project with children! (video)

Nina's class in Local Food, Urban.. I think was a huge success.  I have been made aware of the Apartheid wall in Palestine and its effects on the Palestinian's who are "scattered like seeds in the wind". I was moved by her manifesto and hope to see more of her work.I have learned about environmental design from the architecture students and how incredibly meticulous they are about gathering and interpreting information.  The photo documentary student showed me how beautifully one can depict the big idea of gardening and how to put that into play.  I thought that she had a unique gift of using self reference to figure out her place in the world.  The Zine student had a way of coming up with a different view in which she literally showed the different view.  Her raw way of drawing I am sure to see in comic for the future.  I also enjoyed Nina's generous teaching methods which allowed each student to really perfect their own ideas.  I think that this diverse group of students worked well together to bring each person's unique gifts to the table.  I did not have the chance to say farewell to everyone,  but I hope to see your work in the future.  I hope that we all take a bit of the class with us into our lives and think about ways to inform the rest of the world about food, water and conservation.  I hope that we all continue to think about food and its place in our lives.  If we continue to use up our resources in the same way what will we leave behind for future generations. 

"Eat the City"

Great article from the Design Observer on converting abandoned urban spaces into productive, edible landscapes. Click here to view article.

The Farm by the Freeway project by Bonnie Ora Sherk helped to challenge the concepts of community art.  I like the idea behind this project to bring about change.  I feel this is another example of how a community can acquire a space in order educate and inform.  “The farm sought to create a radical ecological model that facilitated nonhierarchical interactions, a cornerstone of countercultural organization and activism embraced by cultural radicals from the Diggers to Jerry Rubin’s Yippies.  (Crossroad Community(The Farm) by Jana Blankenship,1974-87), pg.44)   This project examined public urban art.  This work explained something very important which is to exist harmoniously with nature.  As the human population grows and slowly encroaches on all other environments, we must figure out a way to live together and to provide food for the populace. I agree that unused spaces should be used for community gardens.  Public garden space should be part of every neighborhood.  Along with the planning of gardens should be a plan to help save water by using greywater.  I feel that this conversation should be part of the city of Albuquerque’s agenda.  Basically, if we don’t have food or water who will be around to live in the city anyway.