SEAWEED EXPLORATION

Challenge ...

to make a lamp
using driftwood and seaweed

FIRST EXPERIMENT- SEAWEED

stretched  fresh seaweed over driftwood form

let seaweed dry fully

sealed with shellac

seaweed became brittle and cracked over time

too fragile for a lamp

beautiful for displays

SECOND EXPERIMENT  -  SILK

substitute for seaweed

silk  strips dyed with various shades of purple silk dye

wrapped around  and glued onto

driftwood sticks stained with silk dye

captured in cedar frame stained with silk dye

sealed with shellac

sturdy

remarkable resemblance between silk and seaweed

lamp idea turned into a...

driftwood sculpture

THIRD EXPERIMENT   -  GLASS

more durable than seaweed and silk

glass was cut to fit in the slots carved into the driftwood forms

glue was applied  to secure glass to forms

glass is unforgiving

work still in progress

reflections are stunning

 FOURTH EXPERIMENT- SEAWEED

wrapped fresh seaweed around  driftwood sculpture
let dry before applying each piece of seaweed
to allow for shrinkage
process similar to papier-mâché
let dry fully
sealed with shellac
in time seaweed became brittle and cracked and change colour
too fragile for a lamp
appearance of stain glass

FIFTH EXPERIMENT - SILK

substitute for seaweed

silk strips dyed with various shades of
green, gold and brown silk dye

wrapped around  and glued onto

driftwood sculpture embellished with oyster shells

process similar to papier-mâché

let dry fully

sealed with shellac

sturdy

remarkable resemblance between silk and seaweed

installed swag lamp kit

made matching driftwood finial pull chain

lamp, candle chandelier and sculpture

functional work of art