Flower Show Wrap

Artist Aithne Sheng-Ying Pao holding a gallery visitor to the telescope to view my video Thorns in the Garden

_In putting a wrap on what was a successful conclusion to the Alternative Experimental Flower Show, there are three artists who I have not mentioned. Heidi Kayser is working on what is essentially a durational piece titled Calculating Icarus. This work is based on the Japanese paper crane and the idea that folding 1000 origami cranes brings luck. Heidi’s ongoing work (as she finds venues) consists of clipping the wings of the cranes in order to capture the cranes’ luck. The cranes are displayed as elements of simple elegant arrangements that capture a tea ceremony feel; although as I learned, Heidi has no direct studies in this art form. None the less, the austere look to these structures with the ‘flawed’ cranes clinging to the branches and other elements leave the viewer with a feeling of ritual. The clipped wings themselves are also displayed mounted on pins as if part of a scientific collection.

Calculating Icarus cranes by Heidi Kayser

_Stephen Curator shared a video of a work in progress Cr{t}cH. This work consists of hundreds of extreme close-ups of vaginas rapidly cycling. The large scale of the projected images and the rapid changes becomes a hypnotic meditation of pelvic architecture. Stephen’s explains that the piece is part of a larger work in progress, The Empire S.N.A.F.U Restoration Project.(facebook fan page link)

E. Stephen Curator's Cr{t}cH

_Sarah Rushford was represented by a piece called Terrarium. Sarah has provided a visual metaphor with corn planted in milk bottle terrariums. Overcrowded and laying on their sides the newly sprouted shoots spill out. While easily overlooked because of its small scale it was a quiet work; very effective in its simplicity.

Terrarium by Sarah Rushford

_Overall, while the show was of short duration (in keeping with the flower show weekend theme) it was a creative alternative take on a spring tradition in a city where tradition runs deep. Mobius has been in the forefront of artistic alternatives for Boston for well over 30 years and that is a tradition in itself. Many thanks to Cathy Nolan Vincevic for not only curating the show but adding her unique exhibit long performance as resident gardener.

Cathy Nolan Vincevic