Exhibition: Blooming Suburbs

SERIES 1: TOWN OF VICTORIA PARK

Blooming Suburbs is an intimate exploration of community and place through the art of pressed flowers. Beginning in the Town of Victoria Park, this exhibition represents the first chapter of an ambitious artistic journey to capture the essence of suburban communities. Through the delicate practice of floral preservation – an art form that transforms ephemeral blooms into lasting artefacts – Joanna meditates on the nature of conservation, memory, and community connection.

Each piece in this collection serves as both a botanical portrait and a cultural document, preserving the physical beauty of local flora and the stories, connections, and spirit of the neighbourhoods from which they were gathered. The exhibition demonstrates how seemingly simple elements from our everyday environment can become profound symbols of place, time, and community.

I'm Joanna, founder of The Gallery J. I transform pressed flowers into preserved memories of life's most cherished moments. For the past eight years, I've been captivated by the stories each flower holds – from wedding bouquets and celebration centrepieces to quiet blooms discovered during nature walks. Every flower I press becomes a delicate reminder of moments worth keeping, carefully preserved as heirlooms to be treasured for generations.

This work is more than just an art form to me; it's a way of connecting people to their most intimate stories. Each piece I create is a collaboration, an invitation to hold onto memories that might otherwise slip away with time. I feel privileged to help preserve these moments, transforming something as ephemeral as a flower into something lasting and meaningful.

I love knowing that my art offers a way to keep your special memories close – not just as decoration for your space, but as something that truly speaks to your heart and can be passed down through generations, preserving both flowers and memories alike.

As you explore today's exhibition, I hope these pressed blooms stir your memories and offer you a moment to reconnect with the beauty of life's fleeting moments.

Hello and Welcome,

“Each pressed flower carries not just the beauty of nature, but the spirit of the people who call these suburbs home.”

Each suburb, much like a flower, has its own life and character. Through this project, I want to reflect these distinct personalities, one pressed flower at a time. The exhibition marks the first step in what I envision as a lifelong series, where I'll capture each suburb's essence through carefully preserved blooms.

My long-term dream is to grow this collection until it becomes museum-worthy, where these pressed flowers can be gifted as artefacts of our time. For me, this work is about more than just art – it's about celebrating the places we call home and building connections through pieces that reflect the stories of our communities.

The community has been the beating heart of Blooming Suburbs from the very beginning. What started as a passion project has blossomed into something far more special, shaped by the incredible people I've met along this journey. I've been touched by the warmth of neighbours who've welcomed me into their gardens, shared their personal stories, and offered their time to help this project grow.

The willingness of community members to share their connections to these neighbourhoods – their memories, hopes, and everyday moments – has been truly humbling. Their openness and enthusiasm have transformed this project from a simple exhibition into a living reflection of the bonds we share within our neighbourhoods. Each pressed flower carries not just the beauty of nature but the spirit of the people who call these suburbs home.

I'm deeply grateful for the support, generosity, and trust the community has shown me. Their involvement has brought this vision to life in ways I could have never imagined. From the elderly gentleman who shared stories of how his street has changed over decades to the young families helping me discover hidden garden gems, every interaction has added depth and meaning to this work.

This experience has shown me how powerful art can foster real connections between people and places. As Blooming Suburbs grows, I'm excited to see how these relationships flourish and how our bonds strengthen through our shared appreciation of the beauty surrounding us.

Blooming Suburbs Series 1

The Process

Each artwork in Blooming Suburbs represents months of patient, meticulous work that extends far beyond the initial 6-8 weeks of drying time. The process begins long before the first petal touches paper – it starts with building trust and connections within the community, conducting thoughtful interviews, and carefully selecting botanical elements that will tell each unique story.

The pressing process itself is both an art and a science. Using traditional wooden flower presses, each specimen must be carefully prepared and positioned. This isn't simply a matter of placing flowers between pages – it requires a deep understanding of how each species will dry, how its colours will transform, and how its structure will hold up during preservation. Every few days, the specimens need checking, and the papers require changing to prevent moisture buildup and ensure proper drying. Some delicate blooms may take multiple attempts to achieve perfect preservation, as certain flowers can lose their colour or become too after drying.

After the 6-8 weeks of initial drying comes the intricate work of composition. Each pressed specimen must be handled with extraordinary care, as they become incredibly delicate once dried. The arrangement process involves hours of gentle positioning and repositioning, ensuring every element contributes to both the visual story and the narrative behind each piece. This stage alone can take weeks, as each composition must thoughtfully reflect the stories and connections discovered during the interview process.

Only once the composition is perfected can the painstaking process of mounting begin. Working with acid-free paper requires precision and patience – there's no room for error when placing these fragile elements. Each specimen must be carefully adhered in a way that preserves its integrity while ensuring it will stand the test of time.

From the first community conversation to the final framed piece, a single artwork typically takes 4-6 months to complete. This timeline reflects not just the physical creation of the piece, but the full journey of relationship-building, storytelling, botanical preservation, artistic composition, and archival presentation that makes each work in Blooming Suburbs unique.

This intensive process is as much about nurturing community connections as it is about creating art. Just as relationships deepen with time and care, these botanical portraits require patience, attention, and dedication to reach their full potential.

Technical Details:

Medium: Pressed flowers, foliage, and vegetables mounted on acid-free paper.
Process: Traditional wooden flower press method, 6-8 weeks drying time.
Presentation: Mounted works allow for light reflection and detailed examination.
Archive-quality materials used throughout for long-term preservation.
Works available for sale as art prints soon - join the waitlist
Collection size: 12 original artworks.
Creation period: 6 months, including the interview process and botanical preparation.
Each piece is accompanied by narrative text sharing the story behind the composition.