Selected by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District (JCPRD), Whittier and her collaborative partner, Rena Detrixhe, recently unveiled their interactive public art project, Seeds of Change, at Cedar Niles Park. The residency embeds artists within ongoing environmental stewardship efforts, merging creative practice with habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation.

Seeds of Change brilliantly transforms familiar recreational games into active ecological restoration. Drawing from her expertise in ceramics and social practice, Whittier crafted handmade sports equipment, including wiffle balls and jump ropes, out of clay, native seeds, and locally foraged materials. As park visitors play with the equipment, they actively help disperse native seeds across the landscape. The installation was recently activated with a community Wiffle Ball game, bringing to life the artists' central question: "Can play also be an act of care?"

This project not only showcases Whittier's innovative approach to land-based art but also highlights a strong network of KCAI alumni making a regional impact. JCPRD Public Art Specialist Angi Hejduk (‘94 Ceramics) noted the special full-circle connection of seeing an alum who now teaches the next generation of artists actively shaping the local ecosystem. Seeds of Change remains on view through May 2027, inviting the community to return to Cedar Niles Park through the seasons to watch their playful seed dispersal bloom into new prairie life.

Read about the project here.