Poster image from A Grass Mound (With Kind Regards to Utopia)

A Grass Mound (With Kind Regards to Utopia) is an art project comprising a sculpture and an event series centered around discussing Utopian potential, resistance, and creative expression. The sculpture is a convex form made of natural grass, which acts as a stage or platform, for a series of lectures, readings and performances. This project was most recently produced as part of Immediate Futures an exhibition at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, from September 6-October 18, 2008.

The mound or natural-grass-knoll is based upon a ruin found at the site of a vanished California Utopian colony named Alturia (1894-96) located near Santa Rosa, California. The aim of this sculpture is that by emulating this ruin (which contains the remains of a Utopian experiment) the mound will act as a foundation from which to explore and develop the complexities of Utopian vision as it relates to both acts of resistance and creative expression. A poster placed above the mound announces the upcoming events, and a series of interview pamphlets with all participants is produced in order to further articulate the ideas.

Below is the schedule of all the events produced for the Arts Commission Gallery exhibition. Audio recordings from these events, interviews and a few pictures are all archived on this website.

September 13: 3-5pm
THE LITTLE WORLD AND EVERYDAY SPEECH
Artist Matthew David Rana will perform a series of speeches that explore art’s relationship to theater and everyday use by looking at the tensions between the ‘little world’ of the art space as a site for experimentation and the events that take place in the ‘big world’ exterior to it. Topics range from a polemic against Utopia, to how to devise the ‘perfect schedule.’  With contributions from artists Amy Balkin, Gustav & Oscar Ekdahl, Justin Fiset and Eric Steen, this event will include commissioned speeches, selections from a film and a re-speaking of the oral argument of a case heard before the United States Supreme Court.

September 20: 1-2pm
POEMS TO BE READ WITH SMALL STONES AROUND A LARGE GRASS MOUND
Artist Tommy Becker will perform participatory instructional poetry involving movement with charged stones. Like mantras or hymns the poems will act as concentration aids to enable the audience to focus and unite their existence to the earth and one another through repeated phrases, movements and the artist’s recitation of communal nostalgia. Prior to their arrival at the gallery the stones will have been subjected to a variety of utopian experiences by the artist such as, chantings, blessings, prolonged cuddling and extended exposure to the music of The Beach Boys. Tommy will perform the series of poems twice, once at 1:00pm and a second time at 2:00pm. Wear comfortable shoes and positive thoughts. Audience participation is required.

Saturday, September 27: 3-5pm
POTENTIAL FUTURES: OUR CITY, NOT LONG AFTER
Science fiction author Pat Murphy will give a reading from The City, Not Long After a fantastical post apocalyptic novel set in San Francisco, which examines the radical power of art, anarchy and creativity when faced with the threat of totalitarianism and war. The reading will be followed by open conversation with the author.

Saturday, October 4: 3-5pm
FREEDOM AND INTONATION: IMPROVISED MUSIC AND EXPLORATION
Musician and composer Lewis Jordan will perform a new partially composed partially improvised work for saxophone and recitation, inspired by the creative potential and freedom of utopian ambition. This event is aimed at exploring the utopian hopes, and revolutionary origins of improvised and avant-garde or ‘free’ music.

Saturday, October 11: 3-5pm
CONFLICTS ON THE COMMON
Writer and historian Iain Boal will speak on the history of popular protest in the open air. The talk will be followed by a trip to Lafayette Park (San Francisco) for a conversation with R.G. Davis, founder of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, about the struggle in the 1960s for freedom to perform in the city parks. Bring your bike, roller skates, feet or any other form of human powered transport.

Saturday, October 18: 3-5pm
AESTHETICS AND UTOPIAN POSSIBILITY: HERBERT MARCUSE AND THE ARTS
Philosopher Joseph Tanke will discuss Herbert Marcuse’s theories of art and liberation. His presentation will look at how aesthetics, the imagination, and works of art function simultaneously as the refuge of repressed values and as harbingers of future happiness. This talk will explore the historical and political conditions that gave rise to Marcuse’s focus on aesthetics, and highlight the contemporary relevance of his work. The presentation will be followed by an informal conversation.