2000



Susan Leibovitz Steinman | GARDENS TO GO

GARDENS TO GO was an environmental art installation and community garden project at the intersection of 32nd and Peralta Streets in West Oakland. The goal of GARDENS TO GO was to demonstrate accessible, affordable, easy, and artistic organic gardening; everyone who worked on the prototype food garden of portable, sculptural raised beds got to take fruits and vegetables home with them. The containers and raised beds were made of recycled or inexpensive and familiar materials that made it possible to have a garden of any size on one’s porch, in a window, or in a narrow yard. Planting in containers with new soil also bypassed a common health problem found in West Oakland and other older neighborhoods-lead-contaminated soil. GARDENS TO GO was created in partnership with West Oakland Neighbors (WON), to realize that group’s dream of having a community garden to grow food for local needs. WON members continue to maintain the garden on a volunteer basis, planning and growing individual and collective food plots, and use the site for ongoing community events.

Al Lujan | Corn in the Front Yard

Corn In The Front Yard was a 15 minute-long digital video that humorously addressed the serious topic of the rapidly changing landscape of San Francisco’s Mission District. The main character (or villain), a wealthy Latino real estate agent, laments the changing face of his hometown of Watsonville, California which is being taken over by migrant workers’ families that paint their homes gaudy, traditional Mexican colors and grow corn in the front yard. Meanwhile, he is actively affecting the Mission District’s “nouveaux Valencia corridor” with trendy and toxic “Eurasian tofu tapas microbrewery ‘hot spots’.” The irony escapes him as he describes plans to evict a family to make room for a specialty car wash/coffee bar drivethrough perfect for gas-guzzling SUVs, and to build boxy, supposed live-work artist lofts. Corn In The Front Yard examined the hypocrisy around notions of community and neighborhood, and the internalized racism/shame that sometimes breeds alongside success. The film called attention to, and provoked dialogue around, gentrification’s affect on a neighborhood’s character, urban sprawl, and entitlement. Corn In The Front Yard premiered at Galeria de la Raza in the Mission District on January 26, 2001. The film has since screened at various film festivals and tenant rights benefits.

JURORS for this year were: Kota Ezawa, video artist; Kevin Killian, author and playright; Johanna Poethig, activist and public artist; Pamela Z, sound and media artist; Christine Pielenz and William Laven, co-directors, Potrero Nuevo Fund.

images (l to r): photo (detail): Susan Leibovitz Steinman (2001); promotional postcard, design by Al Lujan, photos: John Leanos (2001)