The Seeds We Plant 63, (Pollinator Dispersals 1)

My project of the past two years was an outdoor installation of seventy sculptural wood paintings. Commissioned by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, “The Seeds We Plant” was an experience of, and about, the constantly changing natural world. On view for almost seven months, the installation experience shifted along with the seasonal plant life, weather, and light.

Buddhist teaching led me to the title: We decide whether to plant seeds of anger or kindness as we walk through life. Life is hard. We must take care of ourselves as we care for the world and the people around us. Healing time in nature and joyful discovery, are necessary for our survival.

As these artworks move on to new spaces, my intention shifts. They are now "The Dispersals." Like seeds attached to wispy fluff or pollen hitching a bumble bee ride, they move further out into the world. I can't predict where each will land, but I know they carry with them possibility of growth into awareness and appreciation for the miraculous nature that surrounds us.

I created the abstract shapes during five months of visiting and communing with a trail left wild. The forms allude to complex systems of growth and adaptation: Seed pods, thorny tips, clinging vines, and fungal networks. I painted each piece with colors of the garden's plants, insects, and sky. A chronicle of past, present, future.