Margie Griggs is a printmaker and painter from Chicago, IL that enjoys connecting with the natural world around her through her artwork. She studies plants, fish, birds, and small animals in order to gain a better understanding of the connections found during her journeys. Griggs is a printmaker who mostly uses silkscreen printing to convey her observations. She collects photographs and writes down information she sees during her time with nature to later use for her work. She captures special moments with each of the organisms she sees to allow others to understand her personal experience with the outdoors. She draws minimal images of these experiences and animals to tell just enough information. She hopes the focus of her drawings will teach the audience about animals they see everyday. She also encourages people to look a little harder at what might be right in front of them when exploring nature. She is currently studying different species of animals through her drawing that she later transforms into silkscreen prints. These drawings are similar to those that can be found in a textbook. She includes enough information in her drawings for the viewer to understand the type of species it is and the environment of the organism. Margie understands the impact humans have on the natural world and believes that by not disturbing the environment, we can begin to better understand our relationship with nature. She also believes we can then better understand the relationships among different organisms better as well. She believes these connections among different organisms is important in understanding a person’s place within the natural world. It helps to ground people and allow them to gain a sense of reason and balance in the world. Margie has learned to look at the world in a particular way in order to teach and influence others about their environment. She hopes to allow others to view her observations from her own lens so they may begin to refine their lenses. She feels deeply connected with the life she studies because she has learned how precious and delicate environments are. She believes the role of art is to create an outlet for what we feel and experience in the world around us. She interprets her personal experiences through her drawings to allow others to experience it with her. She hopes people can feel what she feels when she has these moments with different kinds of life. Art is the only way she can decipher and begin to understand her memories and experiences with nature. She invites others to join her in exploring nature and encourages people to be curious about the little things that surround us each day.
