Botanical Impressions is a tactile exploration of the quiet relationships between plants, water, and the textiles we use and wear every day. Using the time-honored technique of flower pounding, Winna Bernard coaxes vibrant, natural pigments from petals, stems, and leaves, transferring their essence onto cotton in delicate, one-of-a-kind prints.

Using native plants gathered from the Mississippi Stormwater Park Learning Center gardens, alongside hand-selected blooms provided by the artist, each piece in Botanical Impressions becomes a living record of the landscape — an echo of the ecosystems that sustain us. Some impressions are framed or embroidered; others are transformed into wearable or functional textiles. All invite us to pause and consider the quiet collaboration between water, fiber, and flora.

Here, art becomes evidence: of the ecosystems that sustain us, of the clean water that gives life to color, and of the long relationship between nature and design. Botanical Impressions reminds us that the things we wear, touch, and create are rooted, sometimes literally, in the living world.

Artist Statement (PDF)

Upcoming Events

Flower Pounding Workshop

Saturday, August 23 & Saturday, August 30, 2025 — 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Experience the beauty of botanical dye-making with artist Winna Bernard in this hands-on workshop exploring the art of flower pounding. Using petals, stems, and leaves collected from the gardens at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, participants will gently hammer natural pigments into cotton fabric, creating vibrant, one-of-a-kind textile prints.

The workshop begins with a demonstration of natural dye techniques, followed by a short guided walk through MWMO’s native plant gardens to learn how deep roots, clean water, and pollinators all play a role in this living landscape. Along the way, you’ll gather flowers to use in your own piece.

Back at the workshop tables, you’re invited to create, freely—moving between your personal project and a collaborative community table runner that will be unveiled at our fall gathering. No prior experience is needed. All materials provided.

This event is free, but registration is required.

 

Community Gathering

Saturday, September 27, 2025 — 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Celebrate the close of the Botanical Impressions exhibit with artist Winna Bernard and fellow community members. Past workshop participants and new guests alike are invited to gather around the finished table runner — a communal artwork made from flower-pounded prints created across both workshop days.

Enjoy light refreshments, share stories, and reflect on the creative connections sparked by native plants, shared landscapes, and collective making. Whether you pounded a petal or are simply curious, all are welcome. This event is Open House-style so drop in anytime.

This event is free, but registration is required.

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Gallery

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Artist Bio

Winna Bernard is a self-taught textile artist based in the Twin Cities. She is the founder of The Show, a local nonprofit that curates and exhibits artwork by artists with disabilities in community spaces. Inspired by her love of gardening, she launched Petal Arts to share the flower pounding technique used in her latest project, Botanical Impressions, which explores how botanical materials — cotton and fresh blooms — interact to form soft, textured compositions.