The Blue Heart (or “Let It Be”) Snow Globe

April 2, 2013 by camryn forrest

I’m fascinated with iconic images which hold tight in my imagination. With tiny solid objects that evoke mysterious emotions. This snowless water globe was one of those that I found appealing because of its ambivalence, its ability to be interpreted in so many ways.

Two reaching copper hands, one blue heart hovering mid-air. It was simple, but powerful in a way I could not name.

Were the hands reaching out to catch a falling heart? Was the elusive heart flying out of reach? Is the heart coming or going? Are the hands ready to comfort, or acknowledging the heart’s new freedom? It called to me, “redemption, hope, caring, freedom, strength.” But I wasn’t certain what this globe was saying.

So I called on an army of experts, (my dear friends) and showed them the initial sculpture and wondered which of the many themes captured the dilemma of this fragile blue glass heart. I got quite a few opinions (“Call it Grace, or Love, or Trust,” … and one statement, loud and clear.

“The snow globe should be called “Let It Be” and it is mine,” I heard firmly. Of course, I couldn’t argue against the voice of such conviction.

So “Let It Be” became the name of this handmade snow globe (with shimmering silver dust instead of snow, because you know: I never use snow.) And so it is. Let It Be.

Steampunk Flying Saucer Snow Globe

March 24, 2013 by camryn forrest

I don’t think the question is “DO you believe in flying saucers?”

The question should be “Do you WANT to believe in flying saucers?”

It occurred to me that our little green men and women, or whatever gender they may be — these aliens we haven’t yet met — are not all stuck in the same design theme of simple little gray and silver disk. It’s entirely possible, that upon studying our worldly culture, maybe they’ve thought over their options and

… gone steampunk.

Two and 1/2 inch sculpture inside a four-inch glass globe, filled with water and shakeable metallic dust.

Escher’s Family Reunion – waterglobe

February 18, 2013 by camryn forrest

When families get together, sometimes it seems everyone is running in different directions. By the time everyone agrees what to have for lunch, it might be time for an evening meal instead. We dash off to the movies, to the store, to shop … and wave at each other in passing. If Escher had a family reunion, I bet it would look a lot like this.

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Here to Stay – waterglobe

February 5, 2013 by camryn forrest

Remember the old saying?

If you love something
set it free.

If it comes back,
it’s yours.

If it does not come back,

it was never meant to be.

– Unknown.

May St. Valentine’s Day be kind to you and yours.

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Inspired by Nikola Tesla – Fate Magazine 1949

January 25, 2013 by camryn forrest

In the fall of 2012, I was fortunate to find a copy of a 1949 issue of Fate magazine, which began publishing in 1948 as a magazine chronicling the paranormal as well as scientific discoveries.

While the 1949 issue is no longer in print (and I was lucky to find a copy), Fate magazine still exists and is published as an online publication which can be found here: http://www.fatemag.com/

For those of us fascinated by Nikola Tesla, this particular issue included an article which begins like this: “Contemporary with Edison was another inventor, not so well known, but of the two, the more spectacular. This was Nikola Tesla … ”

As Tesla died in 1943, it intrigued me that he was not well-known at the time of his death, despite his contributions to technology (more than 300 patents, some suspected to be still languishing untested in patent archives). My original copy of Fate magazine was given as a gift (to the person who first introduced Tesla to me), but as many people asked to read it, I scanned the article before gifting. I hope you enjoy it.

And for anyone who expected this blog post to be about my curious snow globes, as is typical, scroll to the very bottom of the page for a small gallery of sculptures inspired by Tesla’s inventions. And to the most recent email inquiry: No, these are NOT working miniature Tesla coils. Nice try. I don’t know what Nikola would think of building an electromagnetic coil inside a 4-inch tall liquid-filled glass orb, but I am pretty sure it’s beyond my technical abilities.

While Tesla has been credited with the invention of a machine that harnessed a mechanism for generating tremendous electrical force, known either as the peace ray or the death ray, depending on your point of view, he also designed and demonstrated a number of inventions typically called “Tesla Coils.” Tesla coils were used to conduct innovative experiments in electrical lighting, high frequency alternating current and transmission of energy without wires. The design of these coils has inspired several of my one-of-a-kind snow globes, which — when shaken — vaguely suggest the power of electrical force through reflective glitter and metal pieces shimmering in liquid.