Atlantic Ocean, 10 gallons (2006). 13.5” x
9.25” x 9.25”. Sea salt, engraved glass, wood.
Image courtesy of the artist.
DM: Could you talk a little bit about the conception
of your series “Under Glass”?
MF: It is a series of small sculptural assemblages. They are all composed of natural objects
that I collected and then placed under glass
domes. Each dome is engraved with a label that
describes the object underneath in a way that
seeks to challenge our perceptions and highlight the duality of the solid and intangible in
nature. For example, the dome that reads “Atlantic Ocean: 10 Gallons” contains a small pile
of sea salt that I evaporated from ocean water.
“Memory: 41 Years” describes the cross-section
of a tree and how its rings are the memory of
the environment in which it grew. Inspired by
the idea of 19th-century citizen science, the
project developed as I learned how seemingly
simple aspects of nature are actually very complex and intricately interconnected with the
larger environment.
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Memory, 41 years (2007). 10.5” x 12.75” x 12.75”. Tree-ring
section, engraved glass. Image courtesy of the artist.
DM: You often speak about exploring duality or
interconnections in nature your work. What is something that has really stuck with you that you have
explored? How did it impact your work?
MF: The duality of the seen and unseen in
nature is a big theme in my work. Exploring the
idea of infinite complexity in the natural world
helped me to understand that art and science
are both disciplines of intense seeing, and the
interplay between the two has really stuck with
me. Every art project I work on teaches me
something new and increases my desire for a
deeper understanding of nature. As my depth
of knowledge increases, my artistic approach to
the subject continues to evolve.
DM: Tell us a little bit about your blog The Weather Gamut. Does your work from your blog ever correspond with your artwork?
SciArt in America December 2014