Untitled #1 (collage)

Jasmine Vollherbst is a New York-born software engineer and painter, living in Astoria. She finds inspiration in remembering childhood summers spent in the mountains of Puerto Rico, and in the endless forms of nature. The invented landscape of this collage braids memory and imagination.

For Jasmine, this collage asks: 

Where and when have you felt connected to the earth? 

How are you yearning to connect now? 

Here’s how our neighbors responded: 

“At Riis beach, when I’m in the ocean. I yearn for the sun!” 

“I think I have felt most connected to the earth at two times: when I have been able to contribute to (or help foster) an ecosystem instead of just taking from it; and also when I can be in a large space of natural growth that reminds me of how small I am. Right now, I hope to connect as the spring edges into summer and temperatures warm up--sometimes things makes me physically uncomfortable and I hope to remember that each day offers opportunities to connect and is not just something to ‘get through.’” 

Jasmine gave this piece to Ned Milligan, a gentle special ed teacher who lives just across 46th St!