Alienweeds : The Invasive Species Harvest

2012

 

.Croydon Creek Nature Center

 

This limited-edition print is the product of a collaboration between Croydon Creek Nature Center, its volunteers and alienweeds.com. The project was funded by VisArts at Rockville. Proceeds from the sale of each print will be shared equally between Croydon Creek Nature Center and The Stone and Holt Weeks Foundation.

The 8.5" x 11" prints are available at the nature center for $25 each.

Weed-wood soot and Multiflora-Rose stem inks on Garlic Mustard paper. Norway Maple printing block.

 

 

 

Click image to see full piece

 

Days

Details from the show "Field Work"

 

Details from the show "Field Work" ~ March 8 through April 14, VisArts at Rockville

Nine artists investigate the relationships between community, resources, sustainability and art. Curated by Susan Main.

Featuring the work of: Dan Allende, Ian Cox, Selin Oguz Balci, Margaret Boozer, J.J. McCracken, Lynn Cazabon, Patterson Clark, Hugh Pocock, and Jackson Martin.

Reception: Friday, March 9, 7-9 pm

Saturday, March 24, 2-3:30 pm Artist panel discussion


VisArts at Rockville
155 Gibbs Street
Rockville, MD 20850

 

 

2011

The Weed Wrench.

The Weed Wrench

White Mulberry soot ink and Multiflora Rose stem ink on White Mulberry paper (edition of 3) with Norway Maple veneer matte and White Mulberry frame.

The alienweeds flag

 

 

White Mulberry flag ~ June 2011

Even on the same tree, White Mulberry leaves are highly variable. Many have a lopsided heart shape; others have leaf margins with deep sinuses, such as the one that modeled for this print.

After being skinned of their bark, branches bleach out white in the sun.

Printed on White Mulberry paper from a White Mulberry wood block, using White Mulberry wood-soot ink.

Print 8.5" x 11."

 

 

2-Vine Note; the Joan Furlong note

 

 

2-Vine Note ~ April 2011

Two ground-running English Ivy vines were processed to make the paper for each impression of this print, which features an image of Joan Furlong, program manager for Friends of Rock Creek's Environment.

Printed from a Norway Maple block, using mixed-weed soot ink and multiflora rose-stem inks.

Print 11" x 8.5"

 

 


28-Stalk Note

 

 

28-Stalk Note ~ April 2011

In early spring, Garlic Mustard grows as a rosette close to the ground. In April, a plant entering its second year will bolt, sending up a long stalk of leaves and flowers.

Late April is the best time to harvest the weed for paper, after it has begun flowering, but before the plant develops ripe seeds.

Leaves, flowers and green fruits are bagged and sent to the landfill. Composting the material is a bad move for gardeners, as it creates allelopathic soil that discourages germination of other seeds.

The paper of each 28-Stalk Note is made from about 28 stems of Garlic Mustard. Mixed-weed-soot ink and Multiflora-Rose-stem ink were printed from a Norway Maple woodblock.

Print 11" x 17"

 

 

 

 

 

4-Ink Note

 

4-Ink Note ~ March 2011

Tiled 11" x 17" prints on Paper Mulberry paper, using inks from Norway Maple, Multiflora Rose, Leatherleaf Mahonia and White Mulberry, printed from Norway Maple blocks.

Edition of one.

33" x 17"

Detail:

4-Ink Note detail

3 Weed Note 2011

 

3-Weed Note ~ Feb. 2011

A refinement of the 2009 print, printed with three invasive species:

Multiflora Rose roots yield a muted orange pigment in February; burned rose canes provide soot for black ink.

White Mulberry planks were glued together and cut with a laser engraver to make the printing block.

English Ivy vines were steamed, stripped, dried, shredded, cooked, pulped and drawn into sheets for the paper.

Running edition

Print 17" x 11"

 

 

 

 


2010
13 Gram Note

13-Gram Note ~ October 2010

Cured mature English Ivy vines were chipped and burned. The collected soot was used to make a deep-black printing ink. Each print required the incineration of 13 grams of vine.

The rusty orange ink is a carotenoid pigment from the roots of Asiatic Bittersweet, mixed with a small amount of Leatherleaf Mahonia yellow pigment.

Printed from a Norway Maple block.

Edition of 10

8.5" x 11"

 

Collecting soot

Collecting soot

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Ivy Vine Veneer

Ivy Vine Veneer ~ October 2010

Thick, arborized English Ivy vines were cured for three years and sliced into veneer that was then cut and engraved with a laser. Discs are two inches in diameter, each numbered on the back; 150 stacked inside the dried bark-skin of an old ivy vine.

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14-Stalk Note

 

14-Stalk Note ~ Spring 2010

Fourteen stalks of Garlic Mustard were pulped for each 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of this print. Inks from Norway Maple soot, Asiatic Bittersweet roots, White Mulberry leaves and Leatherleaf Mahonia bark were printed onto the paper with a Norway Maple block.

Running edition

Print 11" x 8.5"

 

 

 

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2009
11-weed blend

 

 

 

 

 

11-Weed Blend ~ December 2009

Eleven species of local invasive plants were gathered and made into a single paper blend. Nine relief prints were tiled into a single banner, 31" x 49."

The 11 contributors:

Paper Mulberry

Devil's Tail Tearthumb

Asiatic Bittersweet

Eurasian Stinging Nettle

English Ivy

White Mulberry

Porcelainberry

Japanese Honeysuckle

Garlic Mustard

Rose of Sharon

Multiflora Rose

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

Text and images © 2009, Patterson Clark; Web design by alienweeds