National Contemporary Art Award 2006 Waikato Museum and Art Gallery

Before installation of Lawn (Greener on the Other Side) in the NCAA exhibition, the Waikato Museum requested the work was doused with pesticide - effectively killing it, to prevent insects migrating and invading important historic works.  With the assurance that worms  and grass insects prefer a warm ecosystem over a dry alternative, Lawn was hung alive in the exhibition, along with gallery pheromone devices for the 10 week show.  Trimmed and watered daily by gallery staff following a schedule of instructions, the grass grew upwards and went dormant inside the cool dark gallery.  In subsequent years the rules of entry for the National Contemporary Art Award specifically excluded living art.

Bibliography: Sports Field Forum NZ, Lawn Waikato Times