The Fall of Kusama

What does fall mean to you? For us, it used to mean day trips to Cincinnati or Louisville, exploring museums, and perhaps a fall break vacation. This year it has been exclusively pumpkins. Pumpkins are everywhere in October. From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin patches, you can't escape them. I'm surprised there isn't a horror movie about killer pumpkins. Though pumpkins are ubiquitous, they are a lovely part of fall, and we have spent quite a bit of time with them this season.

Before all this craziness and when the world still made a little sense, we were lucky enough to visit Yayoi Kusama's infinity room, All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins at Newfields. Yoyoi Kusama is a Japanese installation artist who is known for her amazing infinity rooms. She uses illuminated objects, repetition, and mirrors to create what appears to be an infinite amount of objects. Perhaps her intention was not that it be displayed during October, but nonetheless, it was amazing. You step into a small room, almost like a box, with a short platform. They close the door behind you, and you are instantly transported to a dark place, with illuminated spotted pumpkins. You can choose to take pictures and post them to your favorite social media site or stand and reflect on the space. After a minute, the door opens, and you are returned to reality.

I loved the peace of standing in the small space and staring off into the distance. Surrounded by the blackness and the soft glow of hundreds of pumpkins was oddly calming and surreal. A truly magical experience that will always be a reminder to me of what fall can be.

So much has changed this year. We cannot share these types of intimate experiences like we once did. Every encounter has become a calculation of risk. While I miss so many things this year, we did enjoy pumpkin patches, pumpkin painting, and walks through the woods. We all have a new love for the outdoors and Poet and Flower have painted a lot of pumpkins this year. It has been lovely, and we have enjoyed every minute of it.

I do miss our museum visits and exploring a new city. It has been a different kind of fall, but we have made wonderful memories nonetheless. And hopefully, someday soon, we can get back to all that fall can be.