Shells
Julie Martin
The exhibition title refers not only to the oceanic, shell-like qualities of the work, but also to the shells we all inhabit.
The viewer is invited to contemplate the many shells we occupy throughout our lifetimes. Some are a giant leap from one form to another, others a slow transition – so gradual you may not notice metamorphosis taking place.
The artist, as an adopted person, found that each new revelation about her genetic/biological origins generated a shift in sense of identity. Transformation occurs, leaving something behind and creating something new. A kind of shapeshifting.
The artist invites you to consider some of the shells you have inhabited. How many have you left behind, and how have you shaped the one in which you now reside? Does it have deep roots or sharp edges? Is it fragile or robust and deeply carved?
