Garden of 100 Blooms

The simple idea of creating one bloom a day until I had one hundred, is the seed from which this magnificent piece matured. I began the project on New Year’s Day of 2022 as a manageable way to commit to my art practice consistently. Each bloom became a true reflection of the day it was created, determined by whichever muse of inspiration presented itself at the time. Sometimes the inspiration was based on the weather or season, a favorite object or just observing how materials fell together at random to create visually pleasing combinations. I found dipping into that creative state of mind regularly kept me centered and I remained open to how the project may evolve along the way. Remarkably, the simple act of creating a little bit each day multiplied all of the work generated from my studio exponentially.

The blooms are formed by cutting concentric circles out of paper and fabric and securing them together in the center with a piercing tool and brad. I draw from a diverse collection of global materials that span the range from high-end and vintage, to ordinary packaging and ephemera. Layering these items and reimagining them in a new context is what gives the blooms their own personalities and stories. There are 12-21 layers of petals per bloom, and 1,436 all together. I was mindful of combining color, texture and pattern to design the blooms as singular works to be appreciated on their own merit. When viewed collectively, the greater composition radiates a mesmerizing field of colors.  

As I finished each bloom, I recorded the materials used, number of layers and date it was made. I then posted it to social media as a mechanism for accountability. It quickly blossomed into an ongoing conversation with people who were curious about my work and interested in how it was made. Little by little, more people began tuning in to check out the latest blooms and share their impressions. It was amazing to hear about what resonated with different people and a spirit of community steadily grew alongside the blooms themselves.

The more blooms I completed, the more lessons they revealed. First and foremost, with any ambitious project, you have to start somewhere and keep going. A little work paired with consistency builds discipline, and what seems out of reach gradually becomes attainable. It is necessary to transition from saving your materials to using them in order to unlock their potential and yours. There is growth in experimentation and joy in play. Viewed through this lens, mistakes are merely transformation in progress. Lastly, savoring the journey and taking your time lends a rich quality to your work that can’t be duplicated.

I chose the window screen as a non-traditional surface for displaying the blooms in order to explore the concept of a window flower box. The screen was ideal for its size, flexibility and ability to view the blooms through an indoor/outdoor garden perspective. The modular nature of the blooms allowed me to affix them to the screen easily and play with their arrangement. For several weeks, I got to know the blooms and how they interacted with their neighbors in different configurations and color groupings. A particular sense of movement and harmony let me know when the blooms were in their rightful places and ready to be framed. I envisioned a floating shadow box frame that could be displayed vertically or horizontally, encasing the window screen between two pieces of plexiglass, surrounded by an elegant wooden moulding. I collaborated with local master framers, who were able to accommodate the large screen dimensions and make the vision a stunning reality. It took fourteen months to lovingly cultivate the “Garden of 100 Blooms” and it is truly an oasis of beauty, contemplation and a testament to the ripple of small actions making a big impact.