An artist and a gardener, in her latest exhibit, Lisa Watson combines her two loves.
“I cannot fully express the story of our remaining fragile environments without incorporating an art practice of reusing materials to prevent waste and unnecessary consumption,” said Watson.
Beginning on March 9 until May 5, artist Watson will premier the Avant Gardener exhibit at the Averitt Center for the Arts.
In Avant Gardener: A Creative Exploration of Imperiled Species, she explores how loss of habitat, sprawl, chemical spraying, invasive exotic species and poachers are changing native habitats.
Since 2019, with the help of biologists and regional naturalists, Watson has ventured into the surrounding landscapes to study endangered, threatened and rare plants.
In the past, botanical illustrations were used by scientists and physicians for classification. What once was documented as discoveries, Watson feels an urgency to pay homage to before they disappear. Watson’s materials are also essential to her process.
“Industrial wood scrap becomes my canvas. Shredded documents and security envelopes transform into lush foliage and textured landscapes,” she said.
The exhibition is accompanied by composer Eric Chasalow’s 'What Shade of Green is Our Horizon?' The 42-minute aural land and seascape was composed to accompany Avant Gardener.
A reception will be held on March 9 at 5:30 p.m. to mark the opening of the exhibit. For more information, click here.
