I created a series of artworks inspired by my time there and the community:

https://app.manifold.xyz:443

Edge Esmeralda Flora

These works are a recollection of the environment and community at Edge City / Esmeralda. Each piece is derived from a 3D scan of an Esmeralda-based flower, includes live footage of the plant, time of capture, and species.

You can collect this piece as a free, open edition NFT – available until the next season of Edge City. You will receive one of three flowers based on a set of probabilities.

🌻

What I've loved about creating with nature is that a big part of my creative process involves being outside – in necessary contrast to computer time. It's a practice of presence, remembrance of what I value, reliance on the environment, and beauty. Through repeating this process, I've become sensitive to my surroundings.

In this article, I'll take you through my creative process and how I created this series. Let's get started!

The first step in my process involves spending time in nature and capturing what catches my eye.

Plant numero uno in this series, Vitis Vinifera (2% chance of getting it if you mint!), came from owners of a local venue. They went above and beyond giving us access to their space, so I wanted to capture some of their property for them as a memento. Other flora came from local farmers' markets and from walks around town.

Favorite tools
- Picture this: plant identifier app
- Merlin: birding app

Favorite discoveries
- Observing slug movement using timelapse
- Recognizing repeat flowers across locations
- Learning about hummingbird dive bombing

Next comes scanning which uses a process of photogrammetry to stitch together ~200 images to create a 3D model.

I taught a workshop at Edge on the process! Check it out here. Teaching others in turn inspired me to do more scanning for this project 😄

Favorite tools
- Polycam
- Kiri Engine

At this stage, you'll now have a bada$$ 3D model of a beautiful, intricate plant - much wow.

For this series, I played with a variety of programs that can handle 3D files and explored different aesthetics that resonated.

Favorite tools
- Cinema4D
- Touchdesigner

I've been thinking about how to tell the story of the work as part of the work. Not all work is suited to this – but there is something that feels particularly relevant here. As we move further and further away from our hunter-gatherer lives, there is a deep need to recall our connectedness to nature and stillness; it serves as a counterbalance to our zippy, technologic lives.

I hope to evoke:

• a connection to nature

• the wonder found in presence, and the uniqueness that can be found in any moment

• beauty

In this series, I experimented with bringing in timestamps, narrative text, music, and actual photos/video of the plant. It's an exploration I'll continue.

Favorite tools
- AfterEffects
- iPhone cam
- Suno.ai

I found myself deeply inspired by my time in Edge City. The following moments in particular inspired this series:

• The Monaverse hackathon and teaching a workshop on photogrammetry

• Learning about 3D sculpting, XR, and life on Mars

• Vanessa's talk on world building – I was particularly moved by music's impact on character narrative

• The city itself: for its beautiful Californian flora

I'm looking forward to continuing explorations around narrative, remembrance, and participation via my works, at the next Edge, and beyond.

https://app.manifold.xyz:443

Edge Esmeralda Flora

These works are a recollection of the environment and community at Edge City / Esmeralda. Each piece is derived from a 3D scan of an Esmeralda-based flower, includes live footage of the plant, time of capture, and species.