Polygonatum

Polygonatum, King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is a perennial herb that is somewhat rare due to habitat loss. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. The use of the root of the herb Polygonatum dates back over 3,500 years ago to the era of King Solomon. He was so impressed that he named it after himself and deemed it “a gift from God” because of its diverse healing properties. Asian healers, Dioscorides and Pliny (1st Century, A.D.) considered it one of the ten top healing herbs. Indigenous North Americans honored its food and medicine.

This gift of the earth can be beneficial to help humans in a vast number of ways by reducing inflammation, blood glucose, and lipid levels; regulate and enhance the immune system; assists in restoring damaged connecting tissue and cartilage; act as an expectorant to help with lung disorders; aids skin conditions such as bruises, wounds, and skin irritations; speed up stressed and broken bone injuries; increases the synovial fluid in joints to enhance movement; soothe digestion; improve women’s reproductive health; and generally slow down the effects of aging.

The magic of Polygonatum, King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is associated with breaking habits, accepting and seeking change, making difficult decisions and transitions, increasing ones wisdom and to ward off malicious spirits, and is said to be able to create love potions.

  • Kimberly Michelle Webb
    Photographer
  • Genres:
    Medicinal Herb
  • Date Taken:
    April 28, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Camera:
    Nikon D3100
  • Lens:
    18 - 70 mm f3.5 - 4.5
  • Focal Length:
    35 mm
  • Shutter Speed:
    1/2000
  • Aperture:
    f3.5
  • ISO / Film:
    3200
  • Student Project:
    No
Artist Biography

Kimberly M. Webb is a visual artist, educator, and arts administrator. Her work is collaborative, interdisciplinary, and experimental. She works in sculpture, social practice, and photography. She is interested in human behavior, social constructs, and absurdity as well as environmental and social justice, ecology, and material studies.

Originally from the eastern shore of Maryland, Webb has made Columbus, Ohio, her home since 1998. She earned her BFA from the Ohio State University (2006) with a concentration in fine art photography and a minor in contemporary art history. She received her MFA from Columbus College of Art & Design (2014) with a focus in sculpture and social practice. Webb is the former Director of the Ohio Art League and Manager of Fresh A.I.R. (Artists in Recovery) Gallery, Chop Chop Gallery, and Exhibitions at the Franklin Park Conservatory. She has supported the production of exhibitions and programming at the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), independently with the city of Columbus, Capital Crossroads SID, COTA, and with various other artists and independent spaces. Webb has received grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), CCAD, and professional development support from the Ohio Arts Council. She has attended Mildred’s Lane (Narrowsburg, NY) with a full fellowship from CCAD and Can Serrat Artist Residency (El Bruc, Spain) supported in part by Can Serrat and GCAC.

Currently, Webb teaches advanced photography with a focus on “Being in Nature” at Athens Photographic Project. She is passionate about the intersections of wellness, creativity, and sustainability.

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Artist Statement

Within content, form, and process, I value the practice of slowing down to collect and honor what is often passed by or disregarded. I seek to connect new and old ways of working, countering the fast paced hustle of the culture I live in, to pause, absorb, and synthesize - to find connection and harmony in working in/with nature - the flow.