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Stewardship Session - Eco-Art with Invasive Plants - October 2023

October 10, 2023 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Stewardship Session - Eco-Art with Invasive Plants - October 2023 photo

Did you know that invasive plants can be made into paper, baskets, and even furniture? In the growing field of environmental art or "eco-art", industrial designers and artists are experimenting with new ways of using invasive plants. Join us for a Zoom Stewardship Session where we will welcome a panel of experts to share examples of their work with invasive plants and describe their creative process. There will be opportunity for dialogue and questions at the end of the session.

Presenter Biographies

Grace Nombrado has a background in Elementary teaching and is currently the Executive Director of Free the Fern Stewardship Society and the Communication Coordinator with ISCMV. She has a passion for invasive removal and native planting. In 2021, after taking an ivy weaving workshop with Still Moon Arts Society, Grace began leading her own weaving workshops and has since expanded to teaching at local community centres and with other local non-profits. Grace will be partnering with Van Dusen Gardens to run an ivy weaving workshop on Nov 25.

Joshua Ralph is a media and community-engaged eco-artist. He’s worked across Southwest BC, developing and delivering programming on rendering invasive plants, harvested from local restoration sites, to create useable art-making materials. His work includes making paper, pencils, ink and more out of invasive plants.  Joshua’s practice aims to serve as a bridge between ecology and art, providing environmentally sustainable and accessible art supplies to his fellow community members. This fall, he will be partnering with the Stanley Park Ecology Society to run a series of eco-art workshops.

Sam Alder is an industrial designer who has been researching a socially, technologically and ecologically effective way to stop the spread of invasive Himalayan Blackberry in the Pacific Northwest. He has achieved this by developing an innovative processes of separating and converting parts of the plant into useful and beautiful materials for furniture, home goods and interior decoration. Sam has presented his work through Still Moon Arts Society and has recently been partnering with Sharon Kallis of the Earthand Gleaners.

Resources Shared During this Event

Recording of the session

Arts and crafts with invasive plants - tips from our friends from the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (note that disposal tips from the Sea to Sky region are not valid for the Metro Vancouver region)

Stewardship groups in Metro Vancouver

Prevent the spread of invasives species

Sam Alder - Webpage

Earthhand Gleaners - led by local Eco-Artist Sharon Kallis

Joshua Ralph - Webpage

Guerrilla Invasive Removal Instagram link (Erica's weaving and experiments inspired Joshua)

Kristian Brevik (writing was very influential on Joshua's work)

Daniela Naomi Molnar has some incredible time-based eco art (recommended by Joshua)

Paper Making with Joshua Ralph

Still Moon Arts - local non-profit who run eco-art workshops

Weaving with Ivy -  webpage

Weaving with Ivy - YouTube instructional video

November 25, 2023 Basket Weaving Course Grace is teaching at VanDusen Gardens (in-person in Vancouver)