Review

"Purple Majesty," Botanical Sculpture.

Brownie Hayek

10 a.m.-7 p.m.

ARTichokes
10557 Mission Road
Leawood, KS
913.322.9481

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Runs through: May 8.

Artist's site: http://www.environsart.com
Gallery site: http://www.artichokeskc.com

It's a pretty safe bet that without plants and their byproducts, the art world would be a hard sculpted shadow of itself.

The plant kingdom provides everything from carving medium to paint-receiving surface, from dye source to fiber to pure inspiration (even for those who work in metal and stone).

It's rarer to find plants as raw material in art, simply because they're so fragile. Then again, that's what gives Brownie Hayek's botanical work its appeal.

Hayek's creations are more than simple arrangements. She does centerpieces, yes, among them Purple Majesty (today's featured piece). But Hayek, whose work is on display through early May at ARTichokes in Leawood, also creates wall hangings, topiaries and outdoor pieces ... all from materials she gathers and preserves herself.

The results are both timeless and seasonal — and because they are so delicate, Hayek's pieces engender a protective, hands-off feeling in the viewer. (There's a nice bit of metaphor in there, given our tendency to swallow up the unspoiled prairie.)

Of course, as with any especially intricate construction — especially one executed in three dimensions — no online photograph can accurately convey the true look and nature of the artwork. For that, you need a personal visit.

Featuring such an artist inevitably raises the artificial "art vs. craft" debate. To repeat: It's all about taking the available materials, merging those with one's skill set and passion, and producing a visual statement.

That's the case here, with Hayek's botanical sculptures ... and really, at base level, what are artists but plant arrangers?

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