Habitats - Laura Abrams - Habitat for Monarchs, 2023

12 x 12 x 1", 

Foil, tissue paper, calendar image, fennel, milkweed, glitter, flower petals, handmade paper.

A sliced image of Monarch butterflies resting in the treetop is juxtaposed with the essential elements of their habitat: their nursery in milkweed; fennel leaves and flowers, where monarch caterpillars feast; and flowers where the adult monarchs seek nourishment. The peek-a-boo format is meant to encourage reflection on these majestic creatures.

Behind every picture is a story. I endeavor to bring this idea forward in multilayered compositions that juxtapose idealized landscapes with messy, lived realities. My habitat series—and this exhibition—were inspired by colorful landscape photographs, printed and distributed by nature organizations in the form of calendars. I repurposed these in collages by slicing the images into strips like louvered shades to reveal the flora and fauna within the perfect photographs. A central image anchors each narrative, which may include found or hand drawn plants and animals; organic elements such as grasses, seeds, and shells; discarded materials like plastic and packing materials; and ornaments including glitter, rhinestones, beads, and ribbons. I reveal the living things that have been disinvited to public view yet play a vital role in every ecosystem. In these alternate views, I often point to conditions that are less than pretty, like the air pollution that makes sunsets so beautiful; the predator/prey relationship; and the impact of the built environment on the land it occupies. The collages themselves are colorful, decorative little worlds with amusing details and juxtapositions to attract your attention.