Visual Arts

The Leaf Connection Artist Reception with Mary Meyer

About This Event

Artist reception celebrating the opening of The Leaf Connection Exhibition in the historic Webster Auditorium at the Desert Botanical Garden. The installation created by Mary Meyer showcases the vibrant plant diversity of the Phoenix metro area through an intricate display of hand-carved ceramic leaves. With close to 1,000 pieces and counting, each leaf's design is influenced by observations community members record on iNaturalist, an established online platform where nature lovers share information on biodiversity. This is a living installation; one that will evolve and grow during the year-long exhibit. As more people contribute observations on iNaturalist more leaves will be added.

#community #ceramics #clay #contemporary #fine art #installation

Featured Artists

Featured

Mary Meyer

artist

Mary Meyer is a sculptor and mixed media artist who explores our connection to the natural world through carved components and abstract forms. She holds a BFA in sculpture from Arizona State University where she studied foundry casting methods and metalworking. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Arizona, where she received the MFA Fellowship for her work with large mixed media installations. The artist has exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum; Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum; Tucson Museum of Art; Tempe Center for the Arts; and FOMA Gallery Santa Fe, among others. Public collections include Sky Harbor International Airport Museum; Mesa Art Center; City of Tempe; and Royal Caribbean International. She is an alumni member of Phoenix artist collectives Eye Lounge Contemporary Artspace and MARS Artspace, and has served as an adjunct professor teaching sculpture and 3D Design at Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Mary Meyer is currently working on The Leaf Connection: a community art project and living installation on exhibit at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden from August 2024 to August 2025. She lives and works in Gold Canyon, AZ, and has a studio at Cattle Track Arts Compound in Scottsdale.