ANTIBODIES
FEELD, our first of the PAOM Endowment Round 2 winners, is a collective that includes Madison Creech, Matthew Creech, Ola Lindefelt and Wren Turco. Their project ANTIBODIES is about counteracting the centralized, fossil fuel-driven agriculture by promoting foraging as a constructive and local alternative source for survival.
Their two part exhibition includes a participatory art experience where members of the community are invited on a series of foraging excursions wearing PAOM field ensembles. The second aspect of the project involves a gallery display of the field ensembles, equipment, yields and gathered artifacts.
The species that are the focus of this project are Winged Yam (Dioscorea alata), Spanish Needle (Bidens alba) and Wild Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). These species were selected based on their prevalence, nutritional diversity and the substantial annual expenditures they represent in the tax-financed USDA eradication and control programs.
The three plants are featured in the design of the outfits and will be specifically targeted during the excursions. A guiding principle in the design process has been the concept of “anti-camouflage”. Communicating an intent to hide or blend in would raise suspicion from fellow citizens, landowners and law enforcement alike.
The artists address this issue by clothing the practice of foraging as visibly, brazenly and recognizably as possible, thereby performing the work itself and propagating the conversation about its intention and necessity all in one unified gesture.
What is next for these endowment winners? They have expanded their collaborative art practice and formed a kick-ass band called NIGHTSHIFT and would love to see PAOM-inspired band set complete with patterns printed on synthesizers and other knob-turning, switch-flipping instruments. WOW! Check out the participating artists on Instagram: @creechersofhabit @madcreecher @wrenturco @lindefelt.
