As Halloween cobwebs thicken, I’ve been thinking about a piece that was born from ideas of decay, spoilage, and the freshness that can follow.
The piece is called Vanitas Vase. It is the first in a forthcoming series of carved vessels, each with its own unique veil of fragments that invite us to contemplate the fleetingness of things.
The Vanitas Vase, with its final finish drying in the sun
The idea for the Vanitas Vase came to us after we received an invitation from our friend Dee Clements, who was co-hosting an event with Liz + Daniel of the TXA TXA CLUB.
The invitation was to contribute a piece for an art-filled dinner event inspired by the theme of a shelf life; its limits and the creative ways we stretch time.
Here are a few photos from the event...
The Vanitas Vase, styled with greens and flowers at the TXA TXA CLUB dinner
Everyone seated at the table decorated with pieces made in response to the Shelf Life theme
Like much of our work, the making process can be cloudy at first, but with experimentation and trust, the piece emerges. We started by composing half-eaten fruits, peels, and leaves onto a scale drawing of the vase we envisioned. Then we 3D-scanned the pieces, roughly machine carved, assembled the parts, and finished all the carving by hand.
The vase has a rectangular glass vessel inside so it can be filled with water and flowers. The wood is reclaimed bug-eaten Beech wood that Remy brought with him to Chicago all the way from Richmond, Virginia.
We’re grateful that this piece was first shown at an event filled with people making memories and living fully in the moment. Later, it traveled to Minneapolis to be displayed at the re-opening of a concept store at the Walker Art Center.
Having the piece in a museum context made us reflect more deeply on the history behind its name.
The name Vanitas refers to a genre of Dutch still life paintings of the same name. Like those paintings, the vase uses symbolic imagery like fruit, florals, and insects to contemplate mortality and the fleeting nature of life. In a time when nearly every corner of society feels tender and bruised, that reminder feels even more precious.
I’ll end with a short excerpt from Charles Bukowski’s “The Laughing Heart.” Though I disagree with his famous epithet “Don’t Try,” I love how he captures the rawness of life — and I have a lot to learn from that kind of audacity.
…there is a light somewhere.
in may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes…
That’s all for now.
Until next time,
Olivia & Remy
PS: The Vanitas Vase is now for sale directly from our studio for $400 + shipping. Reply to this email if you’d like to call it yours.
PPS: If you’re interested in delicious culinary adventures with others, get to know the TXA TXA SUPPER CLUB! They’re expanding into a physical location while continuing their Supper Club at new curated Chicago locations every month.
PPPS: If you’re hungry to get your hands on a soulful process and spend time with an all-around lovely artist, get to know DEE CLEMENTS and her WEAVING WORKSHOP! She hosts group classes throughout the year.