examples of jeweled cocoons:
**ACTUAL SIZE of JEWELLED COCOONS: ranges between 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches
INSPIRATION:
Ferg,
as naturalist and innovative artist, mixed caddisfly larva fascination
and their innate ability to create elaborate protective cocoons with a
childhood passion for geology.
Co-creating with local species, he
built and adapted habitats mimicking flowing currents, using natural
sources of spring waters, controlling a mortality rate that otherwise
takes place in own 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 natural habitat to metamorphis into adult form.
The creative principle of design required little assistance from human hands during construction.
The
choice of materials contained raw quality, only opals were handshaped
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-hematiteammonites, and specular hematite.
Caddisfly larva
grab and spin each gem/jewel with claws, bearing near microscopic hairs
like thumb grip, secreting a silk adhesive. When jewelled cocoon is
complete it is then stabilized with jeweler's epoxy to eliminate
fragilness. Countless hours under observation revealed a spectacular
orchestration of the gem world in "micro."
There are over 360
jeweled cocoons orchestrated. Some preserved as what they have become,
a sculptural mosaic. Some are worn in handcrafted talisman jewelry,
while the remaining await next level...