Follow along with this Virtual Drop In Workshop for a guided activity on how to make paper flowers and butterflies, symbols, and other imagery found in Ebony G. Patterson’s work from magazine pages.
For ages: 8 years–adult
Time it takes: About 60 minutes
Ebony G. Patterson’s artwork can be described as lavish, opulent, and captivating, even as it deals with complex issues of pain and oppression. She uses various mediums such as paper, felt, fabric, beads, and photography, and across her work is the unifying theme of gardens and flowers. For Patterson, the garden is a metaphor for control. Who are they named after? Who cares for them? She uses beauty and embellishment as a way to draw the viewer in for a closer look. Once we are there, we discover that these vibrant artworks have tears in the paper, incomplete body parts, and other clues that the scene is less delicate than at first glance. Her artworks are an invitation to reflect on cycles of destruction and creation, both their beauty and violence.
For more activities from CAM's Art Toolkit, visit camstl.org/programs/cam-anywhere/art-toolkit.
