Mom’s Mutant Cactus

Back in 1998-1999, I needed another last-minute entry for the Beadwork Magazine/Interweave Press miniature beadwork exhibition ‘Up:Close’. I made this piece in three days: ‘Mom’s Mutant Cactus’. Dimensions: 3″ x 3″ x 3″.

Mom's mutant cactus

It’s a mutant because it doesn’t precisely mirror an existing cactus species, and because it has a blue flower. Until we get much better at genetic engineering, that’s not something you’ll find in nature.

The cactus is built of gourd stitch on a wooden bead form, the other elements are gourd stitch as flat panels and freeform vegetation. Accents are iridescent glass buttons and pressed glass beads.

This sculpture and ‘Pocket Garden’ made it into the show and traveled around for a couple of years. The latter mini-book eventually sold at a science-fiction convention art show, but I still have this one.

I’m posting it today because my mother was an amateur cactus botanist. She never lived to see this piece, alas. When she died, I hadn’t even discovered shaped beadwork yet.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone.

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