Diario del proyecto The Leaf Connection

25 de julio de 2023

Summer Leaves

Summer 2023 Leaf of the Week highlights from Instagram and the clay leaves they inspired.

Observations Left to right: Arched-nut Pectocarya (Pectocarya recurvata) by @kaymanzy; Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) by @bteplik; Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) by @dandude ; Desert Unicorn-Plant (Proboscidea althaeifolia) by @jackie433 ; Paperbag Bush (Scutellaria mexicana) by @andrea293.

Left: clay leaves in progress. Right: a few of the test tiles with custom blended glaze colors.

I am happy to devote the majority of my attention this summer to The Leaf Connection Project: a labor of love that continues to grow and enrich my practice. Right now I'm in blissful production mode, filling my studio with hundreds of hand-built clay leaves inspired by observations from all of YOU! The carvings will eventually be part of a vast wall installation-- with each leaf connected to a person in the community and a plant that grows here. Currently, I'm experimenting with alternative surface treatments and glazing processes; custom blending colors informed by the soil, native rock, and architectural elements of the urban desert. The final installation will be mapped out to reflect the diversity of plants and people that share space here. An exhibition of this work is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2024 at Desert Botanical Garden. Stay tuned for details!

If there are certain images of leaves that you would like me to notice, please tag me in the notes @marymeyerstudio and I will be sure to see them. Questions about the project? Don't hesitate to email me: marykmeyer@msn.com.

Thank you for participating in this project! If you know anyone who may be interested in joining please feel free to spread the word.

Until next time...
Mary
Visit my website marymeyerstudio.com
Follow The Leaf Connection on Instagram

Publicado el julio 25, 2023 09:23 TARDE por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

28 de mayo de 2023

Leafy Spring Highlights

Spring 2023 Leaf of the Week highlights from Instagram and the clay leaves they inspired.

Observations Left to right: Bigelow's Crossosoma (Crossosoma bigelovii) by @ulsterbotany; Bajada lupine (Lupinus concinnus) by @mason_s; Woolly Butterflybush (Buddleja marrubiifolia) by @dshihabi; Desert rosemallow (Hibiscus coulteri) by @jody15; White Easterbonnet (Eriophyllum lanosum) by @figaro.

Since the The Leaf Connection was launched in March 2022, we have made 67,000+ observations of 2000+ plant species-- and more are added every day. I'm connecting with so many wonderful people in the community and I'm excited to meet many more as the project continues to grow. If you know anyone who may be interested in joining please feel free to spread the word.


The clay leaves are coming along and taking over the studio! I have hundreds made, hundreds more to go, and I am enjoying every minute. I have not added color to any of the leaves yet-- but I am working on it. There is a particular look and palette I have in mind, and right now I am taking time to experiment with different pigments and surface techniques. Soon...

I'm thrilled to share that The Leaf Connection installation is planned to open for exhibition in Spring of 2024 at Desert Botanical Garden. I will share more details in the coming months, but in the meantime please know how much I appreciate your participation and the inspiration you provide with each observation you add to the project. If there are certain images of leaves that you would like me to notice, please tag me in the notes @marymeyerstudio and I will be sure to see them. Questions about the project? Don't hesitate to email me: marykmeyer@msn.com.

Until next time...
Mary
marymeyerstudio.com
Follow The Leaf Connection on Instagram

Publicado el mayo 28, 2023 09:35 TARDE por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 4 comentarios | Deja un comentario

20 de febrero de 2023

The Leaf Connection is Growing!


Above images: New Leaf of the Week highlights from Instagram and the clay leaves they inspired.
Left to right: London Rocket by @elenapalkaflores; Netleaf Hackberry by @chalon9; Emory's Rockdaisy by @ddoyle; Fiddleneck by @kwarpole19; Yerba Mansa by @leeadams.

I'm happy to report The Leaf Connection Project is Growing!
Right now we have 40,800+ observations of 1650+ species by 3700+ observers.
As the project continues to expand, I'm excited to connect with more and more people throughout the community...and make new clay leaves inspired by new observations.
So far I have 300+ pieces... with many more to come!

