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Native Plant Triptych
Multicolored laser cut acrylic
April 2023
An acrylic triptych made to mimic the effect of stained glass. From left to right, the plants depicted are common milkweed plant, Ozark Chinquapin tree, and narrow-leaved purple coneflower. All are native to Missouri and were chosen based on their ecological importance and use by Indigenous peoples.
In Western society, nature is seen only as something to dominate. By mimicking stained glass, traditionally used to depict subjects of religious significance, I sought to show nature as something to instead protect and venerate. When light shines through the pieces, the plants are projected into three-dimensional space, transforming them into ephemeral, spiritual entities that rightfully share their space with human observers.
Common milkweed is the sole host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars, and provides nectar to a variety of pollinator insects. It can also be eaten in various stages of growth. On the roundel, its different stages of growth are depicted in clockwise order. Flower buds form in the bottom left, bloom, develop into spiky green seed pods, and finally burst to spread their downy seeds on the wind.
The Ozark Chinquapin tree used to be the dominant tree in southern Missouri's forests before being decimated by chestnut blight. Its hardwood is useful in building projects, and its nuts are nutritious and can be used to dye fabrics. The left detail shows blooming male catkins and female burrs, which develop and bear fruit in the right detail. The stylized furrows on the tree’s bark indicate its maturity.
Narrow-leaved purple coneflower is an important pollinator plant and is the most widely used medicinal plant in Plains Indian cultures, used to treat a motley of conditions including sore throats, toothaches, rattlesnake bites, indigestion, and more. Here its bloom is represented in three clockwise stages, framed by its leaves.
Milkweed color mockup. Before ordering my acrylic, I made color mockups of my pieces. I had a limited amount of funds, so I had to make sure they all worked with the same 8 or so colors.
Ozark Chinquapin color mockup. Before ordering my acrylic, I made color mockups of my pieces. I had a limited amount of funds, so I had to make sure they all worked with the same 8 or so colors.
Purple coneflower color mockup. Before ordering my acrylic, I made color mockups of my pieces. I had a limited amount of funds, so I had to make sure they all worked with the same 8 or so colors.
Milkweed linework. To laser cut the triptych, I first designed the linework as raster images and then traced them into cuttable vectors.
Ozark Chinquapin linework. To laser cut the triptych, I first designed the linework as raster images and then traced them into cuttable vectors.
Purple coneflower linework. To laser cut the triptych, I first designed the linework as raster images and then traced them into cuttable vectors.
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