Infinite Green, 2021 outdoor public sculptural installation by TLC Art Collective
21st Century Art Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Urban Ecologies opened April 24 at the Railyard Park Conservancy in Santa Fe and will run through September 22, 2021. This multi-artist public art project provides safe outdoor space for “environmental contemplation and artful rejuvenation.”

Infinite Green
materials: artificial turf, salvaged push mower, steel, paint, hardware, and adhesive
dimensions: 45” H x 120” L x 23” D

Infinite Green evolved from dialogues about what is ultimately sacrificed in an endless quest for the perfect lawn, the perfect home, and the perfect life in pursuit of romanticized versions of the American Dream. Is there a price too high, in financial or natural resources, to achieve picture-perfect curb appeal?

Americans in the US spend approximately $60 billion a year on lawn care, and an estimated 20 trillion gallons of water per year for maintenance. This piece is intended to spark a dialogue about the resources funneled into lawn care that create problems for the environment and may be better spent elsewhere.

Infinite Green asks its audience to reconsider connotations of beauty in relation to the environment, lawns, and public spaces. Why is green grass considered to be an ideal aesthetic? 

For those living in areas of water shortage, are they to “settle” for yards made of dirt or rock, rather than the expansive green grassy yard packaged with the American Dream? There are benefits to maintaining a yard, as grass areas provide carbon sequestration and biofiltration, absorbing pollutants in the air and stormwater. For some, these benefits may counter the negative aspects of a lawn, such the intensive water need and excessive carbon emissions created by some types of mowers. As an alternative to a mowed lawn, artificial grass may provide a desirable aesthetic and feel; but it does so without providing any ecosystem services and at the cost of contributing chemical toxins to the environment and eventually piling up in landfills. 

The sculpture’s shape is reminiscent of a cassette tape that wind and unwind in an infinite loop. Viewers can become part of narrative by stepping on to the open space in the center. Or, they may remove themselves from the hamster wheel by stepping off and seeking a different approach to land stewardship.

TLC Art collective
OUR APPROACH: Participatory Design

TLC Art Collective’s approach to public art is intrinsically community-focused. We make it a priority to engage community members in our design process, inviting direct input and participation in the creation of our work. 

Examples of how we have involved community members in our process include: organizing creative brainstorming sessions, developing paint-by-number murals, working with community-collected materials, and sparking conversation through our art pieces.