Garden As Gathering, 2025, marigold dye and petals on reclaimed cotton

As part of Modern Fuel ARC's  Annual Juried Exhibition, Growing Together

This work highlights the slow and intentional process of making things in relationship with the earth, and with one another. The subject is the humble marigold, known for being a good “companion plant”. It can attract pollinators to your garden, divert slugs away from more delicate plants, and even repel nematodes in the soil. The word companion, or compagnon, is derived from compaignon in Old French (from Latin com- (together) and panis (bread)), meaning to break bread with one another. 

In the spirit of Modern Fuel’s juried exhibition theme Growing Together, community members are offered an opportunity to break bread together, or in this case, break apart marigold flowers to create a piece of art. The artist will bundle and steam the piece to transfer the dye from the marigold petals onto the pre-mordanted fabric.

Photos courtesy of Chris Miner