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 PanaterOne 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 MunnsAnother 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.
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.
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
