A Gardener’s Delightful Season

Tuqa Asedi, M2, Class of 2025

I started gardening a couple years ago after I decided to finally pursue my dream of having a rose garden. The rose garden is still in progress, but I have had so much fun along the way. This year, I started taking photos of the flowers that I grew. It was a productive year; I had so many beautiful Zéphirine Drouhin rose blooms that I made delicious rose jam for my family! My Stargazer Lilies made a stunning and fragrant centerpiece on the coffee table. Some of my Zinnia seedlings died from the heat wave, some were eaten by bunnies, but the ones that survived had bright, vibrant colors. I bought a new bare-root climbing rose in the spring, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it bloom this year, its first year, which can be uncommon. I also saw a hummingbird drink out of my Petunia basket on multiple occasions. I have never seen one in real life and I could not contain my excitement! Other beautiful creatures that I got to see were different types of birds, a hummingbird hawk moth, and a neon-green praying mantis that lived on my Perfume Delight rose. Overall, it was a joyful experience and I am super excited for the next season. But for now, I am busy collecting the fallen autumn leaves to make food for next year’s flowers.

Picnic Under the Weeping Willow

Sricharan Yadali, M2, Class of 2025

Taken at Loose Park, Kansas City. To me, this photograph represents a scene of pure serenity. I am particularly drawn to capturing scenes that place people in harmony and at ease with their surroundings, whether that be in nature or in the urban core of the city. I very much enjoy using film to instill an almost meditative, intentional focus to my photography. I use it to achieve a dream-like quality, like that of recalling a fond memory. I made this photograph using Fuji Superia 400 film, metered at 200 ISO, though my trusty Konica Hexar AF with 35 mm f/2 lens.

Hibernal Reflection

Trenton Edwards, M2, Class of 2025

Soon, our northern hemisphere will enter into Winter. The sun sets earlier and its warmth fades, sending trees, bears, and countless others into hibernation. In doing so, these creatures can recover from a year’s worth of wear and tear and rest in anticipation of Spring’s growth. As we too retreat indoors, we are also given a chance to look inward; an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship with others, with nature, and with ourself. Winter provides space to think about what has been left behind and what lays ahead. It gives us a chance to be more intentional about those we spend time with, and to witness those who choose to spend their time with us. Though this season may evoke feelings of loss and isolation, it is time spent alone which allows for reflection and growth. As we approach our annual chrysalis, may we put in the work necessary to emerge reborn.

Chewelry

Alexandra Davidson, M3, Class of 2024

I enjoyed fashion and accessorizing from a young age. As my baby became more curious and dextrous, he began to pull and chew my necklaces. I was worried about his safety, as well as potential damage to my necklaces, but was sad at the prospect of no longer being able to wear one. I combed Etsy looking for baby and toddler-friendly necklaces and couldn’t find anything that I felt fit my style and didn’t look cheesy. I found a company that sells nontoxic silicone beads designed for chewing, and started designing my own kiddo-friendly necklaces, also known as “chewelry.” I started just making pieces for myself, then friends, then started a small shop on Etsy, ChewtiqueUnique. You can also follow ChewtiqueUnique on Instagram to see a variety of the designs I have made.

Fairy Tea

Edith Sigler, M2, Class of 2025

I started doing paper quilling a couple of years ago. Quilling uses rolled, thin strips of paper to make 2D or 3D art. I really enjoy making miniature designs and 3D figurines and objects. In this picture, the fairies, table, teapot, and teacups are all made solely of paper and glue. For scale, the teacups are less than 4mm tall.

Coming of Spring

Colette Worcester, G1-P3

Plaza Art Fair at Sunset

Sricharan Yadali, M1, Class of 2025

Last year I unearthed my parents’ old Pentax point-and-shoot that they purchased in the mid 1990s. Upon asking them about the camera, my parents told me about fond memories that they had using it to capture their first few years in a new and foreign land. To all of our surprises, it still worked! I quickly purchased some film and took the camera with me on family trips. When I got scans of my pictures back, I was astounded. 

Botanical Study

Angela Li, M3, Class of 2023

If the constantly changing schedule of a third-year medical student has taught me anything, it has challenged me to branch out from my comfort zone and pushed me to seek out a different creative medium than what I am used to. While I am very familiar and comfortable with inkwork, having completed projects both casually and for my undergraduate art courses, it has been more than a decade since I’ve picked up watercolors. 

Chasing Waterfalls

Vy Le, M2, Class of 2024

I picked up gouache painting during my first semester of medical school. Some time during second semester, things got busy, and I stopped painting as much. By the end of the year, I realized that I just didn’t feel happy or did as well because I wasn’t taking the time for myself to relax and paint. So I decided to take some time over the summer to paint. In the time that it took for me to paint each of these pieces, I didn’t have to think about anything but color mixing and creating a scene into which I can escape. Waterfalls have always interested me, and in finding references for and creating this series, it was almost as if I was transported to each of these locations. I hope that anyone looking at these paintings can not only see them but also hear the falls and imagine that they’re in these peaceful places surrounded by nature. Hopefully I’ll be able to chase all of these waterfalls in person one day.

Mars

Stephanie Aron, M2, Class of 2024

Inspired by the book series Red Rising by Pierce Brown.