Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 1:00-2:00 PM
Learn about local prairies and make your own seed sculptures with artist and naturalist duo, Cydney Ross and Alix Daniel! Together we’ll look at flora and fauna that makes up our diverse prairie ecosystems. Participants will create native seed clay sculptures inspired by prairie wildlife that they can take home and plant in their own backyards.
Advanced registration required. Family-friendly program. Children under 10 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Cydney Ross and Alix Daniel are a part of the 2023 Art and Natural Resource Residence for Johnson County Parks and Rec. The residency will include an immersive experience with the JCPRD Natural Resources Team at Kill Creek Park, the creation of an ephemeral temporary art piece that will be placed at a site within the park, and an artist-led community engagement project. A companion exhibit will also be on display at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center to allow patrons to learn about the residency through this medium. More information about the residency and its outreach components can be found here.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Cydney Ross (she/her)
Cydney Ross was raised throughout the Greater Kansas City area, and has set down roots in Kansas City, Missouri with her two cats. She earned a BFA in ceramics from Kansas City Art Institute in 2013 and maintains a fine arts practice in ceramics and mixed media. Cydney has always had a naturalist spirit, with her earliest memories hiking, floating Missouri rivers, camping with her family, and gardening with her mom. Her endless curiosity, stewardship for the earth, and background in the arts encourages her to inspire folks to connect with nature. She proudly leads LGBTQ+ inclusive nature programs throughout the Kansas City area and is a self-proclaimed “native plant nerd”. Cydney is the Outdoor Education Program Manager for Deep Roots, a cooperative position with Missouri Department of Conservation at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City. She is also a Certified Interpretive Guide and a Missouri Master Naturalist with the Osage Trails Chapter.
Alix Daniel (she/her)
Alix Daniel grew up in Wichita Kansas and comes from a family of gardeners and teachers. She is a certified interpretive guide and loves sharing her knowledge of native plants with the public in her role as Native Landscape Specialist at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City. In her position she combines her decade of landscaping experience with her love of all things nature. She is also a founding member of the KC chapter of the Missouri Mycological Society and you can find her on any nice day mushroom hunting with her partner and daughter Wren. Her favorite flower for 2023 is Heart Leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium).
