Field Station 5 | Natchez Field Station: Open Studio
It is time to contend with kudzu, the multifaceted plant that is both a monolithic myth—the “vine that ate the South”—and a rooted, living plurality comprised of at least five species and subspecies of semi-woody climbing vines in the Pueraria genus. Transplanted from East Asia in an age of imperial expansion and bioprospecting, Pueraria species have become firmly rooted in the natural-cultural landscape of the Southeastern United States over the past 150 years. Meanwhile the myth of kudzu has seeped into the collective consciousness of Americans well beyond the plant’s biological range, becoming a rallying symbol for the “war on invasive species,” which has claimed the attention and energy of conservation biologists, agrochemical engineers, and weekend “weed warriors” across the United States in recent decades.
- Friday, Sep 27, 2019
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Natchez Fieldwork Station: Open Studio
1 Melrose Montebello Pkwy, Natchez, MS 39120Part of Ellie Irons’ ongoing practice is focused on the migration and proliferation of certain plants in tandem with dense human populations. She gathers spontaneous urban plants (also known as “weeds”) and mines them for pigments, which are used to construct map-like portraits, diagrams, and field guides. The results can take a range of forms, from drawings, videos, and gardening experiments to handbooks and xerox handouts for walking tours. Join Ellie under the oak by the Natchez National Historical Park visitors center visitor’s center for a demonstration of pokeweed and Kudzu paint making, alongside discussion about kudzu myths and realities.