You may have noticed I've extended the dates of the project into next year. This is so I can continue to gather data for...The Leaf Connection Exhibition 2024!
This will be my largest installation ever, and unlike anything I have done before.
Stay tuned for big announcements coming soon!

In the meantime, thank you for contributing your observations to this project.
If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the project on iNaturalist, please send them my way!

Until next time--
Mary
marymeyerstudio.com

Publicado el febrero 20, 2023 10:41 TARDE por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

25 de octubre de 2022

Making Leaf Connections in Prescott, AZ!


This weekend I had the opportunity to teach a sculpture workshop in Prescott AZ with the Visions Youth Program through Scottsdale Arts & Innovation.
We created an offshoot of the Leaf Connections Project on iNaturalist, and spent the first part of the workshop exploring the flora of the Friendly Pines Camp where the retreat took place.


Images: Left: White Horehound & Boxelder by @madqpen. Center: Sonoran Scrub Oak by @tanya444. Right: Balkan Toadflax & Great Mullein by @madqpen
Using iNaturalist as a research tool, students discovered ways to identify their observations and learn about plant biodiversity in the Prescott National Forest.

They used this information to design and create a series of clay leaves using hand-building techniques to explore shapes, textures and add their own personalized details.

I was so impressed with these young artists and all the beautiful work they made-- inspired by our natural surroundings.
It was such a joy to teach this leaf workshop, especially this time of year. And I hope we created a few more neighborhood naturalists in the process!

Until next time--
Mary
marymeyerstudio.com

Publicado el octubre 25, 2022 03:04 MAÑANA por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

13 de septiembre de 2022

Leaf of the Week Highlights

Are you following The Leaf Connection project on Instagram?


Left: Pointleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) observation by TLC project member andreacala.
Right: Work in progress clay Pointleaf Manzanita leaf.

Each week I share a new observation on Instagram from members of The Leaf Connection project
along with the #wip clay leaf I’m making based on their findings and identifications on @inaturalistorg.


Left: Common Hoptree (Ptelia trifoliata) observation by TLC project member danielmcnair.
Right: Work in progress clay Hoptree leaf.

I also share tidbits about each plant species as well as hints about how each clay leaf will look when finished, especially regarding color!
The finished clay leaves will each carry colors that are associated with that specific plant species, such as flowers, berries, bark, seedpods, etc.
By the way, did you know that the Common Hoptree is aka skunk bush due to its unpleasant odor?
I didn't!


Left: Black Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) observation by TLC project member cbruner.
Right: Work in progress clay leaf inspired by this observation.

Fall will be here soon and it is the perfect time to kiln fire the leaves and experiment with glazes and pigments.
Stay tuned to see how they transform!

In the meantime, be on the lookout for the next Leaf of the Week on Instagram.

Do you have a specific observation that you would like to share with the project?
Please tag me @marymeyerstudio in the observation comments and I will be sure to see it.

Thanks, everyone. Have a lovely and leafy September :)

Mary

Publicado el septiembre 13, 2022 12:41 MAÑANA por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

12 de agosto de 2022

EcoQuestions: The Leaf Connection at Desert Botanical Garden


Porcelain leaves in progress. Photo: Mary Meyer

Thank you to everyone who attended the July session of EcoQuestions at Desert Botanical Garden! What a lovely opportunity to invite the community to join The Leaf Connection project, and share about the importance of botany and leaves in my studio practice. Thank you to Jeny Davis and Metro Phoenix EcoFlora for your support, and Desert Botanical Garden for hosting this event!


Photo: Jeny Davis

In case you missed it, EcoQuestions: The Leaf Connection is now available to watch on YouTube! We had a great conversation that evening, and I hope it will continue as our Leaf community grows. If you have the chance to watch it I would love to hear from you. Please share any comments or questions you have about the project or my work.
Click HERE to watch.


Left: Desert Lavender (Condea emoryi) observation by naturalist kristen-c.
Right: Clay leaf in progress. The flower shape of desert lavender is repeated within the incised design of this carving. Look for violet-blue colors in the finished piece!

