My house is a disaster.  There are random objects everywhere. 

A rotary phone I purchased as a prop for my first gallery exhibition lives on a shelf in my living room.  Tore and I made good use of the phone for photography.  But now, as I watch tv I see it. It wants to become something else.  It needs to become something else.  I need to justify buying a rotary phone as a prop. 

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Two of my windows are lined with houseplants.

My houseplants know the rules. They must survive somewhat independently – I don’t pamper them.  But if they do survive, they may live wild and free.

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I combined the rotary phone with plants to create my latest art piece:  Nature is Calling.

Process:

I emptied the headset and plugged up the hole for the cord so it could hold water.  Then I removed the two covers from the headset and inserted cuttings through the holes.  I placed the two covers with the cuttings in glasses of water and waited for the cuttings to develop roots.

The cuttings took a month or two for roots to appear. 

I placed water inside the headset and reattached the two pieces, carefully placing the roots.  I desperately hoped the Visual Art League of Lewisville didn’t have any unwritten rules about live plants being used in art exhibitions!

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About the Plants:

A few years ago, my friend was diagnosed with cancer.  She needed someone to babysit all her houseplants while she went through chemotherapy.  I volunteered to help.  My windows were lined with so many houseplants – it was a delightful jungle.  My friend recovered and she was able to take her houseplants back.  Before returning them, I took a couple cuttings from her umbrella plant and Tore raised the plants. 

Fast forward and Tore’s umbrella plants ARE MASSIVE.  (He spoils his plants!)  I asked him to take a cutting and the cutting soon became a rooted plant in my house.  From this plant I took cuttings for use in the rotary phone.

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I like to show how moments, people and objects are intertwined with each other in my artwork. 

And, you’ll be happy to hear my friend remains cancer free!

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My artwork won the Geraldine McKay Expressions Award in the opening of the All Natural exhibition. View the artwork in person at the Lewisville Grand Theater. Details below.

Exhibition:  All Natural

Exhibition Dates:  July 12 – August 9, 2025

Curator:  Chuck Hendrickson

Judge:  Kay Byfield

Visual Art League of Lewisville