Pond Apples & Sawgrass

Florida’s extraordinary subtropical wilderness inspires the works of artists Elisabeth Condon, Valerie Eickmeier, and Julie Evans in the exhibition Pond Apples and Saw Grass: Nature Reframed. Florida’s wilds are a living paradise and there is an exquisite, tactile quality to the experience of Florida that fills the nose, touches the skin and dazzles the eyes.   

The selection of paintings, drawings, collages and ceramics by Elisabeth Condon, Valerie Eickmeier, and Julie Evans reflects a stylistic and thematic diversity nearly as rich and varied as the habitats the artists celebrate. Landscape and memory are central to Elisabeth Condon’s practice. In her ink drawings, she draws from the tradition of Chinese literari painting and its emphasis on the artist’s inner life. Valerie Eickmeier’s paintings depict a visceral, polychromatic world of reflections and flora, offering both the subtlety and drama of nature. Julie Evans’s ceramic sculptures are sensuous, earthy and jewel-like with curious species that feel familiar yet alien and are found nowhere in the natural world.  

Whether incorporating direct experiences of the wilderness, or finding inspiration through the long lens of art, history and travel, all three artists are deeply invested in exploring the profound human connection to the natural world. As they join their own inner natures and the surrounding environments, they invite us to engage with our senses in the wild. 

This exhibit was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ruth and J O Stone Foundation.