Follow The Leaf Connection on Instagram to see more featured observations and the clay leaves they inspire.

Thank you for participating in this project and in the July EcoQuest! We had over 800 observations... that's a lot of clay leaves to make! I look forward to many more throughout August and the Fall season.

Mary
Email: mary@marymeyerstudio.com
Website: Mary Meyer Studio

Publicado el agosto 12, 2022 09:12 TARDE por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

22 de julio de 2022

EcoQuestions: The Leaf Connection at Desert Botanical Garden July 27th, 2022!


Join us at Desert Botanical Garden for EcoQuestions and learn all about a new community engagement art project developed by Arizona artist Mary Meyer in collaboration with Metro Phoenix EcoFlora.

EcoQuestions with Mary Meyer
Wednesday, July 27 | 6:30 p.m. at Desert Botanical Garden
Find more information and register to attend for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/374596396907


In this session, Mary will share about her personal connection with leaves and their influence on her creative work, guide us through basic leaf botany, and provide information about The Leaf Connection Project. Mary will have examples of her work and there will be an opportunity to learn how to use the iNaturalist app and join the project.

The Leaf Connection project invites participants to use iNaturalist to share images of leaves within the urban desert of metro Phoenix. Select observations will be used to inform leaf designs for a large wall installation that carries hundreds of clay leaves that Mary will sculpt by hand. The installation will be mapped out to reflect the Phoenix metropolitan area and illustrate the diversity of plants and people in our desert home.

About Mary: Mary Meyer examines our human connection with nature and the environment using ceramic sculpture and mixed media wall installations. The work is driven by her interest in ecology and the myriad similarities between human and botanical anatomy. Arizona exhibitions include the Phoenix Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, Sky Harbor International Airport, and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum which featured her 2019 solo exhibition Biophilia. Meyer is a recent Artist in Residence at Tempe Center for the Arts, and one of 12 artists selected to take part in the Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art (PhICA)Trajectory Print Project. Other awards include the Pat Mutterer Memorial Award presented at the 2020 Arizona Biennial (Tucson Museum of Art), the Night Bloom Grant (Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson)and the Contemporary Forum Artist Grant (Phoenix Art Museum). She has served as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College, and teaches workshops for learning programs through Scottsdale Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona where she received the MFA Fellowship. Meyer lives and works in Gold Canyon, AZ and is an active member of the Metro Phoenix art community. Her work is represented in public and private collections in the US and internationally.

Visit her website: www.marymeyerstudio.com
Follow on Instagram: marymeyerstudio, the.leaf.connection

This session coordinates with the July EcoQuest for the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora. This month, we're supporting The Leaf Connection Project.

Hope to see you there!

Publicado el julio 22, 2022 08:00 TARDE por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

11 de julio de 2022

July is All About Leaves!


Some recent Leaf of the Week observations alongside the unfired clay leaves they inspired.
Very soon I will fire the first batch, and then add COLOR! Stay tuned to see how they transform.

Left: Southwestern Mock Vervain observation by project member @thegardenhound; obsidian clay.
Right: American Threefold observation by project member @dellakilleen; porcelain clay.

EXCITING NEWS! This month's ECOQUEST with METRO PHOENIX ECOFLORA is... THE LEAF CONNECTION!

Metro Phoenix EcoFlora has been my partner since the project first began, and I'm so appreciative of their continued support.
As you are out and about making observations this month, be sure to take special notice of leaves.

Join the EcoQuest and spread the word! Let's have as many community members as possible sharing observations of plant biodiversity from all over the Valley.

WHAT TO OBSERVE: Any kind of leaf, whether on the ground, trees, bushes, flowering plants, or other spaces in nature that catch your eye.
Photograph the whole plant and a closeup of the leaf, if possible. Be sure to include #theleafconnection in the notes section!

Mark your calendar!
Join us Wednesday, July 27th @ 6:30 pm for this month's session of EcoQuestions at Desert Botanical Garden.

