THE RUSSIAN THISTLE CRISIS
KATHRYN MILLER AND MICHAEL HONER
THEIR SEED DISPERSAL METHOD IS SO EFFICIENT, THAT SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA, TUMBLEWEEDS HAVE SPREAD INTO EVERY STATE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, NORTH TO CANADA AND SOUTH TO MEXICO. ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND POOR FARMING PRACTICES CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE SPREAD OF THE RUSSIAN THISTLE.
THIS OMNIPRESENT, INDESTRUCTIBLE, VEXATIOUS (AND SOMETIMES HUMOROUS) ACCIDENTAL CONTAMINATION WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE RUSSIAN THISTLE CRISIS PROJECT AND A BOOKLET THAT ACCOMPANIED AN EXHIBITION AT THE CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY, CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA IN 1997. IN 2002 THE RUSSIAN THISTLE CRISIS WAS EXHIBITED AT THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA.
