We are excited to welcome artist Maia Mattson to the Backyard Growcery for Seed Stories: 14 weeks of free, all ages eco-art programming offered at the Backyard Growcery from July 10th to the end of the 2024 market season. From a place of curiosity and play, we invite participants of all ages and ability to explore various methods of nature-based art making. Using eco materials sourced directly from our market vendors and local businesses, we will be making naturally dyed plant paper embedded with native seeds so that the art will grow when planted.

For the first eight weeks, we will be making plant paper! Every workshop is designed with maximum accessibility in mind so that participants of all ages, abilities, and interest can join in the process. Participants will have hands-on opportunities to make paper pulp, strain the pulp into molds,  and press seeds and flowers into their paper to create unique designs. Each week we will focus on a specific, naturally derived color for our paper making, so that by the end of the 8 weeks, we will have an incredible collection of colorful, plantable paper.

During week 9 and 10 we will explore natural ink making, creating colors from locally sourced plants and organic materials.

The remaining weeks will feature collage and sewing based activations where participants can create their own paper compositions. Participants can choose whether they would like to keep their seed paper compositions, or contribute their artwork to a large-scale community composition that will be sewn together by the end of the Backyard Growcery season.

This FREE community programming is made possible through the generous support of the  Essex County Community Foundation, CreativeCounty, and Awesome Gloucester.