Survival Piece #5: Portable Orchard 

The Harrisons described their practice in the 1970s as their “Years of Prophecy,” a period in which their projects envisaged an ever-more-catastrophic ecological future. Now, fifty years later, the work reverberates with new urgency.

Following the Harrisons’ model, the Whitney’s exhibition team has considered the material lifecycles and environmental impact of the fabrication and implementation of this installation. To build the planters and light boxes, the team sourced reclaimed redwood from a local mill, extending the use of these materials and minimizing unnecessary transport. The citrus trees, which do not grow readily in the Northeast, were purchased from a South Carolina orchard that produces several varieties specified by the Harrisons as well as related types—such as the Ruby Red grapefruit and Okitsu mandarin—that supplement the selection. Fruits grown from the trees will be harvested and shared as part of planned programs and staff events. At the close of the exhibition, the trees, wood, and other materials will be replanted, reused, and recycled.