Kim Beck | Weeds on the High Line

When I first picked up Kim Beck’s A Field Guide To Weeds in the bookstore, only opening to the first couple pages, I thought I had a clever new sketchbook in hand. Going in a little further I started to see that what I had was more of a finely-tuned mini coffee table book or hand-held installation art.

With the outer appearance of an old pocket gardening book, the Field Guide deceives you into thinking you’re in for a dry lesson or two about dealing with weeds. Instead, without a single word, Ms. Beck beautifully shows you what weeds are all about- growth and expansion, until all else is overcome. Every page becomes more and more weed-covered, until the white background is totally gone (There are actually about 100 pages in the book- not just the few that I have below).

High concept, or not, I think its just so great looking.

Fittingly, Kim Beck will be showing her new works among the flora at The High Line outdoor art exhibit this Summer 2010. So, who’s weeds inspired who’s?

The High Line-NYC

Please check into Ms. Beck’s many other works and exhibits at her site: http://www.idealcities.com/index.html