Deb Hutchison

Deb Hutchison Artist statement: 3/24/25 My professional background includes 27 years of teaching sciences in the Green Bay Area Public Schools. While teaching life science and related environmental issues, I became more interested in appreciating the delicate balance of nature, right in our own backyards. Authors such as Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold and Michael Pollen inspired me to look more deeply into the beauty and complexity of a healthy landscape. This lead me to experiment with the plants in my garden; the simple goal being beautiful flowers that would support a variety of pollinators. An additional goal was to grow enough flowers for me to cut bouquets each week. Both goals were a success. Arranging flowers and studying the balance and harmony in a bouquet was very satisfying. So much so that I signed onto a painting class and attempted to paint flowers. That goal did not blossom. Once retired I had more time to explore the art of flowers. I toured UW Madison herbarium and observed how professionals labeled, preserved and indexed their plants. After that I began pressing my own flowers. Later, my path crossed with Paper Makers of Green Bay and Beyond. There, I learned how to make sheets of paper from various Wisconsin garden fibers such as yucca, onion tops, fountain grass, etc. Combining this art with my pressed flowers seemed like a natural fit. In my view, the US have seen a steady whittling away of women’s reproductive rights. This frightening realization, has inspired me to experiment in “resist” art. This is tricky. While desiring to express a strong opinion, I also desire the art to be feminine, beautiful and sturdy with a soft touch. These attributes speak loudly to the strength and resilience of women. My resist pieces include a “Pro Choice Mary”, a “Peace on Earth Mary” and a “Uterus” series. I am still arranging flowers and studying the balance and harmony in a bouquet.