The site for this project is a modified trophy case that is directly across the hall from the main entrance to the school library. It is a niche that is approximately 22� wide, 38� high, and 9� deep.
The piece is meant to give the feel of looking into a small aquarium. It is an intimate glimpse into another world with a few references to the human experience. This piece is meant for quiet moments of personal contemplation.
The scene contains a central rocky structure that provides a grip for a kelp holdfast. The holdfast is symbolic for me as a way to think about giving oneself a strong base in life, in this instance education. The striated rock at the base is carved to represent an open book. The base is also host to a gathering of social sea squirts, a sculpin and the iron gripped limpet. Scattered barnacles represent the rough experiences life presents. All of these creatures live in an inter tidal landscape that is buffeted by crashing waves, pulled at by currents, submerged in water or completely exposed to the air and weather, yet they have adapted and found a way to survive in this precarious environment. The barnacle encrusted tea cup is symbolic of civilization. When I think of the tea cup I have an immediate association with Britain and the colonies that became the United States. I am rather fond of the hermit crab and its resourcefulness making a home of the discarded snail shell.
A layer of the sandy bottom is made with sand I collected at a beach in Antibes, southern France. This beach is across from Grimaldi Castle where Picasso worked for many years. The castle is now a museum full of his work.
I hope that all of these elements combine to delight and stimulate the curiosity of the students and faculty at Dimond High School.
