The Herbarium Print Series - 10"x10" Etchings stitched onto handmade cattail paper with pressed orders flowers

This is an individual piece from a larger collection of orders prints known as “The Herbarium” from my MFA Thesis show, “Vestiges.” Each print is a singular expression, speaking to a larger ecological conversation about sourcing natural materials and connecting to place. The prints together create a biodiverse ecosystem representing the complexities of our co-dependent relationship with the natural world.

Each of these prints are one of a kind or 1/1. The black and white sections are etchings made from hand-sawed copper plates and etched using an intaglio process known as aquatint. All the etchings are to-scale representations inspired by my personal archive of found natural artifacts. Each plate is inked, wiped and run through an etching press to produce a print. The prints are then cut out and hand stitched to the background paper, which is handmade from foraged cattails. All the flowers were ethically harvested, pressed and stitched to the cattail paper as well.

These prints are especially delicate - Please exercise extreme caution when handling them. Please be aware, that although the ink and paper are archival, the pressed flowers will slowly fade in color over time. The best way to ensure their longevity is to keep them out of direct sunlight. They can be displayed in a sunny room, but it is strongly recommended that no sunbeams are ever shining directly on them. Since they were hung by nails in an exhibition, there will be some miner tears and holes in the paper. All photographs represent the prints as they currently are and as you shall receive them. Frames are very strongly encouraged to safeguard their integrity.