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The summer is coming to an end. The hot weather and bright colors will be fading soon, but not at an end of the summer art exhibit, Jennifer Vanderpool’s “Pocketful of Posies”. Her exhibit is located in Old Town Pasadena at 24 Smith Alley, which is on the left side of J. Crew’s clothing store. The exhibit will be held through Oct. 15.

Unlike the typical painting and sculptures one would assume to see at an art exhibit, Vanderpool uses recycled materials ranging from string to wire to wrapping paper to create a bountiful amount of flowers.

To add to her “green” garden she will be creating a pocket park, usually a patch of unused grassy space which would be used to plant trees or flowers in an urban area.

Since her exhibit is indoors, Vanderpool will be using artificial grass. This also lets spectators get involved with the art. Spectators will be able to make flowers just like Vanderpool has and they will have the option of planting them in the pocket park or taking them home as momentos of the “Pocketful of Posies” experience.

“Viewers and spectators alike will be able to experience the work I’ve done with their own hands. They will see what it’s like to be an artist at work”, Vanderpool explains.

A multi-media aspect to her exhibit will include video and silhouettes of flowers with surround sound, allowing a complete interactive experience with the artist’s work.

In the exhibit room one almost gets the feeling of New Year’s Day at the Rose Parade. Massive amounts of beautiful coloring from the wrapping paper and the paints were used to color her flowers abound.

At first glance one may think these are real flowers only to find out they are created from beads, and stuffing paper.

These flowers are put together with glue and duct tape; some are on the walls and some hanging down from the ceiling, all intertwined to create a colorful garden of art work.

Included are culinary sculptures that she created with resin, beeswax, and white wax in the form of cakes.

About her motivation for this project, she said: “My childhood. I’ve always loved flowers. My mother was a gardener. Growing up I considered myself a domestic goddess,” she said.

Almost like a Martha Stewart meets gardening meets paper maché artist.

The program that is helping host this exhibit, Artist Studio, is trying to introduce contemporary art practices into the marketplace.

Vanderpool is the first In-Residence artist in the area, which means spectators are welcomed to visit her while she is working on the exhibit. You can find more information about the exhibit at www.oldpasadena.org.

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