$12.00
A SMP CoLab Exclusive
Artist Anna Francis collaboration with SMP has resulted in The Urban Nature Exploration Guide. Filled with beguiling open questions, derived from the language of flowers, it invites us to notice and record the nature in our cities. The guide contains 10 questions and illustrations of flowers devised and drawn by Anna.
For example, the flower in the above image is Buddleia, a plant traditionally associated with transformation and rebirth.
The Buddleia seeks out even the tiniest patch of fertile ground and creates a striking display, seemingly from nothing, just like artists. Spend some time with this plant. Record the most impressive and opportune examples here.
The guide is cut by hand, hand-stitched and printed on drawing paper, with a textured green cover.
Anna Francis is an artist whose practice examines private histories, public spaces and civic languages. Using forms of intervention, drawing, mapping, performance, consultation and photography she investigates the impact that artists can have on their environments. Within Anna's practice she creates situations for herself, the public and other artists to explore places differently, often experimenting with manuals, instructions, kits and guided tours.
Anna is a Director at AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, England's contemporary, artist-led exhibiting space, where she is responsible for artistic direction and programming. Anna is also one of the curators of the Conjunction Biennial.
Anna Francis is course leader on the BA Fine Art course at Staffordshire University.
