I want to give the natural world a voice in the same quiet, reassuring way that it speaks to us.
A voice that gives gratitude and celebrates the non-human world we interact with every day but often never really see. It's the world that gives us life and sustains life, and if we look with our eyes wide open—it can be our best teacher.
We instinctively view the natural world through the lens of what lives above the earth's surface. Several years ago I came across the study of Geobotany, the relationship between plants and the soil they grow in. Nutritional needs of a healthy plant colony can tell us what minerals and/or impurities are below the surface. If too much phosphorus and/or nitrogen is present, the overall health of the soil is impacted. Fortunately, there are groups of plants that rely on these two elements to meet their nutritional needs and serve as a filtration system for the soil or body of water they populate. Each plant and plant colony is equipped with it's own unique eco-system, drinking the impurities through their roots and stems and providing oxygen through their leaves. With over 70 species, the lily pad plant falls into this category.
And this is where my journey begins.
Willow Archipelago
Nearly six months in the making, the installation is grounded in a series of questions followed by more questions. Even though each layer of questions brings more clarity, the way I answer them was actually shaping a form of expression that I could not yet fully define or understand. My goal is to bring to light microsystems of the natural world that support the health and well-being of our environment. This is characterized and represented through the imagery of the lily pad plant.
Location is a key component of the installation. Water lily plants grow on the shorelines of calm, lake waters and ponds. The 3.5 acre research lake located in Chadwick North's Arboretum on The Ohio State University campus is the perfect setting. Originally a 'borrow pit' for the James Cancer Hospital and the Agricultural Engineering Building, the site was turned into a lake feature and now supports a wealth of fauna and flora, including a willow grove just to the south of the lake. Before moving forward, a site proposal of the project was submitted to the Arboretum for approval.
Materiality. What are the qualities / characteristics of the lily plant?
What materials can be used for the project that hold these same properties?
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