Bones of the Earth II
More Works By Cheryl Wilson Smith Glass 2024
15.5 × 11.5 × 3 in
39.37 × 29.21 × 7.62 cm
$2,800
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This contemporary wall sculpture is made of fired glass; its design is inspired by nature and rock formations.Cheryl Wilson Smith’s uniquely striking wall sculptures are inspired by nature—the rugged, wild beauty of the Canadian Shield that surrounds her home in northern Ontario. Each sculptural composition is handmade of fine layers of glass frit (ground glass) designed to resemble rocky outcrops. The colour palette is earthy and rich, the texture visibly rough and by contrast, smooth. The Canadian artist used a small pick axe that belonged to her father, a hobbyist prospector to break up the glass.
For Wilson Smith, the many layers of her work tell a story—of treasured memories handed down through generations. Bones of the Earth is part of the ‘Outcrop’ series of pieces influenced by a geo-tour of Scotland and the amazing connection between two countries that once, long ago were part of the same continent. The Scottish guide on the tour referred to the ancient rocks as bones of the earth, a phrase that resonated with the artist—"a beautiful visualization of what I am exploring. I am intrigued by the idea of bones physically as well as the idea of memory in these rocks.”
“I was lucky enough to be awarded a Chalmers Fellowship through the Ontario Arts Council, which allowed me to spend 2 years researching genetic memory. Four of those months allowed me to return to Scotland to where my great-great-grandmother lived and explore the rock formations that I discovered after making my work for several years. These rock formations are near where she lived that look surprisingly like my work.” Cheryl Wilson Smith
Cheryl Wilson Smith was the 2014 winner of the RBC Award for Glass through the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. Wilson-Smith has received nine grants from the Ontario Arts Council and one from the Canada Council. Commissions include the Red Lake District Heritage Centre Margaret Cochenor Memorial Hospital Donor wall. Her work has been exhibited widely across Canada, the UK, and the US.
