Thursday 29 March 2012

A mossage for the age

Note: In case the portal is still down over this coming weekend, here is a page to help with the April CDPB Theme Day. Read and join in! Carry this message on your next post and in all your comments, to alert other members to this temporary method of keeping in touch!


It does look as though it has just metamorposed from the brickwork. Sprung fully clothed from the primordial slime. According to the City of Sydney website:
The artwork is the brainchild of Popper Box, a collective of Sydney artists with backgrounds in illustration, design, fine art, comics and software engineering. Locally sourced materials have been used to turn Paddington Reservoir Gardens into a living outdoor gallery. Just as moss lives a quiet and slightly fragile life, the poems are present yet subtle, offering a message of gentle encouragement.
How does one encourage moss to grow in a specific way? Is it a case of a carrot or a stick? And yes, at the moment we are in the middle of an El Nino. The Southern Oscillation Index is stuck on 'teem every other day'. But what happens when our normal rainfall pattern resumes - as it shall?


This is the first of three installations that the City of Sydney has in mind for the Paddington Reservoir Gardens during 2012. It is subtle, but quite delightful.

And, oh so very easily vandalised.

17 comments:

CaT said...

ooh, i think thats cool!
i never saw moss like that. you see bushes cut into bears and stuff, but i like this much more.

Tena Russ said...

I love this!

Julie said...

I agree, CaT. We have bushes cut into the shape of Australian mammals at our zoo here in Sydney. They are a yawn in comparison with this.

However, having read further, this 'art installation' ends on 1st April meaning it was up on the wall for only the month of March. I should think it has a high maintenance, needing to be sprayed regularly.

Louis la Vache said...

How unique and enjoyable!

«Louis» thanks you for visiting San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Jim said...

This is fantastic, Julie. Have not ventured up there yet. Thanks for setting up the April Theme Day blog/linky. I went out the other day and took some shots specifically for it, so I'm glad that won't be a wasted effort.

Julie said...

Now that the temporary linky is up, I have to work out what to post myself. Cobblestones are not very common here in Sydney ... might resort to the wooden ones in Lower George.

Carole M. said...

it's just delightful and I love the angle of the final shot; nice captures Julie

AL said...

It's such a shame that this piece of art is going to be so short-lived. But I guess that's what keeps it so interesting. I'm sure there is a way to keep it refreshed to prolong it's longevity. I love it!

Ann said...

That's really good. Ditto the thanks above for the Theme blog. Have to trawl the archives, I know I have one somewhere.

Re the Easter Show. I have your ticket. I don't know what time I'll go out so it might be better if we go separately and meet out there for a bite or a drink at some stage. Can you get into town and pick it up from me. If not I can meet you out there earlier. Its entry only, not transport.

hamilton said...

This is delightful. I like art that is only temporary - I tend to make the effort to see it if I know there is a time limit!

Jeroen van de Ven said...

Hello Julie, thank for the message. But I have another problem: Indidn't get the theme for april! Can you please respond to me? Thank you

diane b said...

That is an amazing garden/art/poetry. Shame about vandals.

Joe said...

This is fabulous Julie. It would make me stop and investigate, that's for sure.

cieldequimper said...

This is absolutely brilliant. I hope it doesn't get badly vandalised.

I saw your comment late last night, well after commenting time! So I picked up Jack's idea and scheduled a post for tomorrow with the information.

Thanks!

Joan Elizabeth said...

Well how do they get it to grow where they want it ... I want my moss to grow in the cracks and not on the stones but it won't.

I can't think an anywhere in the mountains where there a cobblestones.

brattcat said...

this is wonderful.

Francisca said...

Simply lovely (and I hope the vandals stay away.)