COLORING IN NATURE

June 13, 2019

This Installation is an ephemeral piece as it can only be viewed and interacted with in the spring or summer here in my home state of Minnesota.

Mother Nature plays a significant role in the process of building this installation and its outcome. Ready to collaborate with others by digging in the dirt? ‘Color in Nature’ invites spectators to look into a space of wonder and imagination. By placing a flower to form a portion of a line, shape, or image flowing from a giant crayon, everyone can be a participatory artist.

The work of this installation is done within a 15’ x 15’ space on my front lawn. This location is inviting so that neighbors up-and-down the street can view the art and participate on their own free will. As an art teacher at our local neighborhood elementary school, many of my students’ families are also my neighbors.

This installation is a surreal and minimalist structure that combines students’ crayons with Mother Nature’s colorful gift of color. Flowers are Mother Nature’s way of painting the world for us to observe and enjoy color.

Plants are really important for our planet. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen from their leaves. It is said that taking care of plants can boost your mood and alleviate depression and anxiety. This community process of planting something in the ground, fertilizing, watering, and caring for it while watching it bloom is a neat experience. I want viewers to interact with this piece by placing flowers into the ground representing different lines drawn on the lawn. When this flower installation is complete, the colors will express an abstract design for everyone to see, smell, and talk about.