following his public art mural in vermont, artist aaron asis shares his latest work at queens county farm museum in new york. as the farm begins to reopen for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis back in march, asis has shaped the ‘cover crop’ installation into the land. the project will facilitate a series of COVID compliant activities and will invite opening day visitors to wander through the planted landscapes while maintaining a safe social distance.

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cover crop installation and queens farm context

all images courtesy of aaron asis

 

 

with a history that dates back to 1697, the queens county farm museum is one of new york city’s oldest cultural icons. the farm encompasses a 47-acre parcel that continues to represent one of the longest continuously farmed site in the state of new york – albeit without public access since march. the farm is eager to reintroduce the city to its historic farm buildings, greenhouse complex, livestock, orchards, herb gardens, planting fields, and a new site-specific art installation.

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aerial image of cover crop installation

 

 

cover crop was originally intended as a pilot project to expand the arts and cultural programming at queens farm – funded by the queens council on the arts. the initial creative concept was inspired by the farm’s infamous ‘amazing maize maze’ and organic farming practices, and was designed to invite visitors directly onto planted fields, to inspire conversation about dormant agriculture, sustainable farming, and the life cycle of the land. this was all before the coronavirus crisis fundamentally changed the rules around public programming and onsite education.

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cover crop view back from skybridge

 

 

however, as safe social practices become the new normal it has remained important to facilitate visitor access to these planted landscapes, as a celebration of the land in between crop cycles. in response to the new social distancing guidelines, the revised installation, and first-ever on the farms historic grounds, activates half an acre of farmland with a series of a criss-crossing path, which will allow visitors to pass through a cocktail of cover crop, while maintaining a safe social distance from one another. parallel paths will also allow partners or groups to travel side-by-side ensuring appropriate distance can be maintained throughout their experience.

 

film by green ghost studios

 

 

asis explains, ‘as the realities associated with our new normal continue to challenge our ways of interacting with each other and with the world around us, it is more important than ever before to create new ways to stay connected, support each other, and share safe, meaningful, and inspiring human experiences.’

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entry procession along parallel walking paths

 

 

‘the experience of wandering through cover crop is an unexpectedly calming, peaceful, and meditative experience – a stark contrast to most things you expect to experience in new york city – and a unique way to connect us with the physical earth in a new way,’ continues asis. cover crop essentially aims to highlight the transitional state of the planted earth while we all live through the transitional stages of our lives on this earth. the work will be on display through sunday, august 9th, 2020, at the queens county farm museum.

 

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visitors wander along parallel paths

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wandering through tall cover crop growth

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aerial composition queens farm lands

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cover crop initial concept sketch

 

 

project  info:

 

project name: cover crop

location: queens county farm museum, new york city, US

artist: aaron asis

film: green ghost studios

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom