Solo exhibition by Folsom artist Joanne Tepper Saffren opens Sept. 5 at Axis Gallery
For more than three decades, artist Joanne Tepper Saffren has drawn creative inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding her Folsom home—especially the ancient oak trees that dot the region. Next month, her reverence for those enduring giants takes center stage in a new solo exhibition at Sacramento’s Axis Gallery.
Titled Trees, the exhibition opens September 5 and runs through September 28, 2025. It showcases a collection of cyanotype and anthrotype works that explore the themes of resilience, aging, and ecological connection through images of native oaks. Visitors are invited to attend a public reception on Saturday, September 13, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Saffren shared that her work is “deeply rooted in the natural beauty of this region—particularly the ancient oak trees that have long inspired my practice.”
The exhibition features images created using two historic sun-powered photographic processes. “Cyanotypes, with their deep indigo tones, suggest preservation and permanence,” Saffren wrote, “while anthrotypes—made from light-sensitive plant pigments—fade gently over time. Together, they reflect the resilience, impermanence, and quiet generosity of the natural world.”
Crafted with sustainable techniques and respect for the land, Trees invites viewers to pause and reflect on time’s passage and the strength of the living world.
All proceeds from a limited edition of cyanotype prints and select works will benefit the Sacramento Tree Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to growing and protecting the region’s urban forest.
Trees will be on view at Axis Gallery, located at 625 S Street in Sacramento. Regular gallery hours are Friday through Sunday, from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.axisgallery.org.
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