March series, part 1

Sylvan Snare

In the outdoor space of 4529 Homer St, Los Angeles, CA

Field Recording taken in the backyard of 4529 Homer St. Los Angeles, CA 90031, May 2024.
      This recording was chosen through Cagean chance operations. A recorder was set up outside, during the afternoon, for multiple days. The machine automatically organized the recordings into 2 hour segments. This is a randomly chosen segment.

Collection of screenshots from the iNaturalist app. [PDF]
      An attempt to identify unknown beings that live in the garden.

Published 1944.
      This is one of many books that were left on then mantel when my parents bought their house in Burbank, CA in 1984.

A baby opossum eating loquats in the garden.

This garden.
My garden.
But it was never mine.
I used to think I had control, but the more that I relinquish, the more I see complex relationships between the multitudes of creatures who reside on this tiny plot of land.

The garden is a pedagogical site. Even though many would consider me a seasoned gardener, I feel like a student when I tend to the Earth. I've given up on the idea of a designed space—nothing is manicured on this plot of land. But that's what I am finding to be so much more interesting: the garden is an active space where many of the decisions are not made by me. Instead, it is the insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, fungi and plants who decide whom will thrive and survive, and whom will perish for the benefit of the other community members (even though I do not agree when my vegetables are the ones who succumb to disease or are eaten for the betterment of an invasive insect).

We as humans spend very little time in these garden spaces. We are used to controlled environments: those that shelter us from cold and heat, rain and sleet, intense sun and moisture. Even though we "own" or "occupy" these properties, we spend very little of our time outside on them.

The opossum I saw saunter down the driveway and through the gate knows the yard more intimately than I do. His livelihood depends on, it whereas for me it is a place of pleasure. Two baby opossums have taken to eating the loquats outside the studio. The only know the flavor of the ripe fruit. Out in the middle of the day, I assume their mother has either abandoned them or was killed. This garden is their nursery. And even though I see the unripe fruits perish under their ravenous mouths, I can't bear to remove them.

But as the days pass, they are still emerging during daylight. They? Or is it just one now? A trap is set and a sole tiny creature drops into a bucket. It is taken to an opossum rehabilitator who will make sure she will be strong enough to be released into a more habitable environment.

I'm still unsure if this was the correct decision. Could she have survived if she was left within the confines of the garden? Or would her death have supported another's life? I am well aware that my actions in the garden impact many more lives than I could fathom.

And so I continue to learn and observe from all of these creatures as I attempt to facilitate an equitable situation. There was once a lack of life since the backyard was completely concreted over. It took years and many hours of work to remove the cement crust and to exposure the Earth below it. As plants began to sprout from the soil, all sorts of critters and organisms began to nest in the space. I assisted this transformation by letting the soil make contact with the air, which has created an increasingly active garden. I am forever in awe of the numerous creatures who I have the pleasure of encountering and will continue my deep observation of their impacts on this communal habitat.

Broodguild

Vegetative

March series, part 2

Ogham stone

found 4 of these eggs buried in my garden... 2–3 inches down, no nest... no idea what they are

Vasconic language

Using software found on the dark web, input with a combination of ancient Greek, Arabic, the Runic Greek alphabet and Latin, it's understood the letter says God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are "dead weights".

The Devil's Letter [PDF]
Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione
1676

Red Forge map [PDF]

I put together a future past mining and cultivation decree for the Red planet. After spending many hours piecing together the martian surface from NASA websites, section by section, and building a civilization of industry relics of failed ores and road systems reminiscent of Death Valley. Also, landing and rocket launching areas.

I imagined a colony of settlers who set up this camp and mined the terrible soil. I prompted AI to "write 5 paragraphs about mining water ice on planet mars as if written in 1000 bc" and then to "write 5 paragraphs about mining on planet mars as if written in 1000 bc" and then to "write 5 paragraphs about horticulture on planet mars."

Arp Spring with Summer Critters

March series, part 3

April 8 installation

May 1 progression

Ephemeral land works

May Queen

March series, part 4