We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Our shoreline, our forestry, our Long Island is as beautiful as it is diverse. In this time of the pandemic, I have been on many walks, noticing the natural beauty of our home and recording it in the studio through my art.

I’ve taken countless pictures during morning walks through our quiet suburban landscape, discovering our wildlife and identifying native plants with an app on my phone. My way of making art has always begun with some form of meditation, and I’ve considered these walks to be part of the process. This past year, I’ve walked my way through the seasons, from Spring through Winter to arrive at Spring again, and witnessed the life cycles of many of our native plants.

One day last June, I discovered the native Tulip Tree. ‘Liriodendron tulipifera’—it has tall thin trunks with beautiful exotic flowers and dinosaur-like leaves. I’ve read a bit about it, too. It’s one of the largest trees in our country, and it produces great amounts of nectar for our pollinators. The tree seemed so tropical in appearance; its flowers being so beautiful and bold and leaves so unique in shape and color. I set out to record my findings in my artwork.

To date, I’ve created collages, prints, drawings, patterns, and paintings inspired by our native tulip tree. I plan to continue creating pieces and expanding to other beautiful indigenous plants. My hope is to enrich our community with the celebration of our diverse landscape and the preservation of our environmental heritage.

I’ll be exhibiting some of my work at ReWild Long Island next Saturday, June 19th.
Please visit! Below is the information:

Read It and Weed: Poetry, Performance & Visual Art at Thomas Dodge Farm
Saturday, June 19, 2021, 10:30 AM 12:30 PM
ReWild Long Island, Inc.
58 Harbor Road
Port Washington, NY, 11050 (map)