ROOTED at Cornell

• ROOTED was a living community art installation designed to actively engage students and others on the Cornell campus.
• Installation took place below McGraw Tower from April 17th- May 1st 2014.
• Campus wide active involvement of over 100 people with an immeasurable impact on thousands of others

Marcia Eames-sheavly and Justin 

               After weeks of storyboarding, Faculty Adviser and Student Artist agreed on the word which would adorn the slope in late April. Weekly meeting allowed for the logistics and collaborations across campus to emerge.

Bulbs arrived in full forces 

13,000 bulbs were selected from A.D.R.Bulbs, Inc. with the expertise of Dr. William Miller. Plants were selected based on height, color, and cooling requirements. In November, two cultivars of Narcissus, three cultivars of Hyacinth and a Chionodox arrived.

Bulbs were planted to maximize "Wow Factor"

Student from across discipline learn how to plant flower bulbs 

Several planting workshops were held, planting 350, 10-inch pots of flowering bulbs. This was an opportunity to teach Horticulture to students across different academic disciplines. The Horticulture department’s Faculty and Staff also volunteer their time. Activity was organized and run by Project coordinator. 

It had been year since the plant science coolers has been cleaned out. This was an opportunity to explore. So many interesting things had been left behind by both faculty and students. We found a research project from 1968!

350 pots fit perfectly in the freshly cleaned cooler 

In December, bulbs were moved into a cooler for 11 weeks at 37 degree Fahrenheit to allow for vernalization. Bulbs were monitored for root growth and proper development.                        

350 pots freshly moved into the greenhouses 

                                                                             

Plants are ready to make their depute

2 weeks before installation, bulbs were brought to the greenhouse to be forced. Bulbs had emerged while in the cooler and lacked chlorophyll.


Day of installation, flower buds had begun to enlarge and open. Plants were watered-in before their moved to the Slope.

After months of planning, ROOTED came alive on Libe slope. This living tribute showcased the ability of nature to foster well-being, while captivating a community. This  project involved over 100 participants that helped to overcome logistical hurdles that arose during the process.

On installation day !

We couldn't have done ROOTED without all of the teamwork 

The joy that plants brings was capture during and after installation day 

ROOTED in Full "Bloom" with over 53,000 flowers!

 Chris Kitchen(Photographer), Justin Kondrat (student artist) and David Cutter (University Architect)

   Ariel photo from 2,000 feet in the air. High above Cayuga's waters.

             Thank you East Hill Flying Club for taking the crew up !

7,000 solar lights in Cornell’s Colors

  

 Check out the speeches from ROOTED's opening 

“Like these flowers, we each have different colors: black, white, brown; Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist; gay and straight; young and old; rich and poor. And just as this display will be all the more beautiful from its diversity of colors and shapes, so too will this place be richer from those of us who dare sink our roots into this soil that we call Cornell.”- Dr. Marvin Pritts, Horticulture Department Chair.

Gannett Health Services had embraced the project as a living example of its message, “Success is rooted in balanced living.” Displays in Olin Library, Mann Library, Gannett Health Services and the Big Red Barn, invited people to share their thoughts about how and where they are rooted at Cornell. 


         

                                   

Over 200 comment cards where collected in 4 location on campus

Comments in a Word Cloud 

Our Queer campus campaign- Vice President of DASH 

“Cornell, it’s a place where you can find a home and express beauty among people who study what they love. It’s a place where you can really be inclusive and come together as a community. As a queer student with a learning disability, I hope this installation inspires various communities to never give up on their dreams when times get tough.” – Justin D. Kondrat 

                       Big Thanks to all that participated !

                                     ROOTED Article

ROOTED was a campus partnership between the Department of Horticulture, Gannett Health Services, and the Cornell Grounds Department. Justin Kondrat, CALS ’14 and senior lecturer Marcia Eames-Sheavly would like to offer special thanks to: Bill Miller, Marvin Pritts, Craig Cramer, and all those who helped plant bulbs in the Department of Horticulture. Also, Gannett Health Services staff Catherine Thrasher-Carroll and Jennifer Austin; Kevin McGraw and David Cutter; David St. George with East Hill Flying Club; Dean Boor, CALS; and members of Haven: LGBTQ Student Union and the Greek community who assisted in planting, and transporting, bulbs