I N S P I R A T I O N
As naturalist and innovative artist,
Ferg mixed caddisfly larva fascination
and their innate ability to create elaborate protective cocoons
with a childhood geology passion.
Co-creating with local species,
he built and adapted habitats mimicking flowing currents,
using natural sources of spring waters,
controlling mortality rate that otherwise takes place in natural environment.
A tedious technique developed in building with various gems.
Once a jewelled cocoon was completed,
the caddisfly larva were again acclimated into a natural cocoon,
to be released into its own habitat to metamorphsis into adult form.
The creative principle of design required little assistance
from human hands during construction phase.
The choice of materials contained raw quality;
only opals were hand-shaped by Ferg.
Garnet, gold nuggets, every type of opal, miniature fossils,
micro-nautilus, seed pearls, sapphires, diamonds, turquoise, malachite,
lapis, black silica, abalone, emerald, agate, ammolite, amber,
micro-ammonites, and specular hematites.
Caddsifly larva grab and spin each gem/jewel with claws,
bearing near microscopic hairs like thumb grip, secreting a silk adhesive.
When a jewelled cocoon was complete it is then stabilized with jeweler's apoxy
to eliminate fragileness. Countless hours under observation revealed
a spectacular orchestration in th gem world in "micro."
There are over 360 jewelled cocoons orchestrated.
Some preserved as what they have become, as sculptural mosaic.
Some are worn in handcrafted talisman jewelry,
while the remaining await the next level...
contact@galentismartsnw.com