I' m a distracted learner. My cousin (who is getting married today, coincicedentally,) always became frustrated with me when we were little because I wanted to do something else after a short amount of time. One of my love/hates about working in the garden is the ability to have 14 different projects going simultaneously. While on the clock and completing a job this can be a terrible thing. But when I have the freedom on a beautiful Sunday or summer evening where we have about three more hours of daylight, there is some rebellious feeling about working on 13 different projects at the same time. |
I usually spend hours before hand questioning where a given plant should go, finally get so fed up ..."
I had two favorite art teachers in college. I admired both for many reasons, but in terms of their teaching methods - I really liked their encouragement to always have more than one canvas going at the same time. So it makes sense that I find comfort in the garden creating several messes instead of completing one at a time. I spent the majority of my elective hours in Barbara Duval's studio. Printmaking I, Printmaking II, Advanced Print, Lithography... Independent Study ... I can't even remember at this point. The reason I need to mention Barbara is she is a rock star, an extremely talented artist. I use her terminology on a daily basis. I will tell you about Peter Bonacci later. Barbara feigns perfection. If she had a plate (like a zinc plate for etchings) - that she put through the press and it loved it, (thinking back, I wonder if she really did then mess up the plate), she would mess up the plate. She would f--- it up.
Recently I have been gardening in a similar manner. Kind of planting without the fear of it looking stupid in a couple weeks or a year. Please know that I usually spend hours before hand questioning where a given plant should go, finally get so fed up with my paralyzing indecision, say eff it - lovingly take that hosta out - and not so lovingly split in three and place it where the weeds are way too happy. SO WHAT IS ALL THIS BANTER ABOUT!? I'll attempt to make a 360° here.
Recently I have been gardening in a similar manner. Kind of planting without the fear of it looking stupid in a couple weeks or a year. Please know that I usually spend hours before hand questioning where a given plant should go, finally get so fed up with my paralyzing indecision, say eff it - lovingly take that hosta out - and not so lovingly split in three and place it where the weeds are way too happy. SO WHAT IS ALL THIS BANTER ABOUT!? I'll attempt to make a 360° here.
360° | Last monday I woke up feeling totally uncertain about paying the few dollar bills I did to enroll in this first year of the Barnes horticulture school. The day was getting better, but during our field trip at North Creek Nurseries, I had one of those "everything it okay, you're in the right place" moments. Claudia was talking through the brief drizzling rain and I was wandering around looking at various plants and their function at the property... and overheard her speaking of something close to designing through removal. I've always loved making spaces feel better, and frequently that is simply done by removing clutter. So as Claudia, who I think is amazing by the way, continues on and she mentions the Italian word for designing through removal, and ..... it is: Intaglio. And that was my ah-ha-moment. I'm on the right track. If my banter was too much and you didn't catch the connection -- I spent hours etching into zinc plates. |