Description:
The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History features 4,300 hand-crafted glass models of 780 plant species. The father and son team of Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka spent fifty years working on these lifelike botanical models, beginning in 1886. 133 of the plants are native California species. Four of these specimens that were common enough California in 1892 to be crafted as part of this collection are now on a watch list of plants that only occur in limited ranges. The Blaschka models are a window through which we can look onto the landscape of the not so distant past.
The vitrine is a maquette of the original cases in which the Blaschka models are displayed. Contained within it are the indistinct impressions of the glass models, cast in glass. The small supports that would have held up the models are created using the same technique as the Blaschkas. Fragile materials, delicate techniques, and ecosystems all hang in the balance.
The four invasive plants that have been pulled out of the piece Blacklisted: A Planted Allegory (Herbarium) and been placed above this piece, have been profiled as the aggressive competitors who have the potential to displace the native plants in this piece, whose biomes they share.
Title:
Blacklisted: A Planted Allegory (Collection)
Year:
2015
Media:
MDF, cast glass, flameworked glass, tempered glass, silkscreen print.
Dimensions:
40” x 57” x 30”
