“AWAKENING THE ABYSS”
ILLUMINATED Sculpture by lisa donohue
This series is inspired by lifeforms from the shores and deep waters of the Pacific Northwest.As a young scuba diver, I had the amazing opportunity to swim with kinds of sealife: sharks, school of barracuda, octopus, and many others. I’ve also done a bit of night diving, watching resting fish and feeding coral under flashlight beam to watching falling particulates flicker into darkness into the abyss at the Santa Rosa Wall in Cozumel. These experiences have shaped my creative life and supply an endless well of inspiration for my work.
I’ve always felt a strong pull to the mysteries of our oceans, and dream of what is yet unseen. Turning to the ancient fossils left behind on land and sea, I can’t help but imagine what once housed those bones - be it feathered, ornamented, scaled, illuminated, docile, or fierce. Using this idea as muse, I re-imagine fantastical and illuminated versions of these oceanic creatures. In sharing this work I hope to evoke a sense of wonder, curious observation, and a desire to support critical ocean conservation efforts.
Process & Materials
Fine wooden reeds are soaked, formed and skinned with tracing paper or cloth and glue. Once dry, EL wire is affixed to the interior of the sculpture to accentuate shapes inside the piece before closing. Finished lanterns are then painted with black and fluorescent details, backlit with LEDs, and displayed along with various additions of organic materials, repurposed plastics, and found objects. Black lighting is used to highlight fluorescence in the darkened space. Because of the way these are constructed, countless color combinations are possible.
Supporting:
SKETCHES & MATERIALS
Potential pieces for diorama: Sand dollar(s), Wolf Eel, Spiny Urchins, Jellies, Giant Barnacles. Environment will be cut & primed cardboard or recycled chloroplast laid out in layers with projection. Overall spooky, ethereal feel.
Wolf Eel:
Materials: reed & wire, cheesecloth, tracing paper, EL+clear tubing. Teeth and tail skeleton will be made of polymer (teeth) and formed milk bottle plastic (bones). Fins will be made of reed and fabric.
Lighting: tubing+EL wire running along spine, painted fluorescent teeth, EL wire in skull area attached directly to reeds.
Display: suspended from canopy. Note: make sure to build in hand-held option and possible articulated/moving jaw.
Sea Urchins:
Materials: reed & wire, cheesecloth, tracing paper, EL+clear tubing.
Lighting: tubing+EL wire running around inner circumfrence, painted fluorescent details, EL wire in interior attached directly to reeds. Fairy lights surrounding. LEDs on interior.
Display: propped with mic stands at different levels.
Giant Barnacle Cluster:
Materials: reed w/wire base, cheesecloth, tracing paper, EL wire
Lighting: projection of live animal unfolding (as time allows), fluorescent details
Display: set on ground or small platform
Environment:
Materials: Canopy: draped/layered black cheesecloth, landscape cloth, scrim backdrop. Sea floor: primed & painted cardboard or chloroplast forms. Black tarp floor.
Lighting: solar string lights, small spotlights under roof. Projection onto scrim and sea floor shapes. Fluorescent paint details.