What started out in Spring of 2012 as a plot of flowers in downtown Phoenix has morphed into a beautiful art show at Combine Studios. The Valley of the Sunflowers Paper Project is a testament to what happens when you give a group of artists two pieces of well-made paper and free creative reign.
Dana Lemoine, Rachel Nore, and Kerri Harding spent months perfecting the process of turning sunflowers into paper before handing it off to several artists for the final stage of the project, and this First Friday we all get to enjoy the results. (We covered the setup back in December if you'd like to know more about the inception of the idea).
See Also: - Valley of the Sunflowers Papermaking Project Combines Sustainability and Local Art - Parazol Studios Hosting Custom Arcade Art Show During February's First Friday
The Valley of the Sunflowers Paper Project Exhibition includes works by 26 artist. These artists came primary from ASU's printmaking program by way of professors John Risseeuw and Dan Meyer, both of whom also have pieces on display.
Truthfully the prints tend to be some of the strongest pieces in the exhibition, but the variety in medium is an essential part of what makes the show work as a whole. The show is lighthearted and fun while still displaying a high level of skill and attention to detail.
Though the artists were given no thematic constraints, many of the pieces reflect the ideas of sustainability and community that were central to the Valley of the Sunflowers from the beginning, bringing the project full circle.
The show will be on display through February 10th at Combine Studios, but the gallery doesn't hold regular hours during the week, so make sure to check it out this First Friday from 6 to 10 p.m.. Visit the Valley of the Sunflowers Paper Project event page
