Thursday, May 27, 2010

SEED POD INSPIRATION

Landcare II 2006 by James Blackwell. See Flickr photostream here. Website, here.



The streets where I live are lined with Oak trees, Sausagetrees and Lucky Bean Trees (Erythrina). These trees bear some of my favourite seeds and pods. As a child I was always thrilled to find lucky beans and acorns, and since we moved to this area I've been intrigued by the Sausagetree pods that hang from the trees by long stalks.



Earthwork. Mixed media, seeds and sand on board by James Blackwell. See enlarged here.



I've found many beautiful artworks on the internet, inspired by an intriguing variety of seed pods in all shapes and sizes. It's not only the shapes and texture of these pods that draw me but it's also the thought that within each seed lies the power to grow into something great whether its a delicate wild flower , a magnificent oak tree..... or the seed of an idea developing within the mind of the artist .


As Ralph Waldo Emerson quoted "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."



Like sea shells and pebbles, seed pods also find their way into pockets to be brought home from walks. I should imagine Australian artist, James Blackwell, comes home with pockets overflowing with nature's treasures.



Pod Cluster, paper mache by James Blackwell. See Blog here.



"The artwork I create centres on the themes of nature, silence, structure and meditation. They are sourced from the investigation of the minutiae of nature of life and the surprising forms that can grow from it." - James Blackwell



The Peanutty Book by Megha Panater


One of the many things I admire about Megha Punater, besides her art, photographs and blog, is the whimsical way she teaches her children about the natural wonders of the world. Look at this delightful little book she has made out of peanut shells. See the Peanutty Book here.There is also the Walnutty Book here which Megha created to answer her children's many questions about the goodness of walnuts. It needs to be seen!


Australian native seeds from Western Australia by Sophie Munns


Another Australian artist, Sophie Munns pays homage to the Seed in a year long artist-in-residence program at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Visit Sophie's Homage to the Seed blog, here and her other blog here where you can see photos of her exhibition opening. Definitely an exhibition I would have enjoyed! Sophie's blogs are filled with exquisite drawings, journal pages, paintings, botanical notes and ponderings, showing wondrous appreciation and total immersion in everything seedy ..... well you know what I mean! A big thank you to Sophie for the good work she does raising awareness of the importance of seed conservation.



Pod Forms. Acrylic and pigmented ink on linen by Sophie Munns.



Seedpods and Skull by Jo Chesterman. See more of Jo's work here.

Poppy Pods at the Gloustershire Museum. Photo taken by sandlings on Flickr. See sandlings photostream here.



Seed Pod by Tom Hare at Kew Gardens. Photos by Leo Reynolds. See Leo's Flickr photostream here. See more of Tom's fantastic willow sculptures here.

Regeneration by Jan Hopkins at the Jane Sauer Gallery, here.


Pod-like ceramic objects by by Ann Decker. See more of Ann's work here.


Burnished and bisque fired ceramic seed pod by Rafael Navarro. See more of Rafael's work here.


Brooch by Sarah Parker-Eaton. See more here.



Seedpods. Photograph by Roger Ballen. See more of Roger's sometimes (most times) disquiting photos here.

Omo Tribe, body paint and decorations. Photo by Hans Silvester. Blog post here.



"Despite its primitive smallness a seed is an energy centre charged to the highest degree .... each seed is the spin off of a certain species and a talisman for the regeneration of that species." - Paul Klee


Jala mentioned the book SEEDS by Rob Kessler. The photography is out of this world!

62 comments:

  1. This is a great selection of art work based on seed pods. My favourite of all pods is the poppy.

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  2. Seed pods extraordinaire!!! It's amazing the different interpretations!! I love the Peanutty book, the Omo tribesperson, Jan Hopkins and Jo Chesterman. Thanks for sharing!!

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  3. Another great collection of shots and links. I'll have to come back and have a longer browse. That peanut book looks wonderful!

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  4. Thought provoking post, it made me think of how many seed pods I have around the house, picked up, drawn, stuck on bowls, arranged, etc.
    Again more blogs to explore.
    What seed pods do you carve?

