Emily grew up in Natick, MA and moved to Martha’s Vineyard when she was a teenager. After 15 years of horticultural work, Emily began cultivating an art practice. That was five years ago. Photographs of her leaf art have been shown in public libraries; this is her first exhibition.
In the five years I’ve been making leaf art, I’ve shared it through gifting and bartering, via a subscription-based postal art project, and by fulfilling meaningful commissions.
With this exhibition as my motivation, I attempted to answer two questions. 1. Is it possible to communicate the generosity I feel from trees? 2. Can I embrace ways of holding onto my leaf artwork beyond the moment it’s created?
At its core, leaf art is process-based and ephemeral. If I take a picture of the finished composition, however, I’m able to hold onto it, share it, and transform it further.
I like to think of the photographs I take as digital compost, and I remain curious about their potential.
Whether I share artwork or not, creating with my chosen medium encourages behaviors like regular walking, observation and community engagement. It helps me embrace solitude, and inspires me to engage in visioning which helps guide my behavior. It helps me practice problem solving, self-care, and requires me to go outside my comfort zone.
Thanks for being a witness.