Artist Talk with Christina Pettersson and Alexandra Onisko
Saturday, August 29, 11am-1pm

Join us for a talk with Christina Pettersson and Alexandra Onisko, Lead Invasive Species Biologist with the South Florida Water Management District, specializing in upland and wetland ecosystems. The intersection of art and environment is a key element in Pettersson's work, and the current exhibit Into the Weeds, with her strikingly realistic drawings shining a light on historic uses and abuses of plants, animal species and herbology.

Together, they’ll explore the deep connections between Pettersson's layered artistic practice and the field of agroecology and invasive species management.

Christina Pettersson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and raised in Miami, Florida. She creates large-scale drawings, videos, installations, and collaborative performances that delve into Florida’s hidden histories and endangered ecosystems. Rooted in public engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration, her practice invites audiences to connect more deeply with the landscapes and stories in their own backyards. Her work reflects a reverence for the wilderness of a bygone era and the haunting beauty of a world in decline.

Alex Onisko is a Lead Invasive Species Biologist with the South Florida Water Management District, specializing in upland and wetland ecosystems. Alex holds a Master of Science with a major in Agronomy with a concentration in Agroecology from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science with a major in Environmental Studies from the University of Central Florida. She has worked in Land Management and Invasive Plant Management since 2011. Among many other responsibilities, Alex is a technical expert in her field and is responsible for project management, research and development of integrated pest management technologies, and is part of a team leading the aerial monitoring of priority invasive plant species across the Everglades.