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  5. Thank you for sharing this. Great pictures. I love it!
    Until We Bead Again, Beth Murr

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  6. I'm sooo inspired by seedpods... thanks for all the great work in this post. I must return and follow all the links!

    I showed the Omo Tribe slide show in my Myth & Symbol studio class this spring and the students were sooo excited. Several ended up doing something like this for their projects. The Omo are incredible. Thanks for reminding me.

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  7. That peanutty book is incredible & of course I love those squares.

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  8. Talk about synchronicity. I just began a series of work on 'pods' and here you post this. Maybe we are in total sync with each other. Thanks for an inspiring post.

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  9. wow this sure makes me happy! fun and creative and fantastic. i too loved seeds and pods, still do. great finds!

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  10. Hi Robyn. I Love the Peanut Book and the Poppy Pods. wonderful post.

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  11. Robyn what a wonderful post...the nurturing seed pod. Love all of the art you have found (no doubt will spend a lot of time checking out all of those links...love how you always leave links for us to check out even more of these artists wonderful art.
    Are you carving seed pods at the moment?
    Enjoyed your previous post too. We are getting a lot of coverage about the Soccer World Cup too, so it was good to see it from your side of the world too.

    Have a lovely weekend Robyn,

    Jacky xox

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  12. A great theme to explore. I find it fascinating to see the wide variety of artistic interpretations of the same simple pod.

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  13. Robyn, another wonderful post full of all the creative goodness nature provides..love Tom Hare's' work.. reminds me of grapevine, Roger Ballen's work is interesting and unnerving but draws me in... and of course live the Omo Tribesman..going there now..Thanks for sharing!

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  14. You have featured another part of nature I love to collect- besides stones, fossils, nests, bones and skulls- its seed pods! I have them in my studio and around my home and now in my greenhouse-- I guess they all go together.. Love all the different types of artwork here.

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  15. these are such fantastic specimens Robyn. I especially love the large out door pieces!! but they all excite me :) I have many shelves dotted with pods, seeds, and a variety of tree nuts that inspire me continually. thanks for adding to my inspiration, always. xo

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  16. that was a lovely feast, thank you!
    if ever you're in South Australia, wander into our Museum of Economic Botany
    tis full of such magic

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  17. great post Robyn, I adore Sophies work and the pieces you chose are wonderful, the pnutty book is pretty cool too and love all the seed pods, very rich post! mille grazie!

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  18. Great collection. The world is full of amazing talent, isn't it? I have missed your blog, as I have not been much on the internet lately, but I am grateful for your comments, and for your blog.

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  19. what a wonderful post . I love seed
    pods.
    thank you for your post.

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  20. You've gathered a great collection today. When I saw Blackwell's pods, I thought they were the symbols Klimt used in Adele Bauer's portait. Illuminating.

    The little peanut walnut books are precious!

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  21. I'm never disappointed...I always come away with new links, inspired and enriched...this was spectacular...thanks so much!!

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  22. i just came across sophie munns work yesterday and i am pleased to see more. but my first love here is megha's exquisite little peanutty book!

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  23. I love seedpods (and shells and stones...) and the work you have posted here is absolutely stunning - thank you! I am off to investigate all there artists now.

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  24. Awesome Robyn!! I loved the peanuty book - tre cute! Thanks for your kind words on my blog too.

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  25. Imaginative and inspiring, as always.
    That first photograph reminds me of a flotilla of magical boats.

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  26. You just can't beat nature for inspiration can you?! Thank you for fabulous post Robyn! x:)

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  27. there is that gorgeous Hans Silvester

    book again,

    it brings me so much joy.

    I have you to thank for that.

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  28. Margaret, a lot of people would agree with you. I like the poppy seedpod too.

    Oogleboops, thats what i love about doing theme posts. So many artists with different interpretations.

    Annie, it must have been quite difficult working with something as small as a peanut shell and yet Megha has created a perfect little book.

    Penny, I've carved a few though I'm not sure what type of pod they would be.

    Valerianna, I often dip into one of Silvester's books which I have on my coffee table. The Omo have a great sense of design and Silvester's photography is excellent.

