Buckthorn Menace sculpture?

7 Comments

  1. Jerry Bilek said:

    Griff,

    Dan Hudson is your buckthorn man in Northfield. If he is not behind it, he probably knows who is. Dan is on the park board.

    August 16, 2007
  2. Jessica Paxton said:

    I think this project is just getting under way, and specific details are still being ironed out.

    The Buckthorn Menace will be a large-scale sculpture installation by artist Jim Proctor. Constructed on the site of two buckthorn-infested areas in Northfield (the “Upper Arb” at Carleton and a hillside below the new science center at St. Olaf), the project is a joint effort by the two colleges (along with the Environmental Quality Commission of Northfield) to raise public awareness about the environmental damage caused by buckthorn and other invasive plant species in the state’s natural landscapes and wilderness areas.

    Basically, the plan is to pull together campus and community volunteers to clear the two areas of buckthorn. Then, under the guidance of Jim Proctor, the buckthorn will be used to create the art installation: “The Buckthorn Menace pursues a novel alliance between art and environmental restoration by rendering the wood and roots of this invasive plant species (buckthorn) into forms resembling gargantuan dandelions in full seed.”

    The installation will stand for a full year to allow viewing over the four seasons. (Very similar to the “Twigonometry” installation on the Carleton campus).

    For more information, or to volunteer to help clear the land or to construct the sculptures, contact thebuckthornmenace@gmail.com

    FYI:The information passed along above was provided to me by Suzie Nakasian, who is heading up the promotion of this project. She had a lot more information and some great photos, too.

    Once the project gets underway, there are plans in place to publicize the effort by both Carleton and St. Olaf, including an “official” project launch and lecture at both campuses in late September. I believe the clean-up and installation will take place late-September to early October, with an opening celebration planned for mid-October.

    Sounds like a really cool project.

    August 16, 2007
  3. Griff Wigley said:

    Wow. What a great idea. Thanks for the in-depth comment, Jessica.

    August 16, 2007
  4. Sarah Hale said:

    High school students at ARTech will also be participating in the project as a part of a sculpture seminar. The sculpture seminar will also collaborate with an ARTech biology seminar working on restoring native prairies.

    A big kudos to Suzie who has been working on putting the buckthorn menace project together!

    August 16, 2007
  5. Marie Fischer said:

    We’re also getting a bunch of youth and youth-supporters from the Union of Youth to help in the clearing of buckthorn.

    Adding to Sara’s comment, Suzie has been amazing about organizing and she was cool enough to come into the Key and talk to the Youth Board about it herself, which puts her VERY high in our rankings of favorite people (it probably didn’t hurt that she quoted monty python).

    August 17, 2007
  6. Joey Robison said:

    On page 4 of August edition of The ComPost (Just Food’s newsletter) there is a description of the project under the “In the News” heading in regards to the Planet Patch donation. Information on the Planet Patch recipients is listed in this place in each edition, with a bit of information given at the point of donation. We also encourage recipients to table at the front of the store (during the two months that we are collecting donations for them) to educate customers on their project or organization. The people involved in the Buckthorn Menace project will table at Just Food on 9/1, 9/8 and 9/15 over the lunch hour.

    August 23, 2007

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