The Wildlife work (Flora, Fauna, Fungi and La Mer) is inspired by Nature’s ingenious design constantly perfecting for each unique environment. Yet, as we stand at the edge of this ecological precipice, the environment is telling us in no uncertain terms it cannot survive without our mutual support. The convex ceramic plays on the idea of a shield, defined as a person or thing providing protection from harm. It also heralds honor of and sense of family like the countless species with which we share this planet.
Like the focus of a lens, the shields reflect our powerful role and reciprocal responsibility.
Flora’s inaugural shields emerge as a trio and tribute to our plant family responsible our atmosphere as one of the key elements necessary for life on Earth. See Life, Light & Breath, Flora Shield Trio.
Fungi joins the Wildlife work as the high-speed internet of the sub terrain soil and master collaborator. They have been working their magic for about 1,300 million years. Fungi's fine mycelium network is an essential communication system connecting and supporting various species including flora in the interdependent process of mutualism.
We are in a time of epic shifts and are responsible for the positive changes needed now. The work intends to uplift awareness and restoration at this climacteric time on our planet motivating wise, timely sustainable investments for all life.
hand-built ceramic, mirror, copper leaf, 3.5” x 12.5” x 13”
In the spirit of a mandala and tree of life, the first Flora shield, Life, reaches above and below straddling the realms of the seen and unseen.
The mirror reflects the interior and ourselves as we peer inward.
The exterior elements expand up and outward with a bow to thriving and abundance.
Life celebrates nine branches of the plant kingdom. It starts where all life began at the microscopic level in the sea to the most massive of all plants or any living organism, the giant sequoia.
From the center, the nine mini shields within the shield spiral down and clockwise around to the outer right rim. Elements from each section lead you to the next one.
Life Interior
1. Phytoplankton: Water indeed is life and the ocean is where it all began on our blue planet. The first undisputed fossil evidence of cyanobacteria and photosynthesis was 2.15 billion years ago. Plants had their start with phytoplankton inside the one-cell lace-like jewels like this radiolaria. The exquisite microscopic silica lace architecture was home to early plant life and still is today. The ocean photosynthesizes over 50% of Earth’s oxygen, providing every other breath we take. A deep bow to the mighty micro greens that started the world of flora.
2. Coral Reefs: Warm, shallow coral reefs are both a plant, zooxanthellae and an animal, the reef-building polyp. The plant is the microscopic dinoflagellate that provides nutrients powered by solar energy for the coral and lives within its cells. This pink and red coral gem is releasing her eggs. Brain and star coral spawn at the full moon once a year in late July to early August.
3. Leaf Engineering: When plants shifted from the sea to land about 400 million years ago they were a simple stalk and as they grew in numbers so they exhausted the carbon dioxide levels and were starving. This instigated the design we know as leaves. Leaves created more surface area for plants to get their “breath” with built-in breathing portals or stomata that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis within the plant. Over millions of years a diverse range of leaves continue to evolve and are considered the light-harvesting organs of vascular plants. The individual leaves in this concave window create a lotus-like blossom below.
4. Grasses: 6.5 million years ago grasses appeared on Earth. To defend against the herbivore dinosaurs, they drew silica from the soil and grew microscopic silica serrated leaves. Ever cut your finger on a “blade” of grass? This is why and hence the silver luster daggers circling the magnified peek into a cell of grass. The dinosaurs were not able to chew or digest the silica grass so the grass challenger succeeded. Early horses and cow relatives developed “nashers” that could chew and digestive systems to process the grasses. Like everything, the silica rich manure eventually finds its way to the sea creating a boom for silica diatoms. Everything is connected.
5. Cactus: The cactus can live through extreme conditions and utilize water in life-saving ways. They provide homes and nourishment for insects, the winged, 4-leggeds and 2-leggeds. Their interior structure reminds me of the micro marine diatoms and radiolarians and both have inspired architecture, art and design. This lustrous silver and gold medallion is an homage to its inner strength and design. My last visit with a beloved friend was at Joshua Tree Monument where we wandered through thriving cactus groves and weathered silver cactus remains.
6. Flowering Family: The third-eye of the shield takes us into the heart of a flower. The protruding rose colored nodules are a micro view of the papilla, a complex structure that is formed between the plasma membrane and the inside of the plant cell wall. These are from the petal of a rose. On the interior is skirt of a pink petals. Flowers are the reproductive design of the plant often assisted by pollinating friends. Powerful strategy and equally powerful aesthetically as a field, garden or bouquet can magically uplift us with their beauty and many their fragrance. Different flowers represent different qualities and are a jewel of the plant family.
7. Cones, Seeds & Sequoia: The most massive of all living organisms is the Giant Sequoia and yet its “winged seed” is approximately less than a quarter of an inch. A symbol of realizing potential, this medallion honors seed bearing plants and the giant of them all. The interior has elements of the sequoia cone in flat copper stain with the migrating seeds in copper leaf. Incredible what can grow from a seed when nurtured be it an intention, garden or forest.
8. Moss & Spores: This mysterious package magnifies the spore capsule of the flower-less moss and plays a crucial role in establishing new populations. The capsule contains up to millions of microscopic spores, when released travel with the wind and when landing somewhere suitable, grow into a new moss plant.
9. Fragrance & Botanical oils: This microscopic dive onto surface of a lavender leaf finds us among a forest of trichomes (tiny trees-like elements) and pearls of oil glands. When touching the leaves we have actually burst the micro oil glands, so it is the oil that produces the fragrance. Fun to remember next time you take in the scent of lavender, rosemary or other aromatic botanicals.
hand-built ceramic, 3” x 9.75” x 9.5”
Light plays on the alchemy of the photosynthesis process. Powerful photonic beams of light from the sun in metallic gold penetrate the plant orchestrating a chloroplast dance. The funnels or "light harvesting complexes” however take center stage.
The solar rays pierce the complexes and split a water molecule into hydrogen for the plant and releasing oxygen for our atmosphere. It is a wild and electric process occurring at all times somewhere on our planet. The metallic silver membrane frames the tango performance of lustrous solar fingers and iridescent chloroplast cells.
hand-built ceramic, 2.5” x 8.5” x 8.5”
Plants developed leaves after moving from sea to land about 400 million years ago as they struggled to get enough breath in.
Leaves created more surface and with it their intake thanks to the aid of microscopic portals or stomata.
Inhaling the essential carbon dioxide, plants exhaled oxygen creating our atmosphere and breath. The abstraction is inspired by studies of the stomata of lavender and lilac leaves.
ceramic, 6.25" x 6.5" x 3.25"
Inspired by fungi lamella/gill engineering of the Chocolate Milky, Lactarius lignyotus. This resourceful fungi exudes latex droplets as a defense mechanism to ward off predators. Sometimes a girl has to create a shield to protect what she loves.
This mycorrhizal fungi is an example of one of the earliest alliances on planet Earth. 90% of all plants rely on mycorrhizal relationships, a partnership of fungi with different plant species. They collaborate yet remain recognizable as themselves. The plants can have many different fungi/mycelium (fiber optic-like roots) connectors. 500 million years ago it was mycorrhizal fungi that enabled algae to transplant from sea to land supporting our first terrestrial plants.
It’s clearly time that we got the memo on mutualism, the timeless mutual support between diverse species.
Secret surprise inside.
hand-built ceramic, 6” x 6” x 3.25”
Fungi Phallus luteus inspiring Champagne & Crinoline is found in Asia, Australia and Central America. Some its names include crinoline, bridal veil and veiled lady but its best known as stinkhorn for good reason.
She is a sassy play on the aptly named genus Phallus, a foul-smelling fungi performance artist and alchemist. This glamorously styled mushroom blossoms off of decay and rotting organic matter. After the phallus erupts, its crinoline skirt unfolds and the cap oozes with a spore-laden slime that smells like rotting flesh to allure insects. The insects disperse the tiny spores in their excrement and on their ooze-slippered feet in this act of mutualism. This dramatic ritual lasts but a relatively brief moment.
Nature is a supreme model for making magic out of merde, pardon my French. Like the staggering and equally innovative global transition we are experiencing, we have a magnificent opportunity and duty. Enriched by the fertilized contrast that no longer serves us, we are cultivating mutually sustainable systems necessary to move us forward together. From waste we create wonder as we unfold like the champagne lace crinoline bejeweled in inclusivity, thriving, sustainability and solutions.
hand-built ceramic, 11.5” x 11.5” x 3”
Inspired by the yellow morel.
The cap is a maze of random ridges and cavernous pits where its micro spores nestle. Morels are completely hollow and a culinary treasure.
Like many fungi they are a super source for health and nutrition. They are loaded with antioxidants, balance blood sugar, repair liver-damage, low in fat, are high in Vitamin D, protein and fiber.
hand-built ceramic, 17" x 5”
hand-built ceramic, 15” x 13” x 6”
hand-built ceramic, 15” x 13” x 6”
hand-built ceramic, 13” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 13” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 13” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 13” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 20.5” x 6”
hand-built ceramic, 13” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 24K gold leaf, 14” x 15” x 4”
hand-built ceramic, 20” x 6”
hand-built ceramic, 14” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 14” x 3.5”
hand-built ceramic, 20” x 8”