Reading Wild Plants

This series of accordion-folded books uses the biodata gathered from our video Listening to Our Plant Neighbours to generate visual data. The biodata forms dots, bars, and amorphous shapes that represent the plants’ electrical signals.

Each book is covered with cotton that is naturally dyed using the corresponding plant: goldenrod, sumac, reed, and pokeweed. The books can be held in two hands and read from page to page, or spread open on a surface as a sculptural object.

My participation in the artist-in-residence program at De-Construkt in Brooklyn NY, was made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the New Brunswick Arts Board, and Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation. Thank you.