“...After the Suburbs: Artwork from the Post Cookie-cutter Landscape.” Grace Lynis

And so we had a date to meet as a class, on a warm Saturday in March. We showed up in force to check out the exhibition, “...After the Suburbs: artwork from the post cookie-cutter landscape.” Curated by Karen Tauches for the Kiang Gallery, located in West Atlanta at the Marietta Howell Mill triangle.

Crowding the space we observed the usual, the unusual, as well as the re-useable. Milling around and looking everything we thought about our place with in the American Built Environment, and we also had a chance to reconcile how Other’s really view US.

Our gallery talk was given by Karen Tauches, she shared her ideas and the backstory about how the exhibition was inspired. It was fun and we learned a great deal.

For instance, did you know that when greenery is searched in Google, the result is Michaels the fabric retailer? IKR, WTH??? Apparently greenery is associated with the furniture upholstery fabric, chintz. OMG...who knew that the nation’s 1980s obsession and design aspirations to recreate the Laura Ashley inspired living room, would lead to the bastardization of the word greenery?!

Although I had no idea that this was happening as I enjoyed two comfy chintz sofas BITD, I do feel as if an apology is necessary.

Albeit creepy and yet mildly alluring was the Moss Installation, which undoubtedly generated a lot of interest. Also associated with home furnishing Moss Installation taught us that moss can grow on furniture in an indoor environment, with the aid of rainwater. With ample spritzing on a daily basis, the moss appeared fresh and was even able to sustain new fern fronds sprouting in two separate places.

WARNING: Rainwater Only. It seems that the additives in tap water are not conducive to moss production. No surprise there...natural is better than artificial, especially water. Enough said.

On a final and encouraging note was the recycled plastic apple juice bottle that was restyled into a visual artifact. While I was taking photographs of various angles of the floral insect looking amber creation I was reminded that, Energy is never created and therefore is never destroyed. That made me smile.