    Emma, you would love the squares!

    Zappha, yes we are in sync :-)
    Hope we get to see your series.

    Paula, they are inspiring aren't they?

    Jacky, I havn't been carving seed pods lately but over the years I have been inspired to include the designs in my work.

    Dave, one end of the scale to the other :-)

    Seth, it is fascinating how we all interpret things differently even if some are similar.

    Lisa, have a look at the rest of Tom Hares work. It really is amazing.

    Donna, we are just incorrigible collectors!

    Karin, so glad you enjoyed the post!

    Cat, I'm taken with Sophie's work too and love the large size of some of her pieces.

    Indi@, I'll remember!

    Thanks Karine.

    Kathyd, it was a treat collecting them together.

    Shayla, I see what you mean about the Klimt motive.


    Mary Ann, thank YOU for always being enthusiastic.

    Priya, the walnut book caught my attention when Megha first created it so when she made the peanut book I was delighted.

    Helen-S, enjoy!

    Debrina, I hope you are having a good rest.... though I have a feeling you won't be able to resist diving into the blogworld again.

    Pamela, every time I look at the first one i see diffwerent things. Now I see African masks.

    Mimi, exactly!

    Grrl, my book still gives me a lot of joy too.

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  29. Dear Robyn-this is a thought-provoking, beautiful post! Yes...the potential in a seed is...limitless! I got so lost in the amazing links you provided...that peanut and walnutty book-wonderful!! Thanks for inspiring-as always and giving us food for thought:) Also-thanks for all the wonderful comments you left on my blog-much appreciated especially at this time xxx
    P.S. Your last photo reminded me of Beckwith and Fisher...amazing books and writings..Africa Adorned is my fave.

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  30. a wonderful journey. I begin with the top image, reminds me of reading that the indians here dug canoes from trees to navigate the waters--those pods seem like canoes to me, lined up and waiting a new "seed source" of life to enter in and journey.

    love your quotes and that last photo of the girl, it makes joy in me. joy and so much love of the earth.


    .
    Reading yest Thich Nhat Hanh talk about nurturing seeds of love and understanding in ourselves as a humanity. You make it more real with this post!

    Thanda.
    :)

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  31. OMG Robyn you are something else. How do you find the time to find all this beautiful art? Wonderful posting. I loved the 3 dimensional pieces and always the Omo photo. Thank you.

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  32. Thank you for sharing such inspiring photos. One of my favorites is the photo of the OMO tribe....how creative is that??? Love it.

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  33. Always amazing, your posts.
    Have you seen this incredible book of photography--the book is called simply "Seeds". Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Seeds-Time-Capsules-Rob-Kesseler/dp/1554075580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275249987&sr=1-1

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  34. Great post, seed pods are so interesting... textures, colors, shapes. My fav are poppies & lotus. Loved the peanutty book & the Omo are fabulously beautiful.
    Delorse

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  35. Beautiful post about seeds Robyn, such natural beauties... I love to draw them too, and collect them, and scatter them, and put them in bowls or baskets. I am intrigued by Sophie Munns work especially her sketches... roxanne

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  36. Robyn, This is another great post! What beauty there is in nature to feed our creative souls....The images by Hans Silvester of the Surma and Mursi Tribes really just amazed me....what a wonderful way to live, using oneself and one's body as the underpinning for an such creative artistic expression.... I will have to come back another time to review all the other intriguing artists in your post....thanks again,
    Cynthia

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  37. I'm intrigued by Blackwell's little black rectangles in those first pods...?
    Do you know anything about them, my SA friend?

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  38. Another stunning collection of art pieces. I adore the little peanut book by Megha Punater, who would have imagined creating a tiny book out of the shell of a peanut!

    I must say that the 'sausage trees' that you mention made me giggle. I have never heard of them before, after clicking on the link to the picture of the trees, I can definitely see where they get their name from.

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  39. Story of Seed pod inspiration made me into your hot fan. I greatly enjoyed the pictures and was fired up with the desire to exchange the links with you. Please visit my Art by Tomas blog and let me know your decision.

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  40. Seeds for the birds, seeds for planting, seeds for eating and each one with its own DNA, each one unique but never more so than in the art you have posted here.

