Hope

2024

Flameworked glass, wood, moss

3 x 3 x 4.5 inch

In Japanese culture the fern is a symbol of hope for future generations. Historically several botanists have done experiments on ferns, such as when touched or moved by an external force their leaves shut. This is a fear based response, a natural instinct, but these botanists wanted to know if the ferns would be able to retain the memory of these specific movements or traumas. It's thought that plants are unable to retain memories, but they discovered the ferns can remember if specific movements are going to cause them harm for up to 41 days. The natural instinct of the fern really resonated with me; to close out of a fear based response, and then open up once you recognize something is not a threat. The fern also symbolizes a lot of the feelings I have about being a female glassblower and what my experience has been like. But just as the fern is a symbol of hope for future generations, I hope to make it easier for the next generation of female glassblowers as the generation before me has made it easier for me.