In the coldest, iciest time of the year, ArtReach St Croix is excited for the opening of Botanicals, a celebration of plant life! Showcasing three artists working in paper sculpture, mixed media printmaking and encaustic painting, Botanicals will give you a little respite from the winter weather with lush greens and bright florals.

Dawn Cramer makes delicate paper sculptures of plants and flowers. Using wire armatures, glue, ink and paint, she carefully hand cuts each element of her pieces, assembling intricate forms that reference the patterns and structures found in nature. She says, “I feel compelled to bring life to the paper I hold in my hand because like nature, instinctually I want to continue to grow and evolve. My hope is to express beauty and grace in my paper flowers and plants that may bring solace in a sometimes chaotic world.”

Cara Frafjord is a painter with a love of tiny art. Once a potter and sculptor, Cara now specializes in small format encaustic painting, where she uses watercolor pencils, oil pastels, and beeswax. Her experimental processes result in distinctive, delicate marks. Cara says, “I hold a special place in my heart for art inspired by nature and resilience.”

Linda Snouffer is a printmaker and mixed media artist. She uses materials such as tissue and Sumi papers, muslin, and organza, to create ethereal surfaces for her natural landscapes, printed with common plants. Of this unusual process, Linda says “Leaf prints are far more than simple impressions. They are dynamic components transformed into new identities: Grass blades and tassels become a prairie flowing in a soft breeze.”