    I've been busy planting vegetable and flower seeds this spring; now I feel like drawing them, molding them, carving them, etc. Beautiful inspiration you have provided, Robyn!

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  41. Stunning work - all. Seeds are so powerful, awe-inspiring and I am mesmerized by their beauty portrayed in this art.

    I've never seen a Sausagetree... but can imagine what the pod looks like!

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  42. Lots of catching up to do on your blog posts Robyn. Seeds and seed pods are very dear to my heart. I love the idea of powerful regeneration in such a tiny forms. I always line up all your links on my computer when I read your blog posts and take my time to go through them all. My favourite image has to be the brooch by Sarah Parker-Eaton - fabulous.

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  43. hey robyn i am an avid seed collector, thanks for all the super links.

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  44. a thought provoking and original post

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  45. What a wonderful collection! I'm off to get a glass of wine and do some exploring.

    Once again, thanks so much for your time and effort to share such beautiful art with us.

    We also wouldn't mind seeing even more of yours.

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  46. What a wonderful meander! The first image looks like a slew of African masks. -J

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  47. Once again a very inspiring post, Robyn. I love all the art that you have found, but "The Peanutty Book" by Megha Panater is just incredible and the giant poppy pods are pretty cool also!

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  48. A favorite seed I love to include in art is the "helicopter" seeds of the Maple trees. It's fun to watch them fly around during a fall wind storm. They really spin like helicopter blades.

    Another great post Robyn. I love the way you find themes and post art that all fits the theme. Very satisfying to view and read about. Thank you.

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  49. Once again, a fascinating post. I'd never heard of a sausage tree,,,and it is fabulous! I always learn so much when at your blog. Thanks for that, and this thorough exploration into all things pod.

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  50. What a fantastic post...I could stay here all day long!!
    Just wonderful...off to read more :)


    J:)

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  51. As I worked my way through this post I thought'OOh I must comment on that piece particularly ' but there were too many fantastic things. Thank you for sharing.
    I have a link for the artists on my blog
    http://www.stitch-links.co.uk/page1/SheilaCahn.html
    Just found it. Hope you enjoy it.

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  52. Those books!!!! Robyn, you must spend FOREVER on the web to find all these wonderful things!

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  53. Thank you Robyn for your thoughtful and evocative post. It made me recall the seed pods of my childhood-the deep brown burnished pods of the locust that I would paint with powdery temperas--(but which never quite paid homage to the power I sensed within). With your post, I've picked up a thread from my past and can begin again to explore these exquisite forms!

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  54. I've got that Silvester book on the OMO tribal decoration...it's really yummy...

    ...as is this post (again!)

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  55. I read this piece last week, but didn't have time to comment. Ever since then, I've been thinking about seed pods and how often I miss seeing the wonders of nature. Thanks for pointing out to me that I need to be more of aware of the mysteries around me.

    ps...I want a lucky bean tree! What a marvelous name.

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  56. hi robyn, after I saw this post, I wanted to share the works of an artist called abhir patwardhan with you. I saw his work years ago and here is the one worthwhile link that I found in a google search. the images hardly do justice to the dignity and power of the artist's actual works, but it's worth a look:
    http://www.abirgulal.com/reviews.html

    and

    http://www.abirgulal.com/artwork-beatensheet-metals.html

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  57. Priya, Abhir's work is indeed spectacular especially his sheet metal pieces. Many wonderful ceramic pieces as well. Thanks so much for the link. I'd not heard of him.

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  58. It's fabulous to be visiting you again! I love these seed pods, I have bowls of hard woody seed pods that I keep for there visual appeal as well as the way they feel. To hold them in my hand is an instant connection with the earth. I especially like the large seed pod photo from a Kew Garden display. I bet it's shaddow is equally beautiful.

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  59. I'm delighted to have stumbled upon your blog, a treasure trove of creativity. As an ex Hilton village resident I, too, spent a lot of time in the Berg and your lovely photos take me right back 'home' again. I'm filled with admiration for your work .... and many other SA artists, particularly Carl Roberts.

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