Glen Foerd’s Performance Artist in Residence of 2022-2023, Alex Tatarsky created an exciting piece where they embodied a garden gnome.

The garden gnome evolved from the professional hermit or garden hermit who was contracted to sit in front of the property of the wealthy and look wise and mournful, and sometimes to entertain or tidy up. The concept of this professional hermit faded away at the end of the 18th century and morphed into the ubiquitous statue of the garden gnome.

Tatarsky’s research into the origins of the garden gnome culminated in a weekend of performances somewhere in between eco-lecture, dance, foraged dinner theater, as well as song.

They used comedy to discuss serious topics such as climate change while weaving in commentaries on historical aspects of the area such as the Robin Hood Hotel and Robert Forderer’s leather tanning factory.

“Investigating the enduring legacy of this figure, questions arise that include, how does one entertain while grieving? What is the dance of an object? And how do we subvert relationships that make us feel small – with lovers, teachers, institutions…or between a gnome and the landowner who makes him sweep the grounds?” said Tatarsky.

Photos by Sharon Torello.