With the increasing sophistication of technology, we have become more and more aware of the realities of what was once mysterious. We know what the inside of our bodies look like, it’s even possible to see an unborn baby in 3-dimensional form. We can know what our children will look like before they ever take their first breath. Yet, what remains to be revealed is their personality. How they will evolve spiritually and emotionally remains a mystery. Sculptor Christina Bothwell‘s figures illustrate for us the metamorphosis of our beings, our deliverance into who we are become.
Deer Girl, cast glass, raku, clay, antlers, and oil paints, 28x27x11
In her cast glass sculptures, Bothwell incorporates figures within figures. We see smaller figures nestled into the glass, most often in the shape of a newborn.
Octopus, cast glass, raku clay and oil paint, 48x23x23
From the artist: “I think of these pieces as souls, each being pregnant with their own potential, giving birth to new, improved versions of themselves.”
Hair, cast glass, raku clay and oil paints, 10x31x8
As long as we are breathing, we are constantly evolving, hopefully into a better version of ourselves. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to know that at the end of your life, you had become your most strong, your most loving, your most compassionate, the very best version of you?
Centaur, cast glass, raku clay, oil and found objects, 21x21x11
Phoenix, cast glass, raku fired clay, oil paints and wood, 33x60x21
Bothwell’s work shows us, not the end result, but the transformation. We see the adaptation and evolution of the spirit as translated into the material. To see more of Christina Bothwell’s work, please visit her website.
Featured image is Dawn, cast glass, ceramic, wood and oil paint, 38x10x7. All images are via the artist’s website.
Tags: art, art glass, Artists, Christina Bothwell, figurative art, sculpture
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