Aug. 2 – Nov. 1, 2025: The Photography and Art of Melissa Penley Cormier
“Melissa Penley Cormier’s work gathers selections from her ever-growing collection of photographs documenting found natural wonders, many of which have deep personal meaning or stories tied to them. For this exhibition, she worked to select and highlight flowers, insects, nests, feathers, and other specimens found near the Ned Smith Center, along with ones similar to those in the Kopp Butterfly & Moth Collections. These detailed and close-up photographs hope to encourage others to reflect on their own stories, collections, and connections as well as echo Ned Smith’s advice that looking closely at the natural world can spark inspiration and a deeper understanding.” – from the 2025 Events Catalog
On display in the gallery are images from three ongoing projects, Held, the Catalog of Nests, and Floral Mneumonica, along with new work inspired by the archives of Ned Smith and the Knopp Butterfly and Moth Collection located at the center.
In preparation for the exhibition, I visited the center’s archives and grounds to view the work and get to know their collections and to better understand how my own work might be informed and in conversation with them.
Selections from the Kopp Butterfly & Moth Collections and the Ned Smith art archives:
Jenny O’Grady, a dear friend, fellow artist, and wonderful editor of The Light Ekphrastic was gracious enough to interview me about the experience and bringing some of my projects to this space:
Thoughts on the “Held” Series
“These photographs are from an ever-growing group of images taken over the course of the pandemic of items that I’ve held in my hand. Collected almost accidentally, I often use my cellphone as a way of visual note-taking. Although these weren’t meant to be viewed by anyone but me, while recently archiving and organizing these images, the importance of what I could and could not touch during the pandemic became clearer and heavier. During this time I have also become, as we all have, much more aware and wary of my own hands and what they come into contact with throughout the day. One hand becomes the subject, holding a found object, while the other holds a cell phone and documents the interaction.”
Thoughts on the “Catalog of Nests” Series
“Many types of hornets and wasps create nests from chewing and forming paper pulp from wood and other plant matter in their immediate surroundings. I have been collecting these found abandoned nests since childhood, with friends gifting me some that they’ve found, but only recently have I begun to document their variations. Each one, even of the same species, is different in construction and patterning, even while still following recognizably similar structures. While most often these objects are avoided and destroyed, photographing them allows viewers the chance to observe these found sculptures more closely.”
Thoughts on the “Flora Mnemonica” Series
“Created during the pandemic, the Flora Mnemonica series is an ongoing personal catalog of plant specimens as a way to think about friends and family during this time of social separation. Most of the plants were gathered from my garden or found on walks through nearby Patapsco Park and are sampled specifically because they are linked to a memory or story from a close family member or friend. Many times, the plants themselves were given as starts or seeds from friends’ gardens. Originally intended to be shared via social media, the images have become invitations for others to talk about personal memories or associations with particular plants and flowers while also offering a moment to consider the plants themselves in greater detail.”
Earlier, in March of 2025, I was able to spend time in the collections. Thinking about what we keep, collect, and turn our detailed attention towards.
Thanks to Lanesville Press for the new edition of the flora mneumonica books!
And thank you to everyone who came to the opening on August 2nd. I’m so grateful to have my work in such an amazing place and so thankful to the staff of the center.
Images of the opening reception are by Britt Cole, the Communications Specialist at the Ned Smith Center:
Melissa Penley Cormier 