Curated by Shirley Watts

Archiving Eden: Exchange is an outdoor, interactive art installation evoking the power of collaboration in caring for the environment. Artist Dornith Doherty will present a transparent structure adorned with 5,000 vibrant X-ray images of native California seeds.

Over time and with viewer participation, the installation will change physically and visually, creating a living seed bank by replacing the colorful X-ray tiles with envelopes of single seeds.

Schedule for Seed Exchange Events

-Saturday, September 21; 9-11am
-Sunday, September 22; 9-11am
-Sunday, October 6; 9-11am
-Monday, October 14; 9-11am
-Saturday, October 19; 9-11am
-Sunday, November 3; 1-3pm
-Monday, November 11; 1-3pm
-Saturday, November 16; 1-3pm

Curated by Shirley Watts of Natural Discourse, Archiving Eden: Exchange also features 16 large images from Doherty’s ongoing #Photo series, “Archiving Eden: The Vaults.” These stunning photos reveal the vital role of seed banks worldwide in preserving biodiversity amidst climate change, species extinction, and reduced agricultural diversity.

Dornith Doherty is an American artist working with photography, video and scientific imaging. Since 2008, she has worked with renowned biologists at the most comprehensive international seed banks in the world to create her multifaceted work Archiving Eden.

Many thanks to our supporters: Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, the College of Visual Arts + Design University of North Texas, Ann Hatch, Anonymous, Natural Discourse, the Missouri Botanical Garden, KUBTEC, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

Photos by Marlyn Woo/Joanne Wilborn