Fruiting Bodies

Marble, pumice. 1986. 9″ high with base. Private collection.

Biologists are often fascinated with reproductive organs, and there are good scientific reasons for that. As both biologist and stone sculptor, I had a lot to be fascinated with as I imagined this sculpture into being. Not surprisingly, a botanist purchased Fruiting Bodies, which represents the reproductive organs of lichens.

Stone sculptors are often fascinated with stones, and there are equally good reasons for that.  I carved Fruiting Bodies in a rough piece of marble from the Yalakom River in the B.C. interior.  I carried it on my back through the mud to the car for what seemed like a thousand miles, carved it, and mounted it on a piece of charcoal gray pumice.  Vertical black and white stripes from two slide projectors lighted the scene.

Photos by Lee Gass