Client: Dayton Metro Library - Huber Heights Branch

Overview

As an homage to the Dayton community, a city well known for innovation, this piece was designed to bring awareness to the need for championing sustainability and new ideas in recycling/reuse, as well as in hope that we as a society become more sensitive to environmental sustainability in the future. Therefore, the work was created with repurposed materials including old garden hoses and a mosaic of plastic, wood, glass and ceramic items, etc. The piece measures 6’0″H x 20’0″W x 9″D.

Goals

Inspired by the beauty of native plants and the importance of protecting pollinators, I created the piece Mellie’s Meadow in homage to fellow Ohioan, Mary Forrer Peirce (Mellie) and her 1869 work 'Growing Flowers', a piece found in the collection of The Dayton Art Institute. Utilizing repurposed materials with items destined for a landfill, I imagined a pastoral landscape in an expansion of her imagery.

Process

After submitting a proposal and being awarded the commission, I worked with Jayne Klose on gathering repurposed materials from the construction site as well as small items from local library patrons. Discussions and meetings took place with Susan Anable, Jayne, Nathaniel Stitzlein and the construction managers/contractors about weight and structural concerns to ensure that the piece would be safely installed. Progress photos were e-mailed to Susan and Jayne intermittently. Nathaniel Stitzlein assisted with construction details and Nathaniel, Danny and Max, with the Dayton Metro Library, assisted with the installation on site.