Chlorophilia
2nd Wednesday Art Series
Wednesday, April 10
7-9:30pm

A showcase of the ways in which human technologies are used to manipulate living plants.

Chlorophilia, curated by San Francisco artist Philip Ross, will bring together those who work with living systems to generate their sculptures and installations. It is the next in the Exploratorium's 2nd Wednesday Art Series to be held on Wednesday, April 10, 7-9:30pm. Chlorophilia artists grow, manipulate or otherwise interact with plants as a means of expressing complex social issues. This event is included in the price of admission to the museum.

Artists include Mark Brest van Kempen, who will display a contained ecosystem that uses plants as a means of purifying human waste and Andrew Bennett, who will exhibit devices that paint images through a living tablet of carnation flowers. Carol Selter will be showing photographic portraits that chronicle the lives of plants grown in research institutions. Accompanying her photos will be several living examples of these plants. Keith Evans will create a projected environment, using organic growth as an image making tool while also serving as a subject of inquiry.
These artists all demonstrate an interest in bringing to light the technologies associated with plant husbandry, creating works that convey both reverence and ambivalence toward the life they help to bring into being. Chlorophilia will also exhibit the work of plant breeders, garden societies and research scientists, aligning the work of both artist and expert in a tradition that is as old as human culture.