TuckUnder Projects Raspberry Patch Diagnosis
TuckUnder Projects seeks your help with artistic funding to scientifically diagnose stunted growth and diseases within its Raspberry Patch Residency site in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Plant Pathology and Disease Clinic, and to finalize its budgetary needs and grant status with Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. This past spring and summer, a unique agricultural public art project entitled, TNT/Tunnel & Trellis/Sarah Wolbert/Raspberry Patch Residency took place at TuckUnder Projects, a tiny home based art gallery in Southwest Minneapolis. The Raspberry Patch Residency project began May 15, and ran thru September 15, 2012. The Raspberry Patch has been a source of visual inspiration and growth for the artist, the curator/homeowner and family, Fulton neighborhood residents, and art gallery patrons.
During this first growing season, the artist successfully nurtured and diagnosed many agronomical ailments unique to the Raspberry Residency Patch. These included a variety of natural and unnatural elements, including weather, water, soil inconsistency, bunnies, Earwigs, Japanese Beetle infestations, and fruitful growth patterns amongst others. With the help of theUniversity of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic, we would like to scientifically diagnose the soil, the roots, the canes, the leaves, and prepare for the Fall die back, and properly cultivate the patch in preparation for the next raspberry growing season.
The University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic is super raspberry and artist friendly! The Clinic is a “multi-disciplinary laboratory that serves commercial growers as well as the general public. The services provided include routine plant disease diagnosis (e.g. leaf spots, root rot diseases, cankers, wilt diseases, etc.), nematode analysis, seed quality testing, viral analysis, insect identification, and contract research. Certain plant pathogens and diseases can be detected and diagnosed using sensitive and specific PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays.” And they know their raspberries, too!
A secondary, and equally important part of the Kickstarter project will help TuckUnder Projects meet its minor fiscal obligations with its Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Community Arts Grant. Within this inaugural season of visual arts programming and community arts development, TuckUnder has gone slightly over our budgetary estimate. Our simple gallery dry wall build out, wall insulation, interior painting, track lighting, postcard printing, and general administrative costs have created a small cost overrun. Along with the UMN PDC diagnosis, money will be allotted to pay our final exhibiting artist stipend, postcard printing, fiscal agency fees, and to help bring our first gallery season to a successful visual and economic close.
With appreciation from our future raspberry pancakes. xoxoxox, pete
