Portfolio > Wetlands Elegy

Wetlands Elegy, at Mosnart visiting artist project space, addresses the previous terrain of the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. This area existed as wet prairie, abundant with native plants and wildlife, until the environment was altered by industrial and human development. The biodiversity was challenged by dwindling habitat and invasive species, resulting in extinct and endangered populations.

Wetlands Elegy begins with Wild Things, an outdoor artwork consisting of a variety of seeds arranged to depict the images of extinct species from the region. As animals and the elements disperse the seed, the image will disappear, revealing text from a quote by conservationist Aldo Leopold. Periodically, new seed images will be installed. “Wild Things” is part of the Terrain Biennial, an international public art event.

The exhibition continues to the transom of Mosnart, with a drawing of birds on the window glass combining with reflections of the sky. The interior space includes a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. surrounded by silverpoint drawings based on extinct and endangered wetlands species.

In addition to the exhibition there was a guided hike of the Big Marsh wetlands by ecologist Dr. Alison Anastasio and a dinner by super hosts JB Daniel and Amy Lindner, to whom I am forever grateful for the Mosnart opportunity.

Chicago Magazine Article by Malvika Jolly

Full version of Chicago Magazine article by Malvika Jolly

Click on images for larger views and more information.

American Bur Reed
copper and silver metalpoint, graphite, on prepared panel
6 x 24 inches
Little Prickly Sedge
silver and copper metalpoint and graphite on prepared panel
6 x 24 inches
Thismia Americana
copper and silver metalpoint, graphite, on prepared panel
6 x 24 inches
Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid
copper and silver metalpoint, graphite, on prepared panel
6 x 24 inches
Detail, Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid
silver and copper metalpoint and graphite on prepared panel
6 x 24 inches
Passenger Pigeon (Martha)
copper and silver metalpoint, graphite, on prepared panel
8 x 8 inches
Blandings Turtle
copper and silver metalpoint, graphite, on prepared panel
8 x 8 inches
Wetlands Elegy Transom
marker on glass
Wetlands Elegy
Marker on glass
12 x 33 inches
Wetlands Elegy
marker on glass
14 x 33 inches
Wild Things
seed, paint on prepared substrate
60 x 60 inches
Wild Things - Thismia Americana
seed on painted substrate
joanne aono, thismia americana, seed art installation
seed, paint, polymer substrate
60 x 60 inches
Detail, Wild Things - Thismia Americana
seed, paint, polymer substrate
60 x 60 inches
Wild Things
seed on hand painted polymer substrate
60 x 60 inches
Wild Things
paint on polymer substrate
60 x 60 inches
Wild Things
paint on preparedvpolymer substrate
60 x 60 inches
Detail, Wild Things
paint on polymer substrate
60 x 60 inches