Moss Painting by Usha Seejarim

As a contribution to Mandela week Usha Seejarim created a moss painting at St James school in Belgravia.
In response to the school's theme of growth, she created a growing artwork of the yoga “tree pose” on one of the school's white walls. In the artist's words:

"...it alludes to our innate connection to the environment as human beings that can literally grow when nurtured. St James is a value based school where meditation, stillness and respect are key practices that are built into the curriculum. As such, this image and the concept of a growing artwork are completely apt for this environment. In the last 2 weeks it has been amazing to see the moss beginning to develop, despite the severe cold."

See more of her work at www.ushaseejarim.com

IDEA: Art Gardens

The Mud Man and Moss Maiden - source

I've been following the blog Gardens in unexpected places, and always admire the innovation, creativity and ingenuity of people in other countries, planting food gardens in public spaces, as well as improving urban areas through guerilla gardening.

Closer to home, in Jozi, we've got Linzi Lewis, a.k.a.  leading an urban gardening revolution that not merely improves spaces, but also connects people to each other, their culture and the environment in which they work and play. Read more about the project:

• Article in the Cape Argus
• AMbush Gardening Collective
• M&G Young South Africans

Source

One of the best ways to eat healthy, GMO-free, organic vegetables, is to grow your own. Check out Square Foot Gardening: sfgsa.co.za. Now, how about using your considerable creativity and skills as an artist to create an Art Garden?

Source

As an artist you have skills that you have developed that could result in something really unique!

Garden, installation at Lockport Gallery, Illinois State Museum, Illinois by Michelle Stone. Source.

contextual art installation by Anouk Vogel and Johan Selbing. Source

You don't need to be a qualified landscaper or horticulturist to create a garden. Ask someone who loves gardening to teach you the basics, read some library books, browse the web for countless articles and guides about gardening, or learn through trial-and-error.

Source

You don't need to have an architectural degree to plan or build something. If you don't know how to use the materials, learn how to, join a workshop or find an artist who specializes in the materials or techniques you need to create an art garden.

Source

What's stopping you? Start now! Don't have your own garden? Why not create a balcony, vertical garden or indoor garden? Or start an urban garden in your neighbourhood? The sky is your limit!

Source

Some more ideas and more, and even more

COMPETITION: Elle Decoration Solve New Talent Search

Elle Decoration Solve - Pick n Pay

Design an innovative, multi-functional object that incorporates a plant, or several plants, in order to green urban balconies and small indoor/ outdoor spaces. It's a call to address the challenging issues of greening in urban environments, where gardens are limited to balconies or small gardens and courtyards. This can be anything from a modular system, an item of furniture or any other design element that addresses the 'growing' need to green our spaces. The overall design dimensions should not exceed 1 cubic metre (length x breadth x height). However, if the design is part of a modular system, then one component must not exceed this size, but the overall size would be larger when the components are assembled.

Check the competition out!
DEADLINE: 19 July 2013