Sunday, January 30, 2011

Integument


Integument - view 2, originally uploaded by andiwolfe.

Redwood burl, 5.75 X 4.5 inches; turned, carved and sandblasted. This is heading to AAW for the POP exhibit, "Roots," which will be on display at AAW headquarters through the 25th anniversary symposium this summere.

The inspiration for this piece comes from scanning electron micrographs of the seed of Castilleja, a hemiparasitic plant in Orobanchaceae. The outer wall of the seed coat collapses in the mature seed, leaving deep cells that surround the inner seed coat.

I spent a few years as a graduate student learning how to be a SEM jockey. I always enjoyed the surprises that emerged on the screen when looking at seeds and pollen grains at high magnification.

Here are some additional views:




Integument - view 1

Integument - view 3

Integument - view 4

Integument - view 5

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