leaves of three, will you remember me? (2022)
Linen fabric, synthetic thread, cotton embroidery thread, and pine wood frame. 50cm x 86 cm.
This work is permanently displayed at the Kortright Centre for Conservation, located at 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. L4L 1A6.
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A printed poison ivy pocket book was co-created with graphic designer Vibeke Silverthorne for the in-person workshop series. Click here to view a digital copy - physical copies available upon request.
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How and why have we become disconnected from the land and plants which grow beneath our feet? This wealth of knowledge, once passed to us through stories or cautionary tales, taught us what we could eat and what could cause us harm. Yet now we can barely remember this poisonous plant, let alone its identification rhyme, which grows at the edge of our park paths unless it causes us harm.
Poison ivy is native to both North America and Eastern Asia. It can be found in almost all environments, including roadsides, gardens, forests, and riverbanks. Depending on where it grows, this plant's leaves can range in shape, colour, or size. The height of Poison ivy can vary too from a short shrub to a tall climbing vine. The best way to identify Poison ivy is to see the placement of the leaves; the two outer leaves will be attached together at the main stem, and the middle leaf will have a slightly longer stem than the other two. If you are unsure if a plant is Poison ivy or not, it is best to stay away and stay on the path. Poison ivy's clear sap, called Urushiol, can cause an itching, irritating, and painful rash that can last a few weeks on your skin. This clear sap dries down to a sticky dark brown resin which can still cause a reaction years after it dries. So it is important to wash anything that encounters Poison ivy with hot water and a hard soap to help prevent further reactions.
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leaves of three, will you remember me? is a collaborative artwork created through a series of educational embroidery workshops with a focus on Poison ivy facilitated by artist Sarah Zanchetta in partnership with the Kortright Centre for Conservation. Each embroidered square of this piece was sewn with care by a workshop participant. We are thankful for each participant’s curiosity about the land we live upon and openness to share, learn, and try new things. Without them this artwork would not have been possible.
Participants’ names in the order of embroidered square placement (from top row left to right): Simone, Kai, Bohdan, Lexi, Aly, Vibeke, Bethany, Teresa, Tansin, Lucia, Afsana, Jack, Carlo, Sarah, Sarah, Margaret, Julia, Michelle, Kadence, Elena, Cedric, Janine, Tasneem, and Vicky.
- text by Simone Granieri and Sarah Zanchetta
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