Goelet Gallery

 

Ariel Edwards

The Sea Witch's Garden

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My most recent series, The Sea Witch’s Garden, is a ceramic exploration of my favorite thing: the mysterious depths of marine landscapes that hide never-before-seen creatures with something sinister lurking in every corner.

 

Inspired by a darkly illustrated version of the classic tale, The Little Mermaid, by Hans Christian Anderson my work weaves together the allure of mariner’s myths and the menacing elements of human nature. Each piece is a tableau of the sea witch’s treasures composed of carefully organized debris from the world above; sailor’s bleached bones, fantastical coral, and mysterious marine wildlife become a portrait of the enigmatic witch.

 

My ceramic work is an exploration of evolution from the clever ways species have disguised themselves against predators to advantages in size, shape and color that provoke wonder. I create scales, shells and tentacles that are as unlikely as they are beautiful.