Celebrating Our Community: Open House 2024 with Field Meridians Nature School
The Pratt Dye Garden, nestled within the vibrant community of Clinton Hill, recently welcomed visitors to its 2024 Open House, marking the beginning of the fourth growing season. The event, rich in collaboration and education, showcased the intersection of art, sustainability, and community engagement. The Pratt Dye Garden is led by School of Design professors Gina Gregorio and Isa Rodrigues and maintained by dedicated Dye Garden Crew students.
Rooted in Pratt Institute, the Textile Dye Garden stands as a hub of education and collaboration. It serves not only as a resource for the Pratt community but as a beacon inviting broader participation from the surrounding neighborhoods. With a focus on experimentation and innovation, the garden embodies Pratt's commitment to responsible practices.
Field Meridians & FM Nature School: An artist collective committed to strengthening local food ecologies, Field Meridians brings a unique perspective to the table. Alongside their commitment to food sovereignty, they also champion arts-based urban ecology through FM Nature School.
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This curriculum, designed to generate tools for resilience, underscores the importance of creative approaches to sustainability education. Their partnership with the Open House highlighted the multifaceted nature of sustainability initiatives within the community.
Words of the Flowers : a plant profile and poetry collaboration created by the Garden Crew
On display in the greenhouse: various samples of our natural dye processes
Cara Marie Piazza: Renowned as a Natural Dyer and artisan, Cara brought her deep knowledge of natural dyes to the event and a cadre of supplies sponsored by Botanical Colors. read more
Her dedication to using only natural materials, ranging from botanicals to food wastes, aligns perfectly with the garden's ethos. Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to glean insights and experiment with Cara’s instruction as she shared her joy of painting with natural materials.
The Social Practice Kitchen: A testament to innovation, the Social Practice Kitchen stands as a symbol of collaborative creativity. Constructed in 2020, it serves as a space for culinary exploration and experimentation. read more
During the Open House, Professor Amanda Huynh and Grad Assistant Charlotte Reiter joined forces with the Dye Garden crew to craft delectable appetizers featuring locally sourced ingredients such as Austrian Winter Pea Pesto, Dandelion Honey, and Pickled Magnolias. Their culinary creations highlighted the intersection of sustainability and gastronomy.
One Love Community Fridge: With a mission to tackle hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, the One Love Community Fridge embodies the spirit of inclusivity and compassion. At the Open House, volunteers from the organization read more
shared bundled herbs with participants, emphasizing the importance of fresh, nutritious food access.
Through their advocacy efforts, they shed light on issues of food justice and encourage active participation in the movement towards a more sustainable food system.
For more information and ways to help visit : One Love Community Fridge
INT.602.2024 | Farm 2 Campus + Community
Adjunct Professor - CCE Sheryl Kasak
Nourishment: Farm to Campus and Community looks at how Community Supported Agriculture [CSA] works, and proposes the prototypical design for co-opting the unused space[s] of the dining shed, read more
a relic of NYC’s epicurean response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program supports the supply and distribution of food grown by local farmers, mobile community outreach, and educational kitchens. Limited on-site growing and composting collection completes the growing cycle. This is a 1:1 scale and studio-wide project.
Big Damn Print: Professor Martin Mazorra, from Pratt School of Fine Art's Printmaking Department, displayed the work of students Lyvia Turpin (2024)“Low Hanging Fruit" and Hanna Wuttig (2024) “Deep Winter View” in the lobby of the garden.
ChirpPeek: Installed in the Garden by designer Meiqing Tian ID , ChirpPeek is an Interspecies Installation designed for Urban Public Spaces. Participants were able to observe the bird population within the garden at a respectful distance.
The Pratt Beekeeping club provided visitors with an opportunity to learn about local pollinators and tour their new apiary just outside the garden. The project was founded by Pratt Foundation Lab in 2023.
The Pratt Dye Garden's Open House not only celebrated the commencement of a new growing season but also served as a platform for fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and advocating for a more sustainable future. Visitors, from both Pratt Institute and the surrounding communities, mingled throughout the day sharing connection and experiences in community engagement and collective action.
To join us for open hours, volunteering and events in 2024, follow our Instagram: Pratt Dye Garden