Prairie Echos: Eco-Printing with Nature
Prairie Echos: Eco-Printing with Nature
We look forward to welcoming Kansas artist Laura Mead and her dream-like botanical prints to the Red Cloud Opera House Gallery this autumn. The works on display, whether printed on paper, polymer clay, or silk, are more than just a representation of the prairie; instead, they are created by and with native prairie plants that are grown and hand-selected for use by the artist, on her own acreage.
Through her knowledge of prairie plants and their characteristics, Mead is able to coax bold colors and surprisingly delicate textures from common prairie grasses and forbs, using heat and pressure. The result is heavily textural artwork that recreates the prairie landscape on natural fibers. The natural palette and striking forms make this exhibit a stunning evocation of place.
Please join us October 17, 2025, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. for an artist's reception at the Red Cloud Opera House Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public. Many of Mead's pieces will be for sale, which supports the artist directly, as well as supporting our mission to preserve Willa Cather's legacy through preservation, education, and the arts.
If you're interested in learning how to create botanical prints yourself, Laura Mead will lead a workshop October 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m.–2 p.m. Registration will open in June.
Here's a glimpse into Laura's process:
