Bacteria, Fungus, Plant (2013)
Growing materials in the garden or in a culture like kombucha or sourdough connects my art process to the creative practices of gardeners and cooks. The wait for the materials to be ready for harvest is an important step for me, and I savor the moments when growth in the garden or kitchen show me the passing of time. The cycle of seasons is reflected in my intention to plant some of the drawings and paintings into the garden after this gallery exhibition. The resulting plants will be harvested for new artworks or food.
When harvesting art materials from the garden my goal is to encourage the health of the garden. I refuse to remove all of the blooms from a plant because I want to leave some pollen for the bees and to allow the plant to make seed. It is common practice to thin blooms so the seeds that develop are stronger. The kombucha and sourdough starter will add beneficial microbes to the soil when planted. The jury is still out about the benefits of adding kombucha or sourdough to the soil. I expect it to take a few seasons before I have a sense of the result.
This exhibit was at Jan Brandt Gallery in August 2014.