Artist statement

“You must understand: we are at war” - TV commercial for Kobalt 40-volt outdoor power tools 

“Our enemy will feel the bite of our iron. Kill them!” - TV commercial for Scotts EcoSense Weed-Be-Gone

A grass lawn is useless. The roots of lawn grasses are too shallow to prevent soil erosion, and the plants themselves provide nothing to pollinators. They require tremendous amounts of water to keep alive. Perhaps most perversely, they are useless by design: the origins of the grass lawn can be traced to displays of wealth by the British aristocracy, where they communicated “look at me! I’m so rich I can literally waste land.” 

This uselessness must be preserved at all costs. If a dandelion (early food for pollinators, edible to humans, deep taproot that helps remediate soil) infiltrates, you have failed to maintain order in your kingdom. It must be destroyed with maximum prejudice, lest neighboring fiefdoms perceive weakness (or you receive a passive-aggressive letter from the HOA). Keep all growth in check. There is no room for divergent assessments of value.  If you need a reminder of your mission objectives, study your neighbor’s lawn. Yours should look identical, yet somehow slightly greener. Remember the words of General Kobalt, “We are at war!”

Description of Exhibition

The focal pieces of “There Goes the Neighborhood” are 8 works of sculpture– 7 on pedestals and one freestanding–which contrast  artificial turf with painstakingly hand crafted weeds and other "undesirable" elements.  These pieces are complimented by framed rectangles of artificial turf hung salon-style on the gallery walls, creating a 360° environment. 

If feasible, a large rectangle of artificial turf will be temporarily secured to the floor in the center of the gallery, to give visitors a tactile experience. Again dependent on feasibility, this area will be mostly enclosed with white picket fencing, and visitors will be invited to color and cut out leaves to contribute to filling the space with “leaf litter,” creating a joyful interactive environment. 

Equipment/Materials Requirements

Minimum 15x15’ space

7 white pedestals

Ability to suspend a small piece from the ceiling (piece weighs under 5oz)

Artist Bio

Judith Klausner is a Somerville, MA artist with a love for small, intricate, and overlooked things. She received her degree in Studio Art from Wesleyan University in 2007 after constructing her thesis primarily out of insects, and has since continued to search the details of her surroundings for inspiration. Her experience of invisible disability and chronic pain play an integral role in how she views the world and creates art. Her work has been featured in Harper's magazine, Reader's Digest, the Huffington Post and NPR, and exhibited in venues internationally including the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Southern Vermont Art Center, Susquehanna Art Museum, Museum of Natural History, RI, Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto, and the Boston Children's Museum. Judith enjoys playing with her food, both recreationally and professionally.

Potential Public Programs

Leaf Litter Ornament Workshop

Many creatures rely on leaf litter to overwinter. This workshop is a celebration of “leaving the leaves” using recycled materials to create double-sided leaf ornaments. On the back of the leaf, participants will be guided in creating a small drawing or collage of an organism that overwinters there.

Equipment/materials requirements for workshop:

Tables

Chairs

Scissors

Pencils

Markers

Colored pens

Glue sticks

Hot glue guns (if appropriate for age range)

Recycled brown paper bags

Other recycled paper and cardboard

Hole punches

String

Leaf templates (provided by artist)

Reference photos for animals (provided by artist)

Artist/Curator Q&A

I enjoy speaking about my work and process, and my favored format for that is a Q&A. I find this setup most conducive to developing an open dialogue, and I feel it encourages audience participation.