Seeds of diversity – Caroline Wright

Since 1920, 90% of our vegetable and 80% of our fruit varieties have become irretrievably LOST.
The idea for this publication initially stemmed from these sobering statistics. This is a publication to highlight the worth of our endangered heirloom fruit tree varieties. Figure 2, close up of the embossed seed shape which runs through the centre of this publication.
This publication was 100% hand bound by myself using the perfect bind technique. I assembled this publication at my home using some vices and blocks of wood fashioned into a book binding frame.
The explanation for this publication was worked into the dust cover thus acting as a protective but informative layer.
Laser cutting was used to cut the typography (Mrs Eaves italic) in the front cover and front end sheet of this publication.
A close up of the shadow and see through effect that the laser cut typography creates.
A variety of techniques were employed for this publication including laser cutting, embossing, photography, line drawing and water colour. Paper stocks were chosen for their ability to match the intended message that I was trying to convey through the nature of their texture.
Laser cutting was used to produce the branch cut outs for the next spreads. The other techniques used were photography and line drawing.
All of the art work used for this publication was self generated with the one exception of the mature apple tree photograph seen in the next set of sliders.
Cross section of an apple, Watercolour pencil.

Since 1920, 90% of our vegetable and 85% of our fruit seed varieties have become irretrievably LOST.

The idea for this publication initially stemmed from the sobering statistics above. From there, my inspiration were the branches of an old gnarled fruit tree which I discovered near my home in Avondale. This elderly tree brought to mind an elderly person with all their accumulated knowledge, wisdom and experience and how sometimes, sadly, in our western society, this wealth of knowledge is more often than not undervalued. I found this to be analogous to how our heritage fruit and vegetable varieties are also often undervalued and overlooked.

Our food source is seemingly so secure that we don’t consider how narrow our crop base is becoming. By this ignorance we fail to consider the loss of potentially important medicinal and nutritional future opportunities. To illustrate this point I used the example of the Monty’s surprise apple tree that was found in 2002 on the side of a Wanganui country road. This previously over looked heritage apple variety has been credited with possessing superior anticancer properties.

The challenge for me then became: how do I design a publication that makes vivid this treasure trove of accumulated genetic wealth, brought home to me by the branches of a heritage apple tree. This publication – a journey through branches is an attempt to do just that; to evoke the true worth, the jewel of these vitally important heirloom varieties.

Publication dustcover and explanation

This is a selection of double page spreads from the publication "Seeds of Diversity". A variety of paper stocks were used throughout this publication, including butter paper, transparent film, water colour paper, textured craft paper and a matt zeta paper. These paper stocks were chosen for their ability to match the message that I was trying to convey through the nature of their texture.
Craft paper was used for these pages, firstly because of the nice burnt edge that it produced when laser cut and also because the embossing technique was used here and needed a thick craft paper.
Zeta paper was used for the photographic pages because it is smooth enough to achieve a quality finish but also for it’s lighness and transparency.
Zeta paper was used for these pages producing a textured feeling when turning.
For this page butter paper, which is fragile in form was used to reflect the fragility of the blossom and also for the layering see through effect it produced. On the opposite page blue hued textured craft paper was laser cut to resemble branches, which looked and felt like lichen and bark.
Zeta paper was used for these pages.
Zeta paper was used for these pages.
The black textured craft paper was laser cut to resemble branches, and for their dark shadowed effect (This was in opposition to the blue hued craft paper used for it's resemblance to bark and lichen).
Zeta paper was used for these pages.
Transparent film was used in this last spread to produce a see through layer. This was the only layer that was not laser cut through. This layer shows a photograph of a jewel like visual texture which was to represent the jewel, the treasure inside. This jewel photograph was over layed with a photograph of a mature apple. This apple photograph was the only element in this publication that I did not produce myself.

The kaleidoscope of false diversity

My initial inspiration for this project were the gnarled branches of the heritage apple tree. The geometric shapes that these branches produced reminded me of a kaleidoscope.
A kaleidoscope was also brought to mind when I was drawing − painting the picture of the cross section of an apple, see the first slide of the photographs below. I thought an interesting idea would be to examine the idea of seed diversity through the view of a kaleidoscope. “kaleidoscope” is derived from the Ancient Greek, “tool for observer of beautiful forms”.

These patterns which initially appeared to me to be varied and diverse, from closer inspection were only multiple reflections of a limited number of objects. Much like the limited varieties of fruit trees available that are intensely grown for commercial interest. As with the kaleidoscopes beauty, the appearance of the fruit from the commercially grown varieties is the most important consideration. More difficult to see at first glance, and price−less is the true beauty seen through the branches of the heritage variety. A treasure of genetic potential that has never been designed or looked for.

“Let us endeavour to nurture and preserve our heritage seed varieties. Let us leave a legacy for our children and not a kaleidoscope of false diversity.”

“Variety is not only the spice of life, but the very staff of life. Diversity is nature’s fail safe mechanism against extinction. It provides the vast genetic pool of accumulated experiences and characteristics from which change can originate. An unpredictable future may be upon us, by diminishing diversity, we are shrinking the genetic pool that is the very source of biological options for survival. The gene pool is the real treasure. This living treasure of seeds comprises billions of years of evolution, and at least twelve thousand years of human selection for agriculture. It’s loss represents the greatest threat to life on earth as we know it.”

Seeds of Change; Kenny Ausubel

Cross section of an apple, watercolour.
Photograph from my first prototype Kaleidoscope.
The first kaleidoscope prototype: made from a metal cylinder, an old compact disc, cardboard and coloured beads.
Photographs of my final kaleidoscope: made from plastic pipe, mirrors, and broken glass assembled inside a wooden wine canister. The shape of the seed was laser cut into the top of the removable wooden wine canister lid.
Photographs of the inner workings of my final kaleidoscope: made from mirrors and plastic pipe.
Photographs of the inner workings of my final kaleidoscope: using broken glass assembled inside a wooden wine canister.
Photograph from the final kaleidoscope.
Photograph from the final kaleidoscope.
The finished photograph of the kaleidoscope which was used in the pages of the publication “Seeds of diversity”.

I would like to thank my Unitec tutors: Adam Sheffield, Jaime Robertson, Sally Hollis-McLeod and William Bardebes.
I would also like to acknowledge the following authors whose writings have been used in this publication: Kay Baxter, Paul Klee, Kenny Ausubel and the Koanga Institute.