Sorrel Van Allen
Color
From the complexity of a mimosa plant closing to the human touch, the secrecy of night blooming jasmine, or the snap of a Venus flytrap, my work seeks to explore and capture these fleeting synaptic responses. Focusing on themes of repetition, unity, and symmetry, I develop botanical drawings through careful observation of the natural world. Hand-crafted in the tradition of silversmithing techniques, each piece unfolds, revealing ephemeral light patterns and textures that highlight the myriad negative spaces.
Digitally designed and crafted by hand, each piece begins with the careful study of plant life. Paper maquettes are an important part of the design process, allowing for patient consideration of the potential for metal tabs to be creased, folded, and overlapped into unique jewelry pieces. These templates are then sawn out by hand and carefully folded into place, one reinforcing the next. In this way, two-dimensional drawings are translated into complex, linked, and overlapping surfaces.
