Who better to tell the story of pickling things than Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman, the pickle-happy characters played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein on the hit IFC sketch comedy show Portlandia. So I sought and was granted permission* to use their iconic "We can pickle that," characters to make a piece for this art show. The truth was that in doing art about economy and … [Read more...] about We can pickle that!
art
The roses of success
"From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success." —Chitty Chitty Bang Bang For years the United States cut-flower industry has taken a hit from trade polices and efforts in the war on drugs to shift coca-growing nations to flower growing nations. This has made competing floral products from far-flung locales (often in more temperate regions) cheaper to source. And why not? Low paid … [Read more...] about The roses of success
Rabbits and the new gamekeepers
In the urban ag world, tales of keeping chickens and bees, and even of goats mowing lawns and bluffs, are fairly common. Lesser known is the world of urban rabbit keeping. Yet for many reasons the very old tradition of raising meat rabbits is ripe for a comeback. Like chickens, rabbits can help consume leftover family food scraps, notably vegetables and a bit of fruit. And since their poop is … [Read more...] about Rabbits and the new gamekeepers
Goats on the green
NOTE: Work-in-Progress* Writing about goat mowers will probably be among my most favorite essays for the chapbook that will accompany this show. That's because the link between industrial-scale fossil fuel use and an overtaxed economy and environment are so painfully felt. And it's surprising sometimes that the answers to these predicaments will come less in terms of newfangled technologies but … [Read more...] about Goats on the green
City bee keeping
Bees are a passion of mine though I don't yet keep bees myself. I have, however, built a habitat garden for bees, butterflies, and birds in every place I've lived since I was 21. My hope is to reinvigorate bee populations, build respect for the selfless work bees do for us, and bring bees back into the sacred place of honor they once held in all human societies. This is the piece on keeping … [Read more...] about City bee keeping
Urban chickens
NOTE: Work-in-Progress.* Urban chickens are embraced in certain places, while in others, acceptance is a struggle due to factors like culture, zoning, and the fear of "going backward." So I decided to make this piece more whimsical and storybook like in its design sensibility to present a more disarming look at our long-time feathered friends. — Lindsay Curren *After a first round of cuts and … [Read more...] about Urban chickens