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Do you remember the handmade, pressed flower pictures that your mother or grandmother used to make? Meg Perry proudly presents her interpretation of this nostalgic, Victorian art form using watercolors, pressed flowers and other materials.
The flowers found in her handmade products are raised in her own gardens, or collected from the prairie. As the flowers bloom, they are gathered and quickly arranged in presses and placed under continuous pressure to retain their color and vitality.
The creative process begins once the flowers are removed from the press. All handmade items are one of a kind. Floral designs are mounted on acid-free papers and placed in antique or vintage frames. Bookmarks, magnets, jewelry and other items are sealed in mylar to preserve their fresh look.
"I began working with pressed flowers while still living in Los Angeles, California, where I received a flower press as a gift. At that time I discovered a talent for converting pressed flowers into pictures, bookmarks, and other items. When I moved to Kansas, I found the rural peacefulness and natural beauty of the prairie to be a real stimulus to my artwork.
I love to experiment with different materials and methods, and use such things as old lace, old postcards and vintage frames. This past year I have incorporated watercolors and pen and ink into my work. If I were asked if my work makes a statement, my only answer would be that it shows a pleasure of nature and the enjoyment of the natural beauty that surrounds us. I really enjoy working with the botanicals from planting and raising them to completing the finished work. And I hope that others will find pleasure in viewing my interpretations.
Last year I joined the Columbian Artist Group. My work has been exhibited in their first and second juried shows at the Columbian Theatre, as well as in Gallery North in Wamego. 'Heart of the Prairie,' was selected for the Heartland Art Series (1999) at the Cowley County College. I have also exhibited at the Smoky Hill Art Competition (1999), the Wichita Lawn, Garden and Flower Show (2000), and in June 2000, much of the work currently on display was featured at the Unitarian Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. I also participate in 12-15 art shows and craft fairs each year.
I was raised in Connecticut in a rural area and grew up gardening. I began college in New Haven, Connecticut, and some 30 years later, completed a BA in English and an MA in Geography and Urban Analysis at California State University, Los Angeles. I currently work for the City of Topeka as the Neighborhood Services Director." --Meg Perry
For more information about this or any other exhibit at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, call Sarah Bohndorf at (913) 596-5800, or email sbohnd@kckpl.lib.ks.us.
