Posted on Sep 23, 2022
This artist is turning invasive species at Johnson County parks into inspiration for her craft
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A new initiative pairs an artist with conservation efforts to remove the invasive species of bush honeysuckle in Johnson County’s parks.
On a humid Tuesday morning in the last week of August, artist Kirsten Taylor drove to the trailhead near the marina at Shawnee Mission Park, the largest park in Johnson County, Kansas.
A few bicyclists rode the paved trails on the way to the wooded trails, popular with hikers, mountain bikers and birdwatchers.
“I've been traveling up to Shawnee Mission Park about two times a week,” Taylor said, “spending about four hours, a little more some days, each day.”
Taylor, a graduate student in ceramics at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, was selected as the county Park and Recreation District’s first artist in residence. In August, she embedded with the natural resources team to focus on forest health and the impact of invasive species.
On a humid Tuesday morning in the last week of August, artist Kirsten Taylor drove to the trailhead near the marina at Shawnee Mission Park, the largest park in Johnson County, Kansas.
A few bicyclists rode the paved trails on the way to the wooded trails, popular with hikers, mountain bikers and birdwatchers.
“I've been traveling up to Shawnee Mission Park about two times a week,” Taylor said, “spending about four hours, a little more some days, each day.”
Taylor, a graduate student in ceramics at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, was selected as the county Park and Recreation District’s first artist in residence. In August, she embedded with the natural resources team to focus on forest health and the impact of invasive species.
This artist is turning invasive species at Johnson County parks into inspiration for her craft
Posted from kcur.orgPosted in these groups: Johnson County
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“And the plants will represent through time what species have gotten to thrive in this place where the park is now,” she described. “We’ll start with prairie plants, and then trees will come in. And then, of course, the honeysuckle will start to take over.”
Taylor’s temporary sculpture will be placed on a spot along the Orange Loop trail where it can be viewed from several angles.
“Art hits people differently than just interpretive signage or, you know, Facebook posts,” said Garrett, the district’s biologist. “I think it’s really creative and unique to be able to tell the story of the positive changes we’re making through art.”
Over the years, his team has taken aggressive steps to remove the bush honeysuckle, though there are about 2,500 acres of forest in the parks still to tackle. Garrett said the work will continue with a larger natural resources budget, more staff and conservation contractors, and working closely with nonprofit partners.
“So we’re just kind of getting started,” he said.
Kirsten Taylor’s work will be installed along Shawnee Mission Park’s Orange Loop Thursday, Sept. 29. She'll host a community drawing session with her natural inks on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas 66219."
..."“And the plants will represent through time what species have gotten to thrive in this place where the park is now,” she described. “We’ll start with prairie plants, and then trees will come in. And then, of course, the honeysuckle will start to take over.”
Taylor’s temporary sculpture will be placed on a spot along the Orange Loop trail where it can be viewed from several angles.
“Art hits people differently than just interpretive signage or, you know, Facebook posts,” said Garrett, the district’s biologist. “I think it’s really creative and unique to be able to tell the story of the positive changes we’re making through art.”
Over the years, his team has taken aggressive steps to remove the bush honeysuckle, though there are about 2,500 acres of forest in the parks still to tackle. Garrett said the work will continue with a larger natural resources budget, more staff and conservation contractors, and working closely with nonprofit partners.
“So we’re just kind of getting started,” he said.
Kirsten Taylor’s work will be installed along Shawnee Mission Park’s Orange Loop Thursday, Sept. 29. She'll host a community drawing session with her natural inks on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas 66219."
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