November 15, 2006 (Vol. 26, No. 20)
URL:
http://www.portableherbarium.com
Rating:
Strong Points: Great idea, beautiful
Weak Points: Not much science here
Summary:
I hate it when I see something that makes me wish I’d thought of it myself. I mean, how fair is it that someone takes an incredibly simple idea, runs with it, and probably makes a mint? The most recent time I had this feeling was when I discovered this amazingly cool idea by Erika Sonder. Start with a beautiful plant. Scan it, photograph it, or image it in some high-tech way at the highest possible resolution. Then sell the products of that effort as works of art by means of high quality laser copying. Simple? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Wish I’d done it? You bet. Sour grapes aside, this is truly an inspired idea by someone who clearly has a love of nature and a desire to share it with others. With her work now part of the permanent displays of museums in Salem, MA, and Boston, Erika has impressed more people than just me with her work.