Description
‘Perennation II’ by Sarah Boyce
Artist: Sarah Boyce
Title: ‘Perennation II’
Medium: Graphite on Stonehenge paper
Dimensions: 13″ x 13″
Framing: Unframed
Year of Creation: 2023
About the Artwork:
“Perennation refers to a plant’s capacity to survive from season to season, particularly through winter or other adverse conditions, with the use of an underground storage element such as a bulb or tuber. Scopolia, a lesser known plant from the nightshade family with a similar type of storehouse, a rhizome, is highly poisonous. It has been used in traditional and folk medicine, and like many other types of poisonous plants, with nefarious intent throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Scopolia carniolica, also known as henbane bell, grows throughout eastern and central Europe. It has some association with Slovenia, as there is a particular variety of this plant that is native to this region alone. Some of my ancestry comes from this part of the world. This piece also touches on transformation myths found throughout folklore, and more specifically, in ancient Greek mythology, where metamorphoses between the human and plant or animal realms can involve themes of reward, protection, deceit, or retribution.” – Sarah Boyce
About the Artist:
(Artist Bio)
Sarah Boyce (Garlands & Gravestones) is a painter and illustrator from Michigan, living in Washington, DC. Her work explores imagery and folklore related to holidays, the changing seasons, and our relationship to the natural world. With equal interest in classical painting and imagery from popular culture, she is particularly influenced by horror films, Halloween, memento mori artwork, still life painting, and ancient mythology. She received a BFA from Western Michigan University and an MFA from the University of Memphis.