Diario del proyecto The Leaf Connection

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

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!