Artist Statement

             Marguerite Alpert

 

 

I am a lifelong gardener. I have spent many years with my hands in the soil, watching the marvel of the plant cycle – from seed, to flower, to fruiting plant. This life process fascinates me.

My practice centers on revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary and highlighting the intricate details in nature that we sometimes overlook. The transformation that occurs during the pressing and drying process is itself a form of artistic alchemy. Fresh flowers and leaves evolve from their three-dimensional form, becoming flattened through the process of pressure and time. This metamorphosis reveals hidden architecture: the delicate network of veins threading through petals becomes visible, colors change and intensify in unexpected ways. Textures emerge that were previously obscured by the plant’s living fullness.

This shows both the fragility and resilience of botanical life. These delicate, preserved specimens reveal the elegant structural details that make each specimen a masterpiece of natural design. My goal is to slow down the viewer’s gaze, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complex beauty that surrounds us daily, often unnoticed.

My collection features plants that I have grown from seed, harvested from generous friend’s gardens, and collected by roadsides throughout New England.

Inspiration for my art springs from many influences. Gardening with my grandmother captured my imagination and fostered my love of the outdoors when I was very young. This brought me to study horticulture, farming, landscaping, community gardening, volunteering, writing, and teaching. These experiences led me to take a closer look at nature.

I started pressing flowers and leaves inside heavy books to try to reproduce some of the botanical pressings I had admired in my botany books. The results captivated me. Details I had missed in the fresh plants were highlighted beautifully after the pressing and drying process. I have been making art out of pressed plants for 40 years, using four beautiful wooden presses handmade by my talented husband.