Harlem Roots: New Seed-Laced Artwork is a Living, Growing Tapestry

Art has taken root in Harlem – literally. For the next month, Harlem gallery <a href="http://www.casafrela.com/HomePage">Casa Frela</a> will be exhibiting <a href="http://michelebrody.com/">Michelle Brody</a>'s <a href="http://www.casafrela.com/Drawing+Roots%3A+An+Environmental+Installation">Harlem Roots</a>, a mixed-media showcase of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/recyclable-paper/">recyclable paper</a> laced with seeds that will actually grow. Brody’s latest work is an environmental installation that blends together handmade sheets of paper with classic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/pier-15-by-shop-architects-and-ken-smith-opens-on-the-east-river-waterfront-esplanade/">watermarking techniques</a> for a display that will change as the embedded plants sprout and bloom!

Brody created the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/artist-anna-wili-highfield-creates-magical-animal-sculptures-from-paper/">paper craftwork</a> by forming her own sheets of recycled paper. It’s a technique that’s helpful the to environment and it also allows Brody to employ old watermarking techniques to imprint the pages with designs.

It’s a way of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/takayuki-hori-beautiful-x-ray-origami-animals-shine-light-on-8-endangered-species/">painting art inside of paper</a> in the same way dollar bills or resume paper has markings that are only visible in piercing light. The intricate technique allows the art to create a sense of depth even on something as two-dimensional as paper.

For this particular set of Harlem Root artwork pieces, Brody created a set of ghostly pamphlet-sized books. Each page resembles the surrounding brownstone houses around Casa Frela with roots to represent the current rebirth of Harlem and how the community is taking root in their neighborhood.

The paper art was also planted with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/compostable-sculptures-human-forms-sprout-from-wheatgrass/">wheatgrass</a> and </a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/word-sprout-magic-bean/">beans sprouts</a> seeds to give the paper a lifelike design. On most of the Harlem Roots pieces, you’re actually seeing the roots of the plant.

While Brody arranged the seeds in a particular fashion, she allows the roots to fan out naturally, letting <a href="http://inhabitat.com/artist-byron-rich-creates-and-interactive-bio-sculpture-map-of-the-world/">life take on its own shape</a>.

Michelle Brody's Harlem Roots work grows plants into paper.

Alternatively, other pieces also use the roots to form a natural binding element to connect multiple sheets of paper.

The pages here are literally held together using plant roots

In a fitting use of wheatgrass seeds, Brody has sown a field of actual wheat grass seeds.

On top of giving life to the artwork, the plants can also introduce interesting textures and depth to the art.

In some cases life is bursting out of the paper.

The Harlem Roots gallery will be open daily at Casa Frela from now to December 9, 12pm to 4pm. The exhibit welcomes everyone to see the art and if they like it enough, these works of art are for sale as well. For the next two Tuesdays and Saturdays, members of the community are also invited to create their own miniature gardens out of handmade sheets of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/make-a-ring-out-of-waste-paper/">recycled paper</a>.

Towards the end of the exhibition, Brody will hold classes with the <a href="http://www.unionsquaregrassman.com/">Union Square Grassman</a> to teach children more about the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/ger-nis-culinary-and-herb-center-teaches-sustainable-eating-with-delicious-hands-on-classes/">importance of plants and their nutritional value</a>.