“I love this detail, it feels so flawed in its reality and its truth to nature.” – Photographer Natalja Kent, on taking pictures of the Ware Collection
Notes:
Opening quote: Taken from this excellent, publicly available video accompanying From the Hands of the Makers, an exhibition and book from Harvard University exploring the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants. The video is of a zoom presentation, presumably due to Covid-19; I was very glad to be able to see it, far after the fact. The quote referenced begins at 42:10, but the whole video is absolutely worth the hour or so of your time.
I want to note also that my illustrations in this post are inspired by what I saw when I visited in person, aided by my own reference photos. Which makes my drawings several times removed from reality! Or maybe, a new reality of their own?
Glass flowers: More information on the Ware Collection is available from Harvard Museum of Natural History, and if you’re in Boston, you can visit the exhibition yourself — the intricacy and richness of the models, as well as the process used to create them, are on full display.
Models of sea animals: I saw a selection of these on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History too. (The Blue Dragon, Glaucus Atlanticus, is my favorite; it is a small sea slug that preys on man o’war jellyfish.) The Cornell Museum of Glass also holds a large collection of Blaschka marine animal models in conjunction with Cornell University, where the collection is curated by marine biologist Drew Harvell.
Dr. Harvell has also investigated how what the Blaschkas saw in the world’s oceans 100 years ago compares to aquatic life today – telling the story in her book A Sea of Glass as well as collaborating on an award-winning documentary that underscores the fragility of ocean ecosystems, and the urgency of collective action to address climate change.
Recovered from getting hit by a car: I was lucky enough to have incredibly supportive family and friends, whose love and concrete help allowed me to keep putting one foot in front of the other through a year that included four surgeries, titanium implants, a nerve graft and tendon reassignment, and lots of physical and occupational therapy. And also through all the years that have followed!
Moving through trauma: It’s hard to say what part of who I am comes from which experience, including being hit by a car. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, I had a hard time going outside by myself; a walk around the block felt like an enormous milestone (I was quite literally frightened by a bunny). PTSD has been harder in some ways than damaged bones and sinews.
Are you part of the collective of us who’ve had to adapt yourself to a new reality? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you. I don’t feel like I really know anything about recovery except for this: being alive each day, and caring about what happens to other people.
Thanks for being here with me.
🤍
Wonderful 💘