Christy Claes
As an artist and a conservationist, my work focuses on revering elements of the natural world and creating pieces that embody the simultaneous complexity and simplicity of nature. My medium in this collection is salvaged fallen trees I have collected myself locally in the woods, which I transform into mirrors, earrings and other items with very little environmental footprint.
My work is inspired by my years spent in the woods and travelling to places lost in time and the moments of reflection that often come when in these places. When alone in nature, I can see myself more clearly. I am able to hear, smell and feel life in its simplest state. I strive to bring this same sense of reflection and simplicity into people’s homes through my work, allowing them to connect again with nature and the places that take them back to their halcyon roots.
I also have a deep appreciation for the stories, folklore and characters that emerge from historic architecture. I see stories inside a cut piece of wood, just like I see stories written on old buildings. This intrigue leads to my playing with how to design the building features and lines with wood, a material that is otherwise complex and challenging to work with.
Working with the wood in my shop, I once again enjoy the grounding and simplicity of spending the day remembering where each piece came from, focusing on the tiny patterns and shapes and moving every piece through each step in the process: designing, drying, debarking, planing, routing, sanding, sealing, shaping the glass and installing hardware. Each piece is unique and tells its own story.