Inspired by grade school science experiments and drawing on the concept of Leo Marx’s “machine in the garden” Pomme de parterre evinces the garden as a cultivated storehouse of energy and unearthed potential by reframing the ornamental structure of the parterre as an off-grid power plant or agricultural motherboard. Comprised of sixteen heirloom potato plots, a root cellar and a 1000 strong potato battery, enough energy is created to visually and aurally register the garden’s latent power in light and sound – the combined effect, a sonic and visual celebration of the humble spud as a storehouse of nutritional and technological energy.

Commissioned and exhibited by the Jardins de Métis, International Garden Festival, Grand Métis, QC as part of the 2007 and 2008 artist garden series.

Collaborators: Angela Iarocci, Claire Ironside, David Ross and others (see Pomme de parterre web site for full list)

Press
Complete listing (PDF 460KB)

Links
Pomme de parterre website
Les Jardins de Métis
Seeds of Diversity
graphic standards