Issues Listers, Jim Proctor is an incredibly talented sculptor, and this is a fantastic project.
Artist Thwarts the Buckthorn Menace! Buckthorn is an invasive alien shrub or small tree that is choking out native plant communities in the deciduous midwest. It is originally from Europe and has been widely planted in yards as a hedge. From peoples yards it has escaped into the wild. With no natural enemies and aggressive dispersal, it outcompetes native wildflowers, shrubs and trees. Our natural areas are rapidly becoming buckthorn monocultures. The problem is very severe in the Twin Cities area. The Buckthorn Menace is a temporary public art project by Jim Proctor that will involve the creation of 20+ sculptures which resemble giant alien dandelions in seed (see picture on page 2). This infestation will be made from dried buckthorn, unable to propagate, that is removed from parkland overrun with the plant. Sculptures will be installed along the Winchell Trail in the Seward Neighborhood of Minneapolis (trail begins at the intersection of East 24th Street and West River Parkway). The dandelions will be 8 to 10 ft tall, mounted on existing buckthorn stems at the site of their removal. The sculptures will be left to decompose, or removed after at least one year. Afterwards the site will be maintained as a native plant community by the neighborhood. Viewers will be shocked into a heightened awareness of the problem of buckthorn, and gain a greater understanding of the nature of invasive species. Saturday, October 15, 2005 Buckthorn Removal Event 9:00 am 12:00 noon / Seward Neighborhood at the intersection of East 25th Street + West River Pkwy, Minneapolis Join with the community and artist Jim Proctor to help remove this invasive species and gather art materials at the same time. The buckthorn we remove will be used to create the infestation installation of giant dandelions in the same area along the Winchell Trail. The removal event is sponsored by the Friends of the Mississippi River www.fmr.org. For more information on this event, please contact Elizabeth Storey, 651-222-2193 x16 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Saturday, November 5, 2005 Sculpture Dedication Event 2:00 3:30 pm / Seward Neighborhood at the intersection of East 24th Street + West River Pkwy, Minneapolis All are invited to come celebrate the installation of The Buckthorn Menace and learn more about what the Seward Neighborhood has done to restore its natural environment. Special invited guests include Mary Maguire Lerman, Coordinator of Horticulture Programs for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Elizabeth Storey, Watershed Education Coordinator with Friends of the Mississippi River, and artist Jim Proctor. Kelly O'Brien Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
