Simryn Gill

Maria’s Garden 2021

Introduction

Maria’s Garden (2021) is a compendium of direct prints of all the plants that once grew in the garden of Maria, an Italian migrant and neighbour of Sydney-based artist Simryn Gill. Maria’s house and garden were a notable feature and gathering place in the neighbourhood. The work comprises 93 individual sheets of paper measuring 240 x 48 cm, upon which the plant impressions were made.

Inquiry questions

  • Reflect on a garden you know well - a family member’s or neighbour’s garden you pass frequently, a bush tucker garden at school or a community garden near you. Describe the textures, smells, and sensory experience of this garden.
  • Imagine someone made you a meal with ingredients from their garden. What would be significant about that person making you a meal or what might the meal be?

Creative learning activity

Process

  1. Look closely and engage with your local school environment.
  2. Can you identify the plant species within it? Make a detailed list of the key plants and circle the ones that interest you.
  3. Sit and take 5 minutes to look closely and sketch or make marks responding to these plants. You may also wish to record verbal information or photograph them.

Research

  • Choose one of the plants you sketched. Use a variety of research methods to find out more about this plant.
  • Listen: have a conversation with friends or neighbours about their personal experiences, observations or cultural knowledge of this plant and its uses, significance, origins and more.
  • Observe: what do you observe about this plant? Notice the plants around it. Notice any animals or creatures living beside or amongst it. How does it affect them? How do they affect it? Does it provide shelter or sustenance for them?
  • Investigation: Does this plant have any cultural uses? Research its significance, if it is edible or medicinal, or if it can be used for making.

Sharing research

  • Select 3 key pieces of information you gathered from a variety of sources and share them with your class.
  • The artist Simryn Gill chose to acknowledge Maria’s garden and rich history through ink prints. Can you think of a way to honour and pay homage to your learnings as a class? Find a meaningful way to share this knowledge with other students in your school community. Perhaps it may take the form of a zine for your local street library, a poster to share with your community, or video.