KiM WEST
LUNCHEON ON THE GRASS
Inspired by Manet's Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe and memories of friends observed spontaneously in that infamous composition, Luncheon on the Grass included layer painting picnic blankets, artist books, and cupcakes set out for an interactive activation on the lawn of the Public Library in downtown Los Angeles, CA.
A collaborative journey through Downtown L.A.'s Maguire Garden’s pools and fountains that were designed by architect Lawrence Halprin, the piece culminated in an audience participatory interactive ‘picnic’ on the grass, influenced by the choreographer Anna Halprin’s iconic textual prompts for non-dancers.
Playing with layer paintings: Two layers of canvas are stretched over a constructed substrate. When the top layer canvas (the one with figures) is completed, it is removed, and separated from the back layer canvas which holds marks that seeped through in the making of the top layer. The back layer canvas was divided into sections that became picnic blankets for the installation.
Layer painting picnic blankets.
Interactive artist books and picnic baskets.
Interactive prompts, including palette-specific cupcakes garnished with garden sourced flair.
