Meet Goldstein and Stone: Invasive Species Artists

As I walked into , I couldn't believe my luck. An older couple was standing in the landscaping near the entrance, vigorously painting an art display of twisted, weathered vines. 

"Are you the artists?" I asked, barely able to contain my excitement.

Once Seth Goldstein and Paula Stone confirmed that yes, they were, I babbled at them with the enthusiasm of meeting a celebrity power couple. Goldstein and Stone, a husband-and-wife team, are known for their invasive species art. 

“Jaws is made out of Oriental bittersweet,” Goldstein said, indicating the display under his brush. 

“[Oriental bittersweet] is a non-native invasive species which has now invaded our woodlands and backyards,” added Stone. “It wraps around native trees and strangles them. At the same time, it displaces the native plants which provide good nutrients for birds and other wildlife.”

“This stuff is a bad actor,” finished Goldstein.

"Bad actors" like Oriental bittersweet will soon face more scrutiny, thanks to the recent passage of the Maryland Invasive Plant Bill. Signed into law on April 12, 2011, this legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adopt regulations that will assess the harm posed by invasive plant species and place restrictions on their sale, transport and use in the state of Maryland. There appears to be an exclusion in the law for using an invasive plant for research or educational purposes. However, until the regulations are adopted and Oriental bittersweet is evaluated, it is not clear how or if the new legislation will affect artists like Goldstein and Stone.

“The intent of the law is to reduce the harm that invasive plants can cause in the state of Maryland,” said Carol A. Holko, program manager for the plant protection and weed management section at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. An invasive plant advisory committee will develop a tool to determine if a plant falls under the new legislation. Use of tier-1 plants will be highly restricted. Tier-2 plants will require labeling, noting that they are potentially invasive.

The goal of the committee is to draft regulations surrounding invasive plants that are "practical, enforceable and meaningful," said Holko. “We think people want to do the right thing if they know what it is.”

Introduced to this country in the 1860s, Oriental bittersweet is still sold in parts of the United States today for use in landscaping. Five states have designated it as a terrestrial noxious weed. 

As Certified Weed Warriors, Goldstein and Stone work to eliminate invasive plants in both Montgomery County and Potomac Gorge. Cutting down Oriental bittersweet serves two purposes: it protects native habitat and provides the artists with a unique medium with which to create art. Through their sculptures, Goldstein and Stone hope to educate people about the hazards posed by non-native species.

The artists created Jaws out of Oriental bittersweet in 2009. On the day that I met them, they were treating the sculpture with a type of wood preservative with the intent of preserving the piece for future generations. Given the uniqueness of their artistic medium, Goldstein noted that they weren’t sure if the treatment would work. However, they remained hopeful.

“[Jaws is] outside 24/7, in the snow, and it’s withstood two winters,” Stone said proudly.

I asked the artists how many pieces they currently have on display at Brookside Gardens, remembering a unique sculpture of a girl's face from a previous visit.

“We’ve got nine,” Goldstein answered. “We’ve got Jaws, a hanging mosquito near the conservatory …”

“Insectosaurus," clarified Stone. She added, "We’ve got three dinosaurs here.” She recounted the names: “A vinosaur, a vinosaurus and a brontovinus.” A seal named Flipper, a camel called Omar, and a turtle named Tina round out the collection. And then, there’s the piece that stuck in my memory. 

“I just fixed Goldilocks,” said Goldstein.

“He stabilized her lips,” added Stone.

My own lips curved into a smile as I left the couple to their work.

Want to see more of Goldstein and Stone’s art? Both Seth Goldstein and Paula Stone are members of the Washington Sculptors Group. Visit some of their sculptures on display at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., in Wheaton. The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, except Dec. 25. Admission is free. For more information about the gardens, call 301-962-1400.