"Plants inspire me and have deepened my awareness of the environment. By studying local ecology, particularly the Garry oak ecosystem, I have learned to explore the world with greater care. In this body of work, I highlight specific plants, plant communities, plant energetics, root systems, imagined gardens, and seasonal cycles.

My artistic practice is a hybrid approach, heavily influenced by my experiences as a gardener and my work at a native plant nursery- where I do plant propagation, garden design, and restoration projects. I enjoy painting outdoors, allowing the elements—wind, rain, and sunshine—to collaborate with me. This interaction brings a vitality to my work that I could not achieve on my own.

In this exhibition, I draw inspiration from both the sky and the underground root systems, focusing on the connections between them: leaves, petals, and pollinators."

-Andrea Simmonds

Friday RSVP Evening: October 11th, 5-8pm | Artist Talk: October 12th, 1pm
Show: October 9th-19th