The Plant Library , 2015

Drawing from a hypothesis introduced by biologist and theorist E.O. Wilson in the 1980’s, the term biophilia refers to the “innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms”.

Research has proves as much: our physical environment affects the neurology of our brain, our sense of belonging, and our health.

Humans are more relaxed, have better mental health and exhibit increased educational performance when given access to the outdoors, plants and animals. Unfortunately up until recently, our workplaces and schools were designed to exclude all three.

Insert The Plant Library.

A self-checkout library of various plants, wood shavings, twigs, nuts and cones, housed within a public library.

Patrons of the Plant Library had a 24-hour check-out period to take their ligneous or herbaceous companions to their office desk, a stressful exam, a first day of class.

Each plant was given a library card indexing its personality, treatment preferences and care requirements.

The pencils provided are custom printed with the Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’s 5th law of library science "The library is a living organism”.

Midsummer Mural, 2023

Most murals in the Copper Country reflect its mining history, which is undeniably significant. But that legacy often overshadows the richness of day-to-day life, especially the magic of sharing this region with plants and animals.

The Downtown Houghton Revitalization Project was about bringing bold, vivid energy to downtown, and the Midsummer Mural concept was our way of highlighting parts of the area that weren’t yet visually represented.

Houghton has about 8 months of winter, which means 3/4 of the year are blanketed by mud or snow. Thanks to collaborator Kristi Damann of Bristle and Whim, we were able to design and paint this vibrant mural celebrating the brief and lively energy of mid summer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

The parking deck in particular is located along a corridor that must be traveled. It is place to bring attention to the elements of the area that are still alive (if we protect them): sandhill cranes, woodpeckers wildflowers, juneberries, vetch and beach peas, porcupines, wild blueberries, thimbleberries, raspberries, birch trees, hemlocks, frogs, trout, pike, bugs, and so much more.

Society of Fog Desert Plants Centennial Election

I was Invited by Twin Cities Public Television to collaborate with the University of Minnesota’s CBS Conservatory for the overnight interactive art even Northern Spark in 2017. Working with Director Lisa Philander The Centennial Election of Fog Desert Plants was the the first of its kind to bring to the public a vote of who they believed who be the plant most likely to survive climate change over the next century.

The method of anonymous slip and envelope was based off of France’s still practiced election process.

Adapted to three biomes since, the plant elections remain a tangible way to connect ourselves to the survival of other species, recognizing that regardless of your ballot, you vote with your actions every day.

Climate Poetry, State of Wisconsin’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy

Project North is an art and cultural festival that showcases regional music, interactive art, workshops, installations and locally oriented community-centered experiences. It has an environmentally engaged theme as it brings people together to celebrate the Northern Wisconsin Landscape

The Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy is a branch of the State of Wisconsin government tasked with implementing the State’s Clean Energy Plan- a multi-year initiative to meet the state’s carbon-free power and climate goals.

In order to gain public input on the states plan and its implementation, OSCE commissioned a interactive exhibit to uncover where community members concerns and interests lie.

Climate Poetry, based on the popular mid-2000’s magnetic poetry craze is uses a custom magnetic chalk board and hand-carved magnetic wooden words where people could build their own poetic expressions about the climate. Over 100 words, pulled directly from the state plan, were carved into birchwood and painted for a weekend of art, music and climate poetry.