Grass Extension, 2015. Broadcloth, fusible interfacing, copper wire, aluminum mesh, nylon cord, cinderblock. 36 x 48 x 48 inches. Interactive sculpture, installed for the Art Rocks Spy PondElements Exhibition, Spy Pond, Arlington, MA. May 2015. With materials research by Artisan’s Asylum members, sewing participation by Ali Leverone, and installation participation by Eva-Lee Baird, Dick Leigh, and J&K Westbard.
Grass Extension maquette made of garden twist ties, 8″ tallLawn at Spy Pond Park where Grass Extension was installedExperimenting with vinyl fabric and copper wireExperimenting with plastic tubing and copper wireExperimenting with cotton broadcloth and copper wireIroning the broadcloth to fusible interfacingA jig I made to draw a bunch of parallel lines on fabricPrepping the fabric for cuttingA batch of fronds, 10′, with copper wire insertedA bending block to prep the fronds to go into the mesh baseGrass Extension, about 1/3 of the fronds installedGrass Extension ready to go to the site!My folks helping with planting the pieceMy folks and kids helping with planting the pieceGrass Extension planted!Grass Extension in use by visitorsGrass Extension with a changed habit (which is the general shape a plant takes)Grass Extension rootsGrass Extension after four weeks of use!De-installation and replacing the sodGrass Extension in the car ready to go home