Collecting Memories

I always loved plants. My kids used to make fun of me whenever I would bring another plant home: “Mom, we don’t have more space”! I always have space for plants!

Observing plants is something magical to me. One day they are just a little thing, next day, a beautiful flower, before you know, there’s a fruit and the cycle starts again.

When I was studying biology in college, one of my favorite things to do was to draw plants. My friends say they still remember my excitement.

How many times can you interact with a plant? I could find at least 10: seeding, growing, harvesting fruits, collecting seeds, photographing, doing ikebana, cutting flower for arrangements, eating, composting and then I also found a way to replicate them in clay.

The images below are the result of my adventures and experiments to replicate plants in clay.

It is a process that required a lot of patience, courage, curiosity, asymmetrical thinking. Above all, a huge desire to preserve the beauty I could see on them.

It all started when I had a bunch of dried roses and thought I should do something more with them before sending to composting.

In my heart, I know I have to do this. Keep trying, finding new ways, preserving their memory.

Maybe this can inspire more people to think about nature and ways to enjoy and preserve what we have.

That’s my hope.