Building Community 2 (winter) was an interactive piece, designed as a point of connection between Gradually Green and the gallery setting. Over 20 variations of a handprint merged into a leaf were designed using digital media. About 250 leaves were printed on one hundred percent recycled paper, and cut out by hand. The leaves were pinned to three soft sculptures, merging anatomy, botany and architecture.

Viewers were invited to take a leaf, and in exchange answer the question on the note pinned behind it. The questions, about home and community, were collected in a ballot box.

The sculptures underneath would only be revealed as the leaves were taken

The handprint is a take off on the metaphor of the "ecological footprint". In our society people are a lot more aware of how and what they touch with their hands than with their feet, making the question of sustainability how we can (re)consider our ecological footprints the way we consider our handprints. The aesthetic design was inspired by the merging of leaf and skin patterns, and the way light illuminates leaves like stained glass.

The answers will be used in the next incarnation of this project.

This piece was displayed at the Scarab Club in Detroit January and February 2008.