« The organs of the vegetating and flowering plant, though seemingly dissimilar, all originate from a single organ, namely, the leaf. » Goethe
As I finished up my series, « Forest Variations, » this spring, and as I continued to contemplate the beauty of each leaf I printed, I found myself often musing about Goethe’s idea of the metamorphosis of plants.
Inspired by the diversity of plants, Goethe sought unity of form in diverse structures. For him the leaf is a proteic entity capable of hiding or revealing itself in all plant forms, from the root and stem leaves to the calyx and corolla, to pistil and stamens.
Though this series is finished and all 500 small to medium sized paintings are now on my website, I continue to study the leaf within my larger studies of the plant world.
I have begun to take people on botanical walks to introduce them to wild edible and medicinal plants. And I will once again, as in the past years organize workshops on the observation of the plant inspired by Goethe’s vision. New forms of social art in and with nature is becoming more and more essential today.
Creating this series has brought me great joy, has brought me closer to the plant and I have great delight in seeing people’s shining eyes ans smiles when they behold them in my gallery or during my exhibits.
« The organs of the vegetating and flowering plant, though seemingly dissimilar, all originate from a single organ, namely, the leaf. » Goethe