CROSS-POLLINATION
/Cross-Pollination: in celebration of Fenwick Library’s Seed Library
March 17—April 25, 2025, Fenwick Gallery
Jeffrey Kenney, Weathered Sunflower (2023)
Held in conjunction with the opening of a new Seed Library in Fenwick Library, Cross-Pollination explores the relationship between the earth’s natural elements and the creative process, featuring works by Mason faculty. This exhibition draws on both the literal and metaphorical meanings of cross-pollination, emphasizing the continuous exchange between the organic world and artistic creation. Like cross-pollination itself—an act of transformation, adaptation, and renewal—these works reflect the earth’s beauty while underscoring the urgency of its preservation.
Through diverse processes and materials, the artists in Cross-Pollination reveal the intricate connections between nature and artistic expression. Jeffrey Kenney’s sunflower prints, created using sunlight and yellow pigment ink, reflect the dependency of sunflowers on the sun. Stephanie Benassi’s exploration of abandoned bee houses and photogram prints captures both the fragility and decay of pollinators. Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz’s botanical drawings, inspired by the flora of Puerto Rico, celebrate the richness of plant life and its deep cultural ties to the land. Elizabeth Hall’s Viriditas series explores the connection between plants and human bodily systems, with each herb visually transferring its healing power into her work.
This exhibition’s connection to the new Seed Library reinforces that both initiatives serve as spaces of exchange, where knowledge, resources, and creative ideas take root and spread. Just as seeds carry the potential for new ecosystems, these artworks carry forward conversations about the environment, our bodies, and the ways human intervention shapes the natural world. Cross-Pollination invites viewers to consider their own role in these cycles, encouraging a deeper awareness of the delicate and dynamic relationships that sustain life.