magnolia anthesis o1
44 x 44” | A V A I L A B L E
In every neighborhood I’ve ever lived there stands a Magnolia tree, some skinny and young, others massive and majestic. Always reliably green, rooted firmly in place, strong, stiff branches barely shifting in the wind, leaves like shiny sports cars on one side but fuzzy with rust colored carpet underneath, and perched throughout are robust white puffy cupcake-like flowers or pointer finger shaped buds pointing to the sky.
Magnolias are one of the oldest flowering plants, with fossils dating back over 100 million years. They actually evolved before bees, so they rely on beetles instead of bees for pollination. Because of their ancient lineage, Magnolias are often seen as symbols of endurance, strength, and stability. They’ve literally stood the test of time. The white blooms of the magnolia represent nobility and purity. They often symbolize someone’s ability to withstand challenges and keep going and are linked to yin, and feminine energy, a strong woman, a mother, or grandmother.
So one day I stopped at my magnolia and gave her a light pruning - collecting an assortment of 25 or so buds in various stages of bloom, to bring home to study. Lots of silicone molds and hundreds upon hundreds of plaster casts later, assembled concentrically by order of maturity, Magnolia Anthesis 01 was born. “Anthesis” means the flowering period of a plant over time, from the opening of the flower bud to the state of full bloom. This art piece might look like it’s in full bloom but the actual elements themselves, the buds, have yet to flower. And I guess this is how I see the mother, the grandmother, the feminine yin… a thing in the process of blooming, always shifting, changing, growing, evolving, thru life’s stages, becoming endlessly fuller, stronger, more robust. So with that, I give you momma Magnolia Anthesis 01…
