Free activities and events in New York City

Workshop “Art in the Garden: Impressions of Fall-Simple Collagraph Prints”

Published: September 11, 2025; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

As summer gives way to the first whispers of fall, join us for a journey through the textures, shapes, and narratives of plants, using the art of collagraph printmaking. September is a season of vibrant blooms and seed-saving, where echinacea, goldenrod, sunflowers, and milkweed bloom with beauty and promise. We’ll use simple materials — cardboard, yarn, glue, and ink — to create textured printing plates inspired by nature’s palette. Together, we’ll explore how plants embody memory and possibility, translating these natural forms into vibrant, layered prints.

Workshop Highlights:

• A walk in the garden: Gather inspiration from pollinator plants and seed pods.
• Design and build: Create your own printing plate with simple materials.
• Guided printing: Experiment with color and pattern under our guidance.
• Reflection: Ponder the wisdom of seasonal cycles and renewal.

Facilitator: Susan Kricorian

Growing up in Watertown, MA, Susan found solace in drawing and painting. Art became a world where her love for nature and human connections blossomed. Since moving to NYC in 1986, she taught art for the DOE until retiring in 2021. Inspired by family photos, artworks, and life’s experiences, Susan explores subjects’ expressions and gestures, bringing them to life with vibrant colors and patterns. Mystery, curiosity, and beauty fuel her creative spirit.

Garden-Inspired Art:

In the garden, greenhouse, and Riverbank State Park’s green roof, we’ll delve into diverse artmaking techniques, fostering dialogue on place, ecology, and culture. Learn meditative drawing, printmaking, plant portraiture, and mixed media, inspired by contemporary botanical artists. Create art that nurtures your connection to the garden and the natural world.

Accessibility:

• Our kitchen/classroom is wheelchair accessible.
• Small mats can be added to the greenhouse for accessibility.
• Tables can be lowered/raised, and backless benches/stools are available.
• Kitchenware may contain shared items, and peanuts are not guaranteed to be absent.
• First aid kit available; AED is nearby.
• Drinking water is provided in refillable pitchers.

Bathrooms:

• Closest bathrooms are about a one-minute walk away.
• Gender-neutral bathroom accessible by key.
• The site is not scent-free due to herbalism classes.

If you have specific needs, please contact Mallory Craig at mcraig@thehort.org.

Time: 5:00 pm EST

Free!

Registration

Detailed information and discussion of the event.