Glass, Dried, and Digitized: Preserving Plants for Science and Art

Harvard’s Glass Flowers, the Harvard University Herbaria, and artist Sonia Ralston’s digital botanical models: one is made of glass, one is dried and pressed, and one exists only in the digital space, yet they all exist for the same purpose. Join us for a virtual panel-style talk to compare these vastly different methods of representing and preserving plants. Explore the value of these collections within the modern age of photography, the art and science of creating them, and their role in research, learning, and public appreciation of plants.

Panelists include Jennifer Brown, Collection Manager of the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants; Jenifer de Carvalho Lopes, Research Associate with the Harvard University Herbaria; and Sonia Ralston, artist and Research Fellow at Northeastern University studying botanical modelling.

Accessibility: This program is held virtually via Zoom webinar. To request an ASL interpreter or other accommodations, please contact us at publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu.

Audience: This program is geared towards adults.

Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. Click here to view our full inclement weather policy. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.