The bane of every gardener is an invasive species called bindweed, despite its lovely white flowers. Nearly impossible to eradicate, a mere two inches of root left behind can grow an entirely new plant in just a few weeks, and the roots, which can go down thirty feet and spread horizontally, break easily to ensure its survival. Imported from Europe accidentally, this invasive species has been wildly successful in establishing itself as the most hated perennial in the U.S.
Last summer, while digging up my raised beds to rebuild them with new soil, I dug low enough to find these rhizomatic roots, formed into strange spiraling springs and twists in abundance. Unlike the long straight root one usually sees when pulling these up, the compacted soil four feet down forces them into unusual patterns. After saving them, I began connecting them in a circular shape, with no path out. In this installation, the shadows cast on the wall suggest a wider footprint than the smaller components of the installation make up.
As difficult as bindweeds make the maintenance of our gardens, they come from a family of plants that has species within it with many uses around the world, including sweet potatoes. There are dozens of regional dishes made from it from Croatia to China, and in parts of Mexico the seeds have been used for spiritual purposes and as a psychedelic drug. Since we won’t be getting rid of it any time soon, it’s good to know it has some uses, even as art materials.