What is it about seedpods that capture our collective attention? Why are artists motivated – compelled even – to interpret and recreate them?
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The Gathering series is a collection of blown glass sculptures made up of individual, repeating elements assembled into structures evocative of seedpods and flowers. Karli Sears, the artist responsible for these elegant glass forms explains, “they are physical carriers of life energy and exquisite in their complex forms.” Yes…
Equally compelling is Sears’ Microcosm ring, shown below. I was immediately drawn to it - my polymer clay background tugging at my brain asking “can this be done with polymer clay and resin?”
Then I read her description and I was pulled in for an entirely different reason: “The Microcosm ring is a tiny, detailed world hovering above the wearer’s hand for private contemplation.” See what I mean?
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I think seed pods are fascinating (and pollon grains, magnified) because they are efficient, compact, geometric forms of infinite variety and elegance. They have wonderful texture and pattern, both simple and complex.
As for the ring, I can envision taking slices of bulls-eye canes made from opaque and translucent clays and embedding them in clear liquid clay (probably Kato) then blasting with a heat gun immediately after baking, to maybe get a similar effect…
The images of Karli’s work took my breath away…
I’ve long felt that seeds and pods are something we’re drawn to because they represent life, ‘aliveness’, and birth…. Karli’s words were perfect – ‘life energy’