In this workshop, Artist Jean Shin will help participants to create dynamic sculptures that also function as stackable, vertical gardens for distribution of Chinese Medicinal plants. Creating new value out of leftover plastic waste, the project reclaims these unwanted containers and turns them into small habitats for living plants ready for redistribution and growth in the community. The green mobile sculpture takes inspiration from the lush mountains of China depicted in traditional Chinese landscape paintings.

Workshop participants will learn how to transform plastic bottles into self-watering planters to house locally sourced mugwort. Presently considered a weed to get rid of, mugwort has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine. As a part of the workshop, participants will hear from an expert in traditional medicines about the history and use of mugwort in Chinese culture.

This workshop is part of Take Root, a larger project by Jean Shin to transform the congested urban setting of Chinatown into a place of healing and wellness. the exchange of living medicinal plants and its healing properties will tap into the informal systems already in place based on health and resilience, while also being able to share this knowledge of Chinese Medicinal plants with the community at large.

Registration is full for this event.