Come see the botanical illustrations created by students in The Artist Naturalist course!
Opening: Friday, May 6 4:00-5:00pm
Visitor’s Center, Historic St. Mary’s City
This project is a joint effort between St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary’s City. The students in The Artist Naturalist class did not have previous experience in botanical illustration. Instead, they came from diverse majors at the College including Environmental Studies, Psychology, Philosophy, Biology, Economics, Anthropology, English and Art, with a willing spirit to learn new skills and take up the ambitious assignment to research, draw and paint the plants of Colonial Maryland.
For this project the class, taught by Professor of Art Sue Johnson, worked with Director of Education Peter A. Friesen, and Curator of Collections Silas Hurry of Historic St. Mary’s City to develop art that can be used for educational purposes. This exhibit presents depictions of various plants that were used by American Indians and Europeans that lived in Maryland. The use of plants ranged from food to religious purposes. The styles in which the plants are drawn mimic that of herbals of the time period. These herbals were used to teach the public and scientists of the time about all the different plants that were being discovered, or to teach people how to cure themselves of illness. Please enjoy this exhibit and see how many of these plants you can find throughout the trails and outdoor exhibits of Historic St. Mary’s City.
ART 390 The Artist Naturalist is cross-listed the Environmental Studies and Museum Studies.
Full exhibition dates TBA (tentative – through the summer months). Updated information will be posted on HSMC website: http://www.hsmcdigshistory.org