The Beetle’s Burden,
Inspired by watching our beautiful native dung beetles at work, A Beetle’s Burden also makes use of nature’s leftovers and repurposes organic materials into something new. I began by experimenting with plating leaves and sticks with copper, and found joy in the alchemical process of transforming these seemingly mundane things into shiny metal works of art.
I hope that in taking time to slow down and fully observe every detail, people are able to connect with my pieces in a way that inspires respect and curiosity for the natural world.
With a background in sculpture and a lifelong love of the intersections between art, science and the natural world, the process of electroforming became a perfect fit for my work. I began this journey in early 2020 through a need for experimentation and this process offered a new way for me to work in metal without significant cost or specialized equipment. I was able to create richly satisfying works of art on a small-enough scale to be accessible. My work has often dealt with ephemerality, anxiety and the preservation of objects and memory. I enjoy the ability to preserve ephemeral objects in a way that is more aligned with respect for the environment (versus employing synthetic materials, creating significant waste, or encasing objects in resins or plastics). I mainly collect my own natural materials for this work and I am intentional in sourcing any outside materials to avoid supporting exploitative industries or practices.