sun tusk o1
30 x 30” . |. S O L D | 2 0 2 0
This wall sculpture is composed of shells from a marine mollusk called a scaphopod, also commonly known as the tooth shell, elephant tusk, or white tusk. These tusks were dipped in liquid gold and metallic dust, then glued into place and soaked in resin. White tusks are found burrowed into the sand or mud of sub-tidal zones throughout the world’s oceans. They are known to have been used as currency by North American indigenous people, or strung on thread as headdresses or jewelry as early as the Bronze Age.
The inspiration behind, and components of, so many of my pieces tend to come from nature, usually either the sea or the soil and, in this case, both. Building original wall sculptures using scraps of the natural world’s raw materials such as dried pods, seeds, wood, shells, cotton and plant fibers has become a trademark of my work. So, discovering this elegant little sea creature, with its curved fluted shell, chalky texture, vast neutral palette of whites, grays and ivories, and the vertical colonies in which they live, captured my imagination as inspiration for a new project.
An element that inspires, and is central to a lot of my work, is the circle. This particular piece at this particular time, marked by a global pandemic and social distancing, a circular, radiating mandala shape seemed like a fitting composition. The symbol is balance, healing, interconnectedness, and unification. The further along things evolved, the more this shape began to look like the sun… luminous, warm, and emanating positive energy. In studying the circle, I have also found inspiration in repeating patterns, micro graphic line art, antique botanical and aquatic engravings, the vector of a curve, fluidity and life force of water, dimension in sculpture, and texture in organic surfaces.
And finally, a huge part of this piece was execution. As prolonged and laborious the process of creating this piece was, it is the result of the accumulation of slow, methodical, patient gestures, repeated over time to transform tiny single units into a larger ordered, interconnected system. Working in this way is considered REALLY TEDIOUS by most, and clearly is not for everyone, but for me, personally, these small actions and the gradual evolution of this whole as it revealed itself week after week during quarantine, was extremely gratifying to watch. As with many of my pieces, the meticulous labor, long hours, and dedication required were well worth it in the end, especially when that tranquil sense of peace and calm settles in you, as if having meditated… making any stress arising later in the day just a little easier to move through. : )
