Calamus (Wool and Porcupine Quill Sculptures)
Calamus anguis, wool and porcupine quills in glass dome, 7" x 9.5" x 9.5", 2017.
Calamus anguis, detail, wool and porcupine quills in glass dome, 7" x 9.5" x 9.5", 2017.
Calamus plicatilus, wool and porcupine quills, 4" x 2" x 3.5," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus cocleatus, wool and porcupine quills, 3.5” x 3.5” x 1.75”, 2015. Private collection.
Calamus eris, wool and porcupine quills, 3.5" x 2.75" x 4," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus dentium curvo, wool and porcupine quills, 3.5” x 3.5” x 1.75”, 2016. Private collection.
Calamus deprimo, wool and porcupine quills on panel, 6" x 6" x 3.75," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus dorsus, wool and porcupine quills on panel, 6” x 5.5” x 2.5”, 2014.
Calamus prinus, wool and porcupine quills, 2.5" x 3" x 2.5," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus nutrix, wool and porcupine quills, 5" x 3" x 2.5," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus nutrix, wool and porcupine quills, 5" x 3" x 2.5," 2014. Private collection.
Calamus serpens, wool and porcupine quills, 3" x 1.25" x 3.5", 2014. Private collection.
Calamus sumen, wool and porcupine quills, 3.5” x 3.5” x 2.25”, 2014. Private collection.
Calamus orbis, wool and porcupine quills on panel, 6” x 5.5” x 2.5”, 2014. Private collection.
Calamus arcus, wool and porcupine quills, 3.5” x 3.5” x 1.75”, 2014. Private collection.
Calamus brucus, wool and porcupine quills, 4.5" x 2.5" x 4," 2016. Private collection.
Calamus brucus, detail, wool and porcupine quills, 4.5" x 2.5" x 4," 2016. Private collection.
These organically-inspired fiber sculptures combine wool fibers and porcupine quills to communicate a sense of contrast, tension, and potential. Calamus is Latin for quill; porcupine quills are in fact modified hairs. To create these works I use the technique of poking notched felting needles into masses of loose wool fibers to shape them into firm, dimensional, captivating forms. I incorporate sharp dual-toned porcupine quills to create sculptures that are both entrancing and menacing. Find one available in my online sculpture shop.