by courtney mattison
2021
glazed stoneware + porcelain
168 x 335 x 35 cm (66 x 132 x 14 in)
Permanent collection of Wofford College, Chandler Center for Environmental Studies, Spartanburg, SC. Gift of the Sarah MacGregor Ruffin Art Fund at Wofford College.
Water connects us all, from the lush banks of Lawsons Fork Creek to the icy glaciers of the Arctic and glittering reefs of Southeast Asia. Life on Earth is dependent on healthy oceans. The swirling design of this work is inspired by these connections and patterns, with revolving forms repeated in nature through hurricanes, seashells, ocean waves and galaxies. By highlighting the fragile beauty of coral reefs in the face of climate change, this intricately hand-sculpted ceramic wall relief aims to inspire viewers to protect and restore the marine environment.
All photography by Mark Olencki, Wofford College. © Courtney Mattison.