Park

We met Liz Larner while she was scouting the High Desert for the perfect dead tree. She had a film crew in tow who were filming her developing her piece at HDTS from start to finish for inclusion in a documentary about the artistic process. Larner’s piece, “Park,” has had at least two previous manifestations before it’s arrival in Pioneertown. While living in Malibu, Larner became intensely drawn to the Century plants whose once-a-lifetime bloom is so large and heavy that the plant dies afterwards. She took one of these immense plants and installed it halfway inside of a garage at the Schindler MAK apartments and planted a living orchid in the body of the agave. The piece was installed and altered a second time in the courtyard at MOCA for her survey show. While remaining slightly skeptical about bringing her art to the natural beauty of the desert, Liz’s impulse to have the new sprout from the dead seems utterly appropriate given the aftermath of last summer’s horrific Sawtooth Fire which blackened most of Pioneertown and its environs.