Weeds as wellness workshop; Seeds of Change: New York--A Botany of Colonization, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, New York, 2018.
Seeds of Change – New York, A Botany of Colonization is a project by artist Maria Thereza Alves that explores colonialism, slavery and global commerce through the lens of displaced plants in ballast, the waste material historically used to balance ships in maritime trade. In 2017, I consulted with the Vera List Center for Art and Politics to research, propagate and maintain an installation of ballast flora for an exhibition of the project at the Parsons School of Design Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries. In 2018, I designed and implemented Seeds of Change – New York, A Botany of Colonization; A Ballast Flora Garden in three partner locations; on the High Line’s Western Railyards at 30th Street as part of Agora, at the Weeksville Heritage Center, and at Pioneer Works. This work included co-designing and leading hands-on workshops, events and programs; including a series of weed walks focusing on each site entitled; Wild Plants, Queer Landscapes, a Lunchtime Reading Session on the High Line and a Summer Youth Garden Program at Pioneer Works. 2017 – 2018.
Learn more in the New York Times.