Paean by Sfossils, designed by Mike Seymour

Paean takes the form of a chandelier, composed of a collection of ceramic pendant lights exploring experimental glazing processes. These forms pose as a floristic study of the biotic life unique to the landscape of the Canadian west – from the verdant forest floor to the distinctive, rich underwater terrain off the shores of remote coastal islands. This work started as a curiosity into the regionally-important pottery, and led to the study of making glazes and creating surfaces through knowledge sharing and community building.

“Paean” means tribute – a way to celebrate those that came before, and shared their processes and techniques. Using minerals, elements, and processes learned from his experience in metallurgy, glass blowing, and ceramics, I create my own glaze formulas using materials not conventionally known in the ceramic world. The resulting glaze surfaces are able to take on appearances of other materials, like wood, stone, seaweed and funghi, transforming the individual forms into mysterious simulacra of naturally occurring objects. The study of surface texture is a means of exploring the materials and processes of neighboring crafts to ceramics. Through this study, the boundaries between metalworking, glass craft, and ceramic craft get dissolved into a gradient of materials and temperature.