Rappahannock County, Virginia artist, Jeanne Drevas, has set out to transform Charlottesville's Second Street Gallery into an indoor forest with her site-specific installation of bamboo culms called Grove.
First a little description: Grove is a site specific installation made exclusively of stalks of bamboo suspended from the ceiling of the main gallery. There are hundreds of culms hanging within a few inches of each other and whose bottoms dangle just above the floor. They are arranged in what I measured to be a 12' x 24' x 12' tall cube (not quite big enough to be a truly impressive structure). As far as "site-specific" goes, Grove definitely is specific to the gallery. It mirrors the 4 walled cube shape of the gallery's interior to a T.
So, upon entering the gallery, you are greeted with a near solid mass of bamboo shafts. You are also greeted by the rather stringent smell of freshly cut bamboo (who knew bamboo was so aromatic?). Other than a few "rules" regarding your behavior and a brief statement from the artist, I didn't find much written about the piece. That suits me fine, as I generally prefer the art to do the talking - at least initially.
The crux of Grove is that the viewer is to enter the mass of bamboo stalks. Push them aside and walk through them. Feel their presence, smell their essence, hear their voice, and see the light filter through them.
Okay. So the suspended bamboo cube represents Nature and as we enter it, it engulfs us, and we feel its power through its responsive qualities and transformative elements. Got it.
After circumnavigating Grove a couple of times, I readied myself to enter. I stood at the center of one of the long sides, hesitated for a few seconds, took a deep breath (literally), and walked in. Strange feeling. I might as well have been standing at the end of the high dive suspended over a pool of chilly water. After a rationally brief hesitation, I inhale deeply, close my eyes and jump. Splash! For me, that was the strength of Grove - that barrier breaking moment when you step forward and take the plunge.
Once inside Grove, pushing aside the culms, walking forward a bit more, finding center, stopping, letting the hollowed clatter of the culms subside, the only sensation I got was realizing I was standing in a huge collection of suspended bamboo shafts. Not what I would call a transformative realization or a powerful experience. It didn't do much for me. I gave it a few more seconds waiting for the filtered light to alter my senses; the smells to sink in through my lungs. Didn't happen. The only other sensation I got was "get me the heck out of this thing!" I split the culms and found the nearest edge to exit. Whew. Not going back in. Well... okay, maybe one more time. Over by the corner this time. Nope. Still nothing.
Visually, Grove inspired very little in me. I dug the minimalist use of material and structure, but the installation did little to transform an otherwise familiar space (something, I believe, should be an element to any "installation").
As far as the power of Nature concept... I wonder if this could have been done with simple wooden dowels instead? What was so special about bamboo? Or, what if Ms. Drevas suspended lengths of metal rebar? Would that symbolize the power of industrialization? Or would suspended chains represent the power of inner city ghettos? This could go in many directions. All of which would give me hesitation before entering.
Jeanne Drevas: Grove will be on exhibit at Second Street Gallery through February 28. I'd say visiting Grove is definitely worth your time and effort even if for just experiencing that barrier breaking split second where you summons the personal courage to take the plunge. Otherwise, don't hold your breath for anything more.
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