I'll be sharing about my personal connection with leaves and their importance in my creative work, as well as some basic leaf botany.
I will also have some examples of my artwork to see in person, including a few clay leaves in progress from The Leaf Connection project.
There will also be an opportunity to learn how to use the iNaturalist app and join the project.

This is a FREE Event. Click Here to reserve your tickets.
I hope to see you there!

Thank you for your participation in this project.
To stay up to date on the latest news, be sure to follow the.leaf.connection on Instagram!

Until next time...
Mary
www.marymeyerstudio.com

Publicado el julio 11, 2022 12:40 MAÑANA por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

07 de junio de 2022

The Leaf Connection is on Instagram!

Have you been following The Leaf Connection on Instagram?

Each week I post updates on the project, including a "Leaf of the Week" that features observations from project members along with the clay leaf I'm making based on their findings and identifications from iNaturalist. Right now I'm working with two different bodies of clay that I have on hand-- white porcelain and black cassius basaltic. Eventually I'll start introducing new types of clay, and adding pigments after they are fired. Stay tuned for COLOR!

I'm really enjoying this project and collaborating with Metro Phoenix EcoFlora. It is exciting to create work that is directly connected to our desert community. iNaturalist is such a wonderful resource for making new connections and learning more about the plants that grow throughout Metro Phoenix.

Check out The Leaf Connection on Instagram and look for new clay leaves every week! Perhaps your observation will inspire a little sculpture and be the next "Leaf of the Week"!

ps. I always respect your privacy and will contact project members for permission before sharing images.

Images top to bottom:

  1. Palmer's Indian Mallow porcelain leaf inspired by project member larandas.
  2. Natal Plum porcelain leaf inspired by project member shachidreams.
  3. Yellow Trumpet Flower cassius basaltic leaf inspired by project member megsdivinechoices.
  4. Creosote porcelain leaf inspired by a creosote bush along the trails near my home.

Thank you all for participating in this project.
See you next time!
Mary
www.marymeyerstudio.com

Publicado el junio 7, 2022 04:22 MAÑANA por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

10 de mayo de 2022

Welcome to The Leaf Connection!

Thank you for your interest in The Leaf Connection project! I'm excited to share about my newest art endeavor in this first journal post.

First a little bit about me and my obsession with leaves: I am a full-time studio artist living in Gold Canyon, AZ. I create large sculptural installations (typically made of clay carvings suspended by pins or needles) that focus on our connection with the natural world and the similarities between human and botanical anatomy. Arizona has been my home for over 25 years, though I'm originally from the Midwest. I spent most of my childhood on a farm in South Dakota where I developed a strong connection to nature-- especially leaves. Ubiquitous and beautiful, they encourage me to slow down and observe my surroundings. I often stop and pick up random leaves along sidewalks and trails. They are reminders of my own connection to the land.

I'm thrilled to be working in collaboration with Metro Phoenix EcoFlora and to use the iNaturalist platform for The Leaf Connection Project. I'm inspired by the iNaturalist community, and excited to see so many people engaging with nature, especially here in Arizona. My hope is that community engagement with nature will grow along with this project. Observations for the project will inform leaf designs for a vast wall installation that will carry hundreds of hand sculpted clay leaves (see concept sketch below). The installation will be mapped out to reflect the Phoenix metropolitan area and illustrate the diversity of plants and people in our desert home. The purpose of this project is to foster community and connection through art and bring awareness to our natural surroundings.


Installation concept sketch. Clay leaves on individual wood panels.

Stay tuned for more updates as things develop. I'll be posting regularly here as well as on social. Be sure to follow me at The Leaf Connection on Instagram

If you've already signed up as a member, thank you! If not, I hope you will consider joining the adventure. The project is based on observations made in Metro Phoenix (at least for now... but who knows?), although that does not mean you have to live here to take part. Anyone who is planning a visit during the project window can participate-- and who wouldn't want to share more pictures of the beautiful plants that grow in Metro Phoenix?

For more about my work, please visit my website: Mary Meyer Studio

Publicado el mayo 10, 2022 03:12 MAÑANA por marymeyerstudio marymeyerstudio | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario