FIN 230 Unit 1

Unit 1 Relationships and connections in the making.

Creating As Conversation

Today I went out into the middle of my garden to connect with this land I so gratefully tend to. I have watched it move through the seasons, and the years. It provides food for the table and flowers that are a joy to the senses. Many animals and insects also call this place home. In the very middle of the garden is a bare patch were the radishes just didn’t want to grow this year. I plunked myself down to listen to what the garden had to say.

At first I heard the cars go by, some people talking, a person rattling along on a skateboard. I settled into my patch of earth and just started looking around. I look up and see the towering sunflowers, down I see seed pods in the dirt. All around me the colours of summer have morphed into the colours of fall. I remember fondly the red of the poppies contrasting with the greens of the garden. Now the tomatoes are the star of the show. Some seeds are heavy and made to drop, others have little puffs to send them off to the neighbours yard.

Sitting there looking around, I cleared a little space beside me of weeds. creating sort of a “Blank Canvas” to see what the garden might bring. I grabbed a big squash leaf and picked some tomatoes. I let my mind wander. I started thinking about this guy from the Medieval times who painted portraits made out of fruits and vegetables.

I decided to make a portrait of a Garden Spirit using things from the garden. Leaves, seed pods, fruits and vegetables. It all came together to create this funny green man. I called him Señor Verde.

They say “You are what you eat.”

Baby Eve very much enjoyed my garden art!

I will be harvesting and gathering seeds for next year this month. Some things will be left for the birds and small animals/insects. A crow started cawing and I realized the outside world was entering into my private one again. A noisy car rumbles by…

Remember that guy I mentioned? The one who made portraits with food? His name was Giusseppe Acrimboldo. an Italian painter from the 1500’s.

Citations

www.giuseppe-arcimboldo.org Accesses September 9, 22