The Alchemy of Form

My journey with Shifting States began with a shell. A fragment embedded with the exquisite, swirling patterns of a serpulid worm tube. This tiny, ancient structure, a testament to countless generations of ocean life, became the starting point for a deep dive into material alchemy and unseen forces.

The process unfolded through a unique blend of ancient craft and modern innovation: a precise laser scan preserved every intricate detail of the shell, then these forms were meticulously split into layers and reconstructed in wood to create molds for casting in glass. The resulting sculptures capture the fragile, almost liquid beauty of calcium carbonate structures, evoking both their inherent artistry and their precarious existence in a rapidly changing world.

Glass, in its very essence, holds a profound connection to the marine world. Derived from sand and limestone – often formed from the very calcium carbonate of marine organisms – it echoes the shells and skeletons of ocean life. The mesmerizing, transformative process of glassmaking itself mirrors the shifting chemistry of the oceans, where rising carbon dioxide levels now threaten the survival of the organisms that rely on calcium carbonate to build their homes.

Through these layered glass forms, Shifting States reflects on the delicate metamorphosis of marine life, such as the serpulid worm. Its lifecycle, moving from free-swimming larva to a sedentary adult encased in a crystalline tube - becomes a poignant metaphor for broader environmental changes, particularly the ocean's acidification and its impact on its most vulnerable inhabitants.