A destra e sinistra, sculpted meteorite with mother of pearl inclusions, unique, 2025Invited to return to Auvergne in the context of a residency with Les Creux de L'Enfer on the eve of its re-opening. This regional contemporary art center was built out of the ruins of a knife making factory and blade smithery originally powered by the Durolle river in the valley of the volcanic region Mirlesse had previously spent time working in to make my sculptural installation at the top of the puy de Dôme (Crystalline Thresholds | Les Portes de Givre.) Her research in mineral material and that which can be interpreted from it led to her proposing a to sculpt meteorite to include the lines in the palm of one's hand.
She had the privilege of meeting directly with several craftsmen and women and understanding more about their process, but it was the working environment and unique personalities of Manu Laplace and Florian Gallet that welcomed me into their atelier that inspired me the most. She was fortunate enough to be guided by them in their expertise between January and April of this past year.
Although knifemaking was not part the project she chose to pursue, learning how and if it was possible to shape meteorite, that material once interpreted as the sky falling, a kind of message from the beyond was essential. This rock like none on earth was in fact one of the early materials used for blade making, and knife makers do occasionally still include it in their repertoire of raw materials.
The hands were chosen for people who either self-identified as seers or "voyants" in French, or people who didn't call themselves by this name but had uncanny predictions of things happen to them in their lives.
A destra e Sinistra, meteorite, 2025
She had the privilege of meeting directly with several craftsmen and women and understanding more about their process, but it was the working environment and unique personalities of Manu Laplace and Florian Gallet that welcomed me into their atelier that inspired me the most. She was fortunate enough to be guided by them in their expertise between January and April of this past year.
Although knifemaking was not part the project she chose to pursue, learning how and if it was possible to shape meteorite, that material once interpreted as the sky falling, a kind of message from the beyond was essential. This rock like none on earth was in fact one of the early materials used for blade making, and knife makers do occasionally still include it in their repertoire of raw materials.
The hands were chosen for people who either self-identified as seers or "voyants" in French, or people who didn't call themselves by this name but had uncanny predictions of things happen to them in their lives.
A destra e Sinistra, meteorite, 2025