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    Laura Kramer’s Glass Sculptures Intersect Aesthetics and Archaeology

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    “Curiosity Box.” All images © Laura Kramer, shared with permission

    Laura Kramer’s Glass Sculptures Intersect Aesthetics and Archaeology

    November 13, 2024

    ArtNature

    Jackie Andres

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    Material culture is an important aspect of understanding past and present histories. Used in anthropology and archaeology, the concept refers to the the cultural significance an object may hold. Whether it be tools, religious articles, clothing, or even art, physical items have always been a reflection of the societies that wield them. Glass artist Laura Kramer is driven by this phenomenon.

    Into her work, Kramer carries personal experiences from studying anthropology and archaeology and participating in excavations—or “digs”— in St. Eustatius, an island in the Caribbean. “I am interested in the connection of the imbued spirit within the object,” she explains. “My work is deeply influenced by the cabinet of curiosities—odd objects that may not be easily categorized.”

    “Cinnabar”

    From her studio in Rhode Island, Kramer sculpts organic forms encrusted in ornate textures that mimic the natural formation of crystals. Sometimes using found objects like wasp nests, the artist creates peculiar sculptures that defy generally accepted systems of classification. Challenging the typical boundary between the manmade and natural, her sculptures land in a liminal space when examined from an anthropological point of view.

    See more from Kramer on Instagram.

    “Marie”

    “Memento Mori”

    “Azurite”

    “Mary”

    “Crystal Bowl”

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      Art

      #anatomy
      #crystals
      #glass
      #metal
      #sculpture

      October 8, 2021
      Grace Ebert

      “Catch your Breath” (2021), alabaster, bronze, and druzy snow chalcedony, 10 x 10 x 5 inches. All images courtesy of form & concept, shared with permission
      Artist and jewelry designer Debra Baxter (previously) explores the endurance of grief, mortality, and human bonds in Love Tears. Comprised of anatomical and figurative sculptures, the multifaceted series blend alabaster, quartz, and wood with delicate glass or metal to create forms that contrast the fragility of the body and natural world with the rugged topographies of crystals and rock.
      Simultaneously corporeal and unearthly, the spliced works evoke the Victorian tradition of mourning jewelry, which used various motifs and deep colors as memorials. In “Catch Your Breath,” for example, branch-like veins in bronze sprawl throughout crystalline lungs, while “Love Hard” bisects a smooth, glass heart with spiky quartz. “There’s inevitable pain in every form of love,” Baxter says about the series. “I’m fascinated by the ways in which we decorate this grief and mourning, and I wanted to see how far I could push myself with balancing the immediate, often ornate, demonstration of loss, and my use of permanent materials. This is about loss and legacy.”
      Love Tears will be on view at Santa Fe’s form & concept gallery from October 29, 2021, to January 15, 2022, and you can find more of Baxter’s bodily works on Instagram.

      “Crystal Brass Knuckles (forever)” (2021), sterling silver and quartz, 5 x 4.5 x 2 inches
      Left: “Soften the Blow” (2021), walnut and glass, 9.25 x 10 x 7.5 inches. Right: “” (2021), alabaster and glass, 9 x 6 x 6 inches
      “Love Hard” (2020), glass and quartz, 8 x 3 x 3.5 inches
      Left: Detail of “Ear to the Ground” (2020), alabaster and glass, 10 x 4 x 3 inches. Right: “” (2020), alabaster and green onyx, 12 x 7 x 4 inches
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      #anatomy
      #crystals
      #glass
      #metal
      #sculpture

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    • 200 Shares179 Views

      in Art

      A Dizzying Carpet of Crystals Blankets a Salon in the Royal Palace Amsterdam with Prismatic Patterns

      by

      
      Art

      #crystals
      #installation
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      July 23, 2021
      Grace Ebert

      Photo by Benning/Gladcova. All images © Suzan Drummen, shared with permission
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      Phenomena like these alarm me as a person, but as a maker, I’m inspired by that dizzying multiplicity. I‘m interested in things that dazzle us, and in my work, I try to ramp that up. It’s an ongoing quest, with a constant interplay between seriousness, fear, playfulness, and hope. Above all I want it to be vibrant and vital.
      Drummen’s piece is on view through October 3 as part of Trailblazers, a group exhibition inviting past recipients of The Royal Award for Modern Painting to show their works within the palace’s halls. Explore a larger collection of the Amsterdam-based artist’s projects on her site and Instagram.

      The work in progress
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      #crystals
      #installation
      #multiples

      Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member and support independent arts publishing. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, help support our interview series, gain access to partner discounts, and much more. Join now!

       
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