Movers and Shakers?
We may not often see plants move, but we see their power. Except for the falling tree, plants impose power in slow motion, even insidiously. Their ability to buckle sidewalks, overwhelm structures, or impress us with sheer size or strength originates in the slow but steady pace of a life lived long.
Eric Hansen’s Orchid Fever and Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire are among many testaments to the power of plants to mobilize human investment, direct the course of human events, and overwhelm our common sense. If in doubt, consider the consequences of establishing sugarcane plantations—and slaves to tend them—in the Caribbean, or of introducing the relentless kudzu vine that has overtaken much of the southern United States. The dependability of plant-based energy is played out in the fates of human societies and in our evolution from hunter-gatherers to space explorers.
All of these notions and more contribute to our aesthetic appreciation of plants. We challenged photographers nationwide in the summer of 2005 to show us “the power of plants.” Selections from the outstanding entries are showcased in the exhibition.
