by courtney mattison
2020-2021
glazed stoneware + porcelain
213 x 350 x 40 cm (84 x 138 x 16 in)
at the seabird resort, part of destination by hyatt, oceanside, CA. permanent collection of oceanside beach resort owner, LLC.
curated by the oceanside museum of art / art consulting + photography by rebecca webb
Three hundred fifty individually hand-crafted ceramic corals, sponges and anemones swirl in a double galaxy spiral of marine invertebrates behind the reception desk at the new Seabird Resort in Oceanside, CA. As the latest work in my Our Changing Seas series, this sculptural wall relief celebrates the immense biodiversity of coral reefs while raising the specter of climate change. Porcelain tentacles and the brittle bodies of living corals share a fragility that makes them vulnerable to human impact. Vibrant tones and textures of healthy reefs are juxtaposed against white glazes emphasizing the stark contrast of coral bleaching. By experiencing this work on the wall behind the reception desk at The Seabird, viewers may feel as if they are hovering over the seafloor and discovering details